Professionally painted in iconic Gulf Racing blue and orange livery
Low mileage with less than 35,000 miles from new
Suitable for both road and track use, and with a small amount of work it would be possible to use it once again as an exhibition car
Private plate is included
Award-winning show car
The Appeal
The Renault Sport Spider is one of the most audacious production cars of the 1990s: a mid-engined, open-top, aluminium-chassied lightweight conceived with genuine motorsport DNA and built in tiny numbers. Of the approximately 1,800 produced, just 95 right-hand drive examples were officially imported to the UK. That's a number bound to pique the interest of any enthusiast.
This particular Spider underwent a ground-up rebuild in 2014 by Prima Racing, a long-established Renault motorsport specialist with deep roots in the Renault 5 Turbo championship, Clio Cup, and RS Spider Trophy Challenge. At the heart of the project is a fast-road-specification F7R engine built by renowned Renault engine specialist Tony Hart, producing 217hp at 7,800rpm and 158lb ft at 7,000rpm; a substantial uplift over the standard 148hp output.
The engine features forged internals, a gas-flowed head, reprofiled camshafts, AT-Power throttle bodies, and an OMEX 600 programmable ECU, all mapped on a rolling road by Northampton Motorsport. The gearbox was simultaneously rebuilt with a limited-slip differential and uprated internals, while the chassis received Penske Racing adjustable dampers, 17-inch Image three-piece alloy wheels, uprated brakes, and a Simpson Racing stainless steel exhaust.
Since the rebuild, the car has covered approximately 5,000 miles and served primarily as an exhibition car, jointly shown by the previous owner and Prima Racing at numerous events around the UK, collecting a considerable haul of trophies and awards between 2014 and 2020.
The vendor proudly notes this may well be the finest road-going Renault Sport Spider available. With its MOT valid to March 2027, it's ready and waiting for its lucky new keeper.
The vendor adds: This special build Renault Sport Spider, first registered on the 08/08/1997 is just 1 of 95 cars offcially imported into the UK, having been meticulously maintained over the years with an extensive service history, garaged throughout its life it has covered just 35,000 miles from new, the current MOT is due to expire on the 29/03/2027, There are a few age-related minor marks to the paintwork, stone chips etc which can be seen in the photos but it’s in amazing condition for a car that’s nearly 30 years old. It has had six previous owners, the last one of whom retained ownership for around 17 years before the car was acquired by the vendor in August 2021.
The vendor knows a comprehensive ground-up rebuild took place during 2014. The paperwork provided supports this, which included a series of well-considered enhancements and improvements to the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and chassis. The engine and transmission alone cost more than £ 12,000. The upgrades were all carefully chosen to emulate the performance of the 150mph Spider Trophy race cars, whilst losing none of its original road-going capabilities. All this work was carried out by race and rally preparation, and restoration specialist PrimaRacing, established in the early 1970s, in the 80’s and 90’s they became heavily involved in the Renault 5 Turbo championship, then later the Clio Cup, and RS Spider Trophy Challenge one-make championships, earning them the reputation as one of the leading Renault tuning and performance specialists in the UK.
