1987 RENAULT 5 GT TURBO

This Renault 5 GT Turbo is a bespoke example of an exciting modern classic, benefiting from a full restoration just six years ago, and finished in the striking period ‘Harlow’ livery as raced by Mark Fish in the original Renault 5 Cup series. Under the bonnet is a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-four, producing a blueprinted 153bhp, coupled to a five-speed manual transmission.

First registered in August 1987, there are just three previous registered keepers on the log book. From 2000-2001, this car underwent a transformation carried out by Mark Fish Motorsport, with the aim of creating a very particular road-going homage from a clean and original shell.

The background to the race-prepared conversion is the Renault 5 Turbo UK Cup, which got underway in early 1986 after a batch of 40 cars were imported to kick off the single-make series. Drivers included the likes of Rowan Atkinson and motoring journalist Gavin Green - and Mark Fish was also a competitor. With the arrival of the Clio, the Renault 5 racers were phased out, and the cars found a new home in the BRSCC’s ‘Super Coupe Cup’, where they went wheel-to-wheel against period rivals such as the Honda CRX, VW Polo G40 and Rover 216 GTI.

Mark Fish Motorsport was active in Clio racing through the 1990s, but he took on this particular GT Turbo for a client nearly 20 years ago to prepare it for the Super Coupe Cup. As the series was phased out in 2003, it saw limited use, but was subsequently driven at a handful of track days by its owner over the next decade, and was maintained by Mark Fish during this period. In 2014, the owner saw photos of the Harlow Group-sponsored GT Turbo that Mark had driven in the late 1980s, and commissioned him to fully ‘restore’ this car in homage to the original.

A full ground-up rebuild followed, finishing this car off to the same competition specifications as the original Turbo Cup racers. Its engine was stripped down and reassembled as a blueprinted motor, with the boost raised from the standard setup of around 10psi to 14.5psi. It also features a baffled sump, competition air filter, uprated intercooler and oil cooler. It rides on adjustable Koni shock absorbers, and has more powerful brakes. The straight-through exhaust exits under the nearside rear quarter panel.

The enthusiast who commissioned the rebuild drove it sparingly, keeping it for a few years before the current owner acquired it in February 2017. At the time of purchase, it was treated to a recommissioning and inspection, again by Mark Fish Motorsport. Since then, it has been thoroughly enjoyed as a road car, forming part of a discerning collection that includes a McLaren F1.

Today, the bodywork looks smart, with the silver paint enhanced by the blue Harlow Group livery, which is a remarkably faithful recreation of the original. There are very small chips to the blue wrap in places, but in general the car presents very well indeed. It rides on 13-inch steel wheels to the original Cup specifications. The car also comes with six additional wheels with slick tyres fitted.

Inside, the interior trim has been almost entirely stripped out, leaving the dashboard and door cards, as well as the correct steering wheel and gear knob. The door panels have been modified to accept safety netting, and the gear lever trim has been pared back to its mounting point. There are period-style Corbeau bucket seats, and Willans safety harnesses. The carpets have been removed, and some dents are present in the metal footwell panels. There are no reported faults or warning lights.

Its last scheduled maintenance was in August 2020, where it went back to Mark Fish Motorsport for a full inspection and annual service. A new oil filter was fitted, and the oil was renewed with fully synthetic Petronas 10/60 fluid. The idle jets were cleaned, and the fuel gauge sender contacts were also cleaned and adjusted to fix a readout issue. The wiper motor and driver’s door lock were given some light refurbishment, and a new ball joint gaiter was fitted. Prior to this, in 2017, Mark Fish had recommissioned the car and attended to some minor rust on the offside front chassis outrigger and jacking plate.

The most recent MOT test was on 20 March 2020 at 57,417 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with only one advisory regarding a worn lower suspension ball joint dust cover -  a part that was subsequently replaced as a preventative measure during the August service. The wheels are fitted with Toyo Proxes tyres, which are date-coded to 2016 and all still have around 6mm of tread remaining.

Accompanying the car is a good history file, a GT Turbo ‘Coupe’ workshop manual, and various period literature - including a magazine feature on the car.

This Renault 5 GT Turbo is a wonderfully individual take on a popular modern classic. The standard GT Turbo is already an exciting featherweight hot hatch, and with the race-ready but road-legal modifications made to this example, its performance is even more impressive. Having been fully restored and prepared by a specialist who was racing these cars in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there can be few cars with more appropriate provenance, and this little Renault would be an ideal companion for period track days or hillclimbs.

All cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. This vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.

Car Overview

  • 57,480 miles
  • manual
  • RHD
  • Silver with Blue Harlow Livery
  • Black / Race prepared
  • 1.4L


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Lot Overview

  • Lot #01212
  • managed Sale
  • Chorleywood, United Kingdom

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