While i was in States side for many years those days,i had under ownership 2 Renault Sport legends.One was a mint single French owner Renault Sport Clio Williams Edition,it was super rare even in the States where it was thrashed and pampered meticulously for maintainence for the 8 years i had it.It’s motor was tuned by myself to put out a heady 172bhp at the front wheels,it had a roll cage,proper seats,it’s stock sublime handling further enhanced,the sight of it tipping on 3 wheels on hard turn in 3 rd gear at close to 100mph is unforgettable.Never before did i have so much fun in a hot hatch.Even till this day,it’s razor sharp turn in and poise of relentless grip earns it a top 10 my greatest front drive hatches of all time.Brilliant ride.

The other was it’s predessor,the RS 172,this too was given a similar simple performance enhancing modifications,and was no less fun to give it the beans for on limit handling on the track,they were religously thrashed and fastidiously maintained,all work done by myself,that’s how you should drive a Renault Sport vehicle.That’s their main philosophy in building their cars.They don’t make them like they used to.The RS 172 put out just under 211bhp at the front wheels when i was done with it.I was really sad to see both of them go to new homes but commitments i had at that time forced me to make those 2 very reluctant sales.At one point i had 12 cars and 10 bikes in my garage.

I found a vintage Renault Alpine Gordini in a freakin barn in Texas,in 1997,it was in correct the shade of Gordini blue,it’s engine was in the rear,it had the correct twin carb,twin choked Solex SU carbs and the optional Weber’s still in it’s freakin box,unused!!.It was untouched from it’s last known race in Europe from 1974 where it was shipped back to the States in Decemeber 1974,from this point,this is where the Gordini sat in that barn until i found it in 1997.Sacrilage at it’s best i reckon.But the dude was asking too much for it,it was an absolute mess,it would have cost me a bomb to restore it to factory correct concours condition even when will do the entire chassis up rotisserie restoration.

If i’m not mistaken,he was asking USD 20 grand for it as it sat there in the barn and he knew the icon he owned and he would not budge form the price,while i had to have it,the asking price was way too much.Damn..wanted to rekindle my childhood memories of the brilliant Gordini.

Just sharing my 2 cents of experience with my previous Renault Sport ownership.Great cars.

Cheers.

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But am I the only one that sticking with 200 hp is a bit… meh? I mean the V6 had 250+ hp. Of course the Clio’s that came after that weren’t nearly as mental (sadly) and not nearly as pricey (thankfully), but at least a bit more than what was there before…? A turbocharged 2.0 would have been nice…

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