With such deep-rooted heritage and pedigree in the Renault motorsport marque, they seemed the natural choice to undertake such a comprehensive rebuild — a project taking approximately two months to complete with final build costs totalling in the region of £25,000, reflecting both the scale of the work and the high level of craftsmanship involved to create what is, arguably, the finest road going Renault Sport Spider available today. It has covered approximately 5000 miles since the rebuild took place in 2014. With its primary role thereafter being that of an award-winning show car, being jointly exhibited by the previous owner and Prima Racing at numerous major shows, motoring events, and rallies around the UK, winning a vast array of trophies and awards between 2014 and 2020. At the heart of this project lies the impressive Prima Racing (fast road) tuned F7R motor, built by renowned Renault engine specialist Tony Hart. Hart’s reputation for building some of the finest race-tuned Renault engines is well earned, some of which still hold the fastest lap records today from those past championships, and this motor does not disappoint either as it’s a masterclass in both performance but, more importantly for a road car, drivability showcasing what can be achieved with the right knowledge and expertise, as the dyno results clearly show.20260410_152328.jpg8.89 MB
History and Paperwork
UK-market right-hand drive, first registered 8th August 1997
One of 95 examples officially imported to the UK
Seven registered keepers from new
In current ownership since August 2021
Previous keeper retained ownership for approximately 17 years
Comprehensive ground-up rebuild carried out by Prima Racing in 2014
Engine and transmission rebuild alone cost in excess of £12,000, with total rebuild costs of approximately £25,000
Engine mapping carried out by Northampton Motorsport and fine-tuned between 2014 and 2016
Folder of invoices, receipts, and MOT certificates
Factory manuals included (copies; original white-folder editions not included)
Original documents issued with the car and aluminium storage case
Two sets of keys
Sigma alarm/immobiliser system with user manual and keycode card
'R 5PYD' private registration plate included in the sale
MOT valid to March 2027
The vendor adds:
"Included in the sale is the ‘R 5PYD’ private plate, the very rare fully lined factory carcover as used on the Trophy race cars, the optional two-piece zipped tonneau cover, the snug-fitting optional all-weather soft top with detachable clear side panels, both in ‘as new’ condition. Additionally, the sale includes a set of factory manuals (please note that the original copies shown in the white folders are not included in the sale), the original documents issued with the car and aluminium storage case, a comprehensive folder of invoices, receipts and MOT certificates, user manuals, etc. A roadside emergency tyre repair kit which includes the special adapters for the Image rims, two sets of keys, and a Sigma alarm/immobiliser system complete with user manual and the all-important keycode card."
Recaro competition seats mounted on fully adjustable competition-type subframes and rails
Three-spoke quick-release steering wheel
VDO instrument panel with centrally mounted tachometer flanked by oil pressure and water temperature gauges
Illuminated digital speedometer
Adjustable pedal box
Sigma alarm/immobiliser system activated by proximity detection
Fully lined factory car cover included
The vendor adds: "The RS Spider's legacy has been well reported on over the years. Numerous short articles and videos can be found online covering the driving experience, performance, the minimalist but functional ergonomics of the cockpit and, as always, the striking aesthetics of the body work. What is sadly overlooked in all those reports is what lies beneath the beautifully formed exterior.
A much more in-depth review would touch on the build quality; panel fit and finish; the double wishbone push rod suspension; the flat-bottom aero tech under the car, and the superb engineering that went into the design of the W94 chassis, the DNA of which is all race car. The layout of the car rarely gets touched upon, but it's only when you look closer at the detail that you start to appreciate just how good these little hand-built RS Spiders are. It's an enthusiast's dream and a masterclass in modern-day affordable automotive exotica. Rewarding to own on so many fronts. Everything is designed to be easily accessible, making it a joy to work on, adjust and set up. So, if you're the hands-on type of owner that likes to slip on his/heroveralls at the weekend and turn the odd spanner or two or wield a grease gun then this is the car for you. The cockpit layout is all about the ergonomics. It is obvious from the start that the design team behind the Spider spent a lot of time putting an amazing package together, as everything about the Spider, although minimalist, seems to be well thought out, with everything either in the perfect place or in the right position. Inside the cockpit, the four-point fully adjustable Willians competition quick-release harnesses hold you securely and safely in place. The high-backed Recaro competition seats are mounted on fully adjustable competition-type subframes and rails, which, contrary to some reports that I’ve read, do provide excellent support and are surprisingly comfortable even over long distances. The pedals are nicely spaced, and the pedal box position can also be adjusted forward and backwards, by simply rotating a knob (found next to the steering column), ensuring the optimum driving position can be found. The illuminated digital speedometer sits at the centre of the dashboard and is easily read. The floor-mounted gear stick is perfectly placed for slick, precise gear changes. The all-important 3-cluster VDO instrument panel sits directly in front of the driver. The centrally mounted 85mm tachometer is flanked on either side by 52mm oil pressure and water temperature gauges, all clearly visible through the top of the three-spoke quick-release steering wheel, which - when removed - facilitates easy movement in and out of the car with the added benefit of doubling up as an incrediblye effective anti-theft deterrent which can then be locked away out of sight under the front cowling. Security is further enhanced with the fitment of an alarm/immobiliser system, which is activated as soon as either a hand or object enters the cockpit area. The wheel nuts, filler cap, engine cover and frontcowling are all lockable. The car’s steering and braking systems require a little more from the driver as they are both unassisted, but benefit from offering increased feedback and feel like that of a single-seater race car. The chassis benefits from a full suspension rebuild, including fully rebuildable, two-way adjustable Penske Racing dampers, which significantly improve handling and grip over the standard Bilstein dampers. This comprehensive handling package delivers exceptional road and track performance, making this one of the finest Renault Sport Spiders available worldwide today."
