1990 RENAULT 5 GT TURBO RAIDER

This 1990 Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider is a special edition hot hatch icon, which is presented in good condition and benefits from a recent mechanical recommissioning. It is powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged inline-four which produces around 118bhp and drives the front wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer shows 71,972 miles from new.

This UK right-hand-drive example was first registered on 18 January 1990 and is now offered for sale by its current owner, who acquired the car nearly a year ago. It is understood to have been off the road for more than 15 years, and therefore the vendor has had recommissioned to get it back into sound running order. Prior to this refurbishment, the last recorded work on the car was in 2000, when the paperwork shows it was fitted with a replacement engine.

The squat, boxy bodywork is in good order, and is not believed to have suffered from any accident damage. The seller also believes that the sills and jacking points have previously been renewed. Its Raider-exclusive Sports Blue paintwork is described as being in good condition, though there are some blemishes commensurate with the age and use.

These imperfections include a slight crack in the front bumper beside the towing eye, a small scrape on the lower front bumper, some spots in the bonnet’s clearcoat and slight sink marks on a rear quarter panel and scuttle area. Otherwise, the car presents very well, as shown in the photo gallery below. As with all Raider cars, this example rides on a set of colour-coded 13-inch five-spoke Speedline alloy wheels, which are in great shape.

Looking to the interior, the patterned grey seats are in good order with new bolsters having been fitted to the driver’s seat. There is a small tear to the upholstery covering the passenger seat’s right-hand bolster and one cigarette burn on the base of the rear passenger seat, however these are relatively minor. Unlike the standard GT Turbo, the Raider edition features grey fabric-covered door cards, which shows slight lifting away from the backing in some places, but which is generally in good order. The Raider’s black carpet is also in fantastic condition, along with the Renault rubber floor mats.

During the car’s recent refurbishment, the gauges were fully stripped and fitted with replacement dials and new bulbs were also fitted, bringing the instruments back to a nearly new standard. A modern Kenwood stereo has been fitted and connected to a set of JL Audio component front speakers and 6”x9” JBL speakers, which are mounted in the rear parcel shelf. The original cassette player will also be supplied with the car. Security is provided by an aftermarket alarm system. All of the interior buttons, switches and controls are described as working without fault and there are no warning lights displayed on the dashboard.

This hot hatch’s last routine maintenance was carried out in February 2020 at approximately 71,500 miles as part of the larger recommissioning project, by RG Motorsport in Sittingbourne. As well as receiving new engine and gearbox oil, the car was also treated to new driveshafts and a number of replacement ignition parts, including the AEI unit, distributor cap and spark plugs. The fuel pump and filter were also replaced, and the carburettor was fully overhauled.

While many GT Turbos have been transformed by over-enthusiastic modifiers, this example is largely original, aside from an aftermarket air filter, exhaust system, and lowering springs.

Its last MOT test was conducted on 3 March 2020 at an indicated 71,573 miles, resulting in a clean first-time pass with no issues noted. The tyres on the car still have nearly full tread depth, but are date-coded to 2000, so would benefit from replacing on the basis of age.

Accompanying the car are its original Raider pamphlet and Renault jack and wheel brace, as well as some service history documentation detailing work carried out by both Renault and specialist GT Tuning from 1990 to 2000. The seller is also including a number of spare parts in the sale, as shown in the gallery below.

Essentially the last hurrah for the Renault 5 GT Turbo, which was retired in 1991, the Raider special edition is a true modern classic hot hatch, which combines period-perfect styling with lightweight thrills. Described by its current owner as now being in superb mechanical condition, this tidy example will make a welcome addition to any collection and is sure to bring back waves of nostalgia whenever it hits the road.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence through HPI checks and MOT history where available. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered 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.