HIGHLIGHTS
- One of 1,800 made
- One of 100 made for the UK market
- Low mileage
- Beautifully presented
THE APPEAL
Launched in 1996, the Renault Sport Spider was introduced 12 months after the Williams Clio production ended in 1995. Renault designed the Spider, which was a completely new design, focused on creating a lightweight performance sports car. The new design had a huge impact; the car could have come straight off the race track with no windscreeen and a stripped-out interior, welded aluminium box chassis and composite plastic body panels.
There were just 1,800 units produced, and approximately 100 of those were thought to be destined for the UK. However, as a UK model, the car got a heated windscreen and wiper, making things more practical. This 1997 model is in excellent condition and perfect for anyone wanting a road/race car experience. The RS Spider has a similar concept to the Lotus Elise, being lightweight and stripped out, but let's face it, the Spider will be just as much fun and quite possibly turn a lot more heads and potentially become an excellent investment due to the very few produced.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- Registered 29th January 1997
- Coming from a ten-year ownership
- Just four previous keepers
- Very low mileage
- Original handbooks present
- Previous MOT certificates
- Invoices for service work and MOTs
- MOT is valid until 24th April 2024
- Has been taken for an MOT each year
- Less than 3,500 miles in the past 17 years
THE INTERIOR
- Right-hand drive
- Recaro Sports Seats
- Leather steering wheel
Inside the Renault Sport Spider is pretty much as minimal as you can get in order to save as much weight as possible. The Recaro Sport seats are in excellent condition and don’t look to have any noticeable wear. The door cards are in good condition with no real scuffs or marks to point out.
The tachometer, oil pressure, and water temperature gauges are mounted behind the leather steering wheel, and all work as they should. The fuel gauge and speedometer are in the centre display, along with the odometer which shows a reading of 24,787 miles. The centre console holds the heated window switch and display panel for the warning lights, which would typically be in a conventional instrument cluster. The gearknob is an aluminium ball and is free from any noticeable scratches.
The main floor is bare aluminium and is in good condition with just a few light age-related scratches. There are some small carpet sections in the footwells which are in good condition. To keep the interior dry, should you get caught in a shower, there is a tonneau cover which can be fitted over the cabin.
THE EXTERIOR
- Sport Yellow paintwork
- Windscreen and wiper (UK Spec)
- Well presented
Finished in the pearlescent colour of Sport Yellow and Grey Metallic, the RS Spider presents very well.
Starting at the front of the car, there are some small stone chips to the lower grey section, some of which have been touched in, but we would say they are in keeping with the age and mileage of the car. The headlights look in good order, with no chips or cracks in the lenses.
The composite plastic body panels fit nicely and have an equal panel gap around each opening, and there are no dings or cracks which we could see. Upward-opening doors operate as you would expect and hold in place when open. The car is a UK model which comes with a heated windscreen and full sweep single wiper. The screen is in good condition with no chips or cracks.
The rear is just as good as the rest; the lights and rear panel are free from any damage, and the engine cover aligns as you would expect. The underside of the Spider also presents well, with no apparent signs of any damage to the floor sections. The Five-spoke factory wheels are in good condition, with just a few light marks on the faces, and all four tyres have a good amount of tread remaining.
THE MECHANICS
- Mid-engine rear-wheel drive
- 2.0 litre 16 valve
- Five-speed gearbox
- 150bhp
Fitted with the 2.0 litre 16 valve engine from the Williams Clio, the Renault Sport Spider has the engine mounted in the middle of the car for the perfect balance.
The Spider fires up without hesitation, and no untoward noises or oil leaks were spotted when looking around the engine bay. The gearbox is a five-speed unit that has a precise change, and no issues have been reported in selecting gears. The car pulls well through the entire rev range with no problems.
Being as close to a road-going race car as you can get, the suspension on the Spider is rose-jointed from the factory with adjustable Bilstein dampers. Everything appears to be in good condition, and no knocks or bangs are reported to come from any corner of the car.
The 300mm front and rear vented discs bring the lightweight Spider to a halt in a straight line, with no juddering reported to come through the pedal. The Spider does have ABS, but the brake servo is removed as standard keeping the main focus as a racing car for the road.
SUMMARY
There’s no doubt that the Renault Sport Spider is a rare car to see on the roads, let alone be given the chance to own one. This lovely example has covered just 24,787 miles and has been cared for by the vendor for the past ten years.
A French classic which is pretty much a road-going race car and a whole lot of fun to drive. What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this come along infrequently and should be grabbed when given the chance.
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