2.0-litre 4-cylinder F7R engine rebuilt by Tony Hart / Prima Racing, producing 217hp at 7,800rpm and 158lb ft at 7,000rpm
5-speed manual transmission with limited-slip differential and uprated internal components
Reworked and gas-flowed cylinder head with reprofiled camshafts and vernier pulleys
Forged balanced pistons, steel con rods, reworked and balanced crankshaft
Lightened steel flywheel and competition clutch
OMEX 600 programmable ECU with AT-Power DTH throttle bodies
Uprated water and oil pumps, modified sump, and uprated head gasket
Re-faced and honed engine block
Simpson Racing stainless steel exhaust system with racing catalytic converter
Suspension fully stripped, powder-coated, and rebuilt with new parts
Penske Racing PS-8300-DA two-way adjustable dampers
Ventilated and slotted brake discs with competition pads
Unassisted steering and braking
Approximately 5,000 miles covered since the 2014 rebuild
The vendor reports that the car is in very good condition for its age and drives well with no rattles or unwanted noises
The vendor further adds: "Low-to-Mid Range Engine Performance: Between 1000-4500rpm the engine pick-up is impressive due to the motor's improved drive and tractability (torque) that, combined with the low weight mass of the car, means there's an instant throttle response regardless of engine speed or what gear is selected.
High-Speed Engine Performance: From around 4500rpm, the engine really does start to sing as it enters its high-efficiency stage as the motor comes onto the “cam” - resulting in a progressive, constant rise in power, this combined with the broad plateau of torque produced by this motor, delivers blistering and sustained acceleration throughout its entire rev range.
The Engine Rebuild: Consists of a reworked and gas flowed head, reprofiled camshafts and vernier pullies, uprated head gasket, forged balanced pistons, steel conrods, a reworked and balanced crankshaft, lightened steel flywheel, re-faced and honed engine block, modified sump, uprated water and oil pump, competition clutch, an OMEX 600programmable ECU and a set of AT-Power DTH Throttle Bodies. The original mapping was carried out by Northampton Motorsport at their 1200 hp rolling road facility. Several return visits took place between 2014 to 2016 to fine tune all stagesof the map.
The Gearbox Rebuild: The Gearbox casings were machined to allow the fitment of a limited-slip differential, along with some uprated internal components to handle the increased power and torque.
The Chassis/Suspension Rebuild: The suspension was removed, stripped, powder-coated, then fully rebuilt using all new parts. A set of fully rebuildable 2-way adjustable Penske Racing dampers as used on the Trophy race cars were added as they offered significant improvements over the standard Bilstein units, along with the fitment of 17” Image 3-piece billet alloy wheels and a set of 40 series super sticky Toyo Proxes 888R low profile tyres.
The Braking System: The standard brake discsand pads were replaced with a set ofventilated and slotted discs and competition pads.
The Exhaust System: The restrictive standard exhaust system was replaced with a full custom-built Simpson racing stainless steel exhaust system with a racing cat, although it looks like a titanium one to me.
The Conclusion: The combined drivetrain and chassis performance package has been put together to deliver a balanced, responsive, and engaging driving experience. The high levels of tractability at low engine speeds, strong mid-range punch, and a hypertop-end combine to create a power unit that feels perfectly matched to the vehicle’s lightweight chassis and dynamic capabilities. The result is a powertrain that optimises the Spider's motorsport-inspired heritage while offering the reliability and usability expected of a modern high-performance power unit.
The car retains its original race car DNA adapted for road use with enhanced performance from Prima Racing’s 217hp engine and chassis upgrades shared with the Trophy race cars, making it perfect for occasional track days. It drives like new, with norattles or unwanted noises, and is finished to the highest standards expected from acompany experienced in preparing international competition race cars. The Tony Hart-built Prima Racing engine is a standout feature, combining tractability and torque with a near-stock appearance and an evocative Simpson Racing exhaust note. The gearbox’s limited-slip differential and uprated internals complement the engine’s performance, while the chassis and handling package deliver exceptional grip and poise, providing an adrenaline-fueled driving experience."
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