Getting it through smog proved nigh-on impossible – ’70s emissions control technology was appallingly poorly-engineered, and very much *not* the car’s fault – so after three biannual fail / repair cycles, I sold it as a parts car to a fellow who had four of them. Such small saloons are still offered by Renault, Citroën, Peugeot and FIAT in certain southern and eastern European markets and are based on cars like the more familiar Clio, C4, 207 and Punto hatchbacks. 1979: R15/17 production ends. El coche está muy bien de chapa y al dia de mecanica y se usa a diario en Losar de la Vera (Cáceres). If you have to depend on others to do your work, certainly service and dealer network are big issues; if you turn wrenches yourself there is not much outrageous about these cars, or anything that stands out from normal service on a front drive auto. One thoughtless design element: the defroster pulled air from a plenum in the engine compartment. The TC and TL had a 4-speed gearbox, while the GTL, TS and TSE had a 5-speed gearbox (which was optional on the TL), and the Automatic had a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The writeup guy started telling me how “both front calipers are siezed, you need to get new calipers now! Peugeot Indeed, apart from the Citroën DS, CX and SM, it is hard to recall a truly memorable large or six-cylinder French car of the last 50 years. This led to picking up an electric-blue 1987 (D-reg, if I remember correctly) R5 GT Turbo while at University in the UK. In the UK, as the country joined the European Union (or Common Market, as we called it then) in 1973, and BL offered nothing to directly compete (the Mini was much smaller, the Allegro larger and lacking the style, to say the least), the Renault 5 became, ahead of the FIAT 127, Peugeot 104 and later, the VW Polo, the small car of choice for those willing to move away from the established UK brands. Renault 5 GTL 1984 : 23.5 Millions | Renault 5 1984 : 1 Millions | Renault 5 1979 : 1 Millions | Renault R 5 GTL 1983 : 1 Millions | Renault R 5 1984 : | Re 5TL develops. Ended up doing my best with the badging and wheels to make it look like a boy racer’s tarted-up 1.1 masquerading as a Turbo; car theft was rife in my area. A huge success and very popular on my side for more than 25 years in a row. After a suggestion that it should be badged “Frog” to take on from the VW Rabbit, Renault opted instead to badge it “Le Car,” which at once played up its French nature and allowed some humour in the advertising. Don’t sneer at the LeCar’s fabric sunroof. Wonder if they were as durable as the normal sedans (particularly Mopar) that were staples of the police force back then? LeFrog are you kidding . This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. An enlarged Renault 5 Alpine spec engine displacing around 1596cc (as in the 90 hp Volvo 343 Oettinger rather than the similar-sized South American and Dacia versions) would potentially produce around 106 hp, a Renault 5 Alpine Turbo spec engine of the same displacement should put out around 125-126 hp with a later Renault Supercinq GT Turbo unit of the same size possibly putting out around 130-140 hp. The writeup guy took me back to the mechanic who replaced the pads. Peugeot came up the the 104 Diesel and was lavished with praise by the motor journalists for such a willing light weight Diesel engine. En juillet 1979 (pour 1980), la Renault 5 est déclinée en variante 5 portes. I only remember his death and funeral, I was 9 back in 1975. The TL was better equipped, and had a vanity mirror for the front seat passenger, three ashtrays (one in the driver's door armrest and two in the rear), two separate reclining front seats instead of one bench seat, front pull handles, and three stowage pockets. My first new car. The magazine is published four times a year. D'occasion. R5 gtl 5cv 1er mise en Front and back of the image: Front of photograph Back of photograph. Although the bodyshell was completely new (the platform was based on that of the Renault 9/11), the classic 5 styling touches were left untouched, and was designed by Marcello Gandini. Roomy, great ride, as mentioned-hilarious but effective handling, revvy, stout motor, great acceleration with the twin choke weber, and lots of hauling room with the easily removable rear seat taken out, just fold it up, slide the pivot bar sideways, and take it out, surprised no one mentioned that feature! Because of this Renault decided on using the naturally aspirated 1.7 liter from the Renault 19, which utilized multipoint fuel injection. You’ll still have same the joy of no over-the-counter parts availability as you would with US-model R5s, but at least it’ll be with a more unique version. The R5 Turbo was mid-engined, using the familiar 1400cc pushrod four-cylinder, and won the Monte Carlo rally in 1981, part of the World Rally Championship, on its first outing. The original expectation had been for a five-door car to supplant the Renault 4 and sell alongside the more modern-looking Renault 6, but a three-door body style was chosen instead, highlighting the 5’s unique position in the company’s lineup. They were fun to drive and fairly reliable. Oh, if anyone out there knows of a source of NOS sunroof panels I need 2. Related reading: Peugeot 205  VW Golf Mk1  Austin Allegro. La puissance maximale du moteur de Renault 5 GTL (1984). Coming from a simple 1397 cc OHV engine, this was considered quite a feat. In 2002, the Sepand was replaced by the P.K, a car that adopted a styling reminiscent of the second generation, but still using the slightly-modified original bodywork. Only 1 left! You’re so right when you say that with French cars, the smaller ones are the best. PSA mount the rear axle on soft bushings allowing it to steer, works really well and less complicated than the rear steering on their bigger cars, helped the Xsaras to first 5 placings at the 98 Monte Carlo on debut. 1979-07-15 Photo size: 8" x 7.1" inches . ), this is to give economy of fuel, the topic of the moment. Of course proximity to Quebec province and plenty of French descent Vermonters probably had something to do with it (plus you could still buy a new French car back then). A couple of times on Angeles Crest Hwy I saw a white (looked good) R5 with huge tires and fat wheel wells with “TURBO” in huge letters on the side going seriously fast up the hill. The 5 had a great motorsport career too, though the rally car was a very different beast. Not a good car for American highways. I don’t know much about Renaults. The Ford Festiva (Mazda 121)maybe? It must be imported from another country, the current owner has it since march 2008. I’m glad your worked out for you. We were hit headon at about 25 MPH one fine evening; some clown didn’t bother to check oncoming traffic before turning left right in front of us. When it comes to looks ,this is loved the Gremlin is hated. The model was starting to show its age by 1990, when it was effectively replaced by the more modern and better-built Clio, which was an instant sales success across Europe. Renault 5 Tl (man. I imagine it would’ve been an even bigger joke if they’d called it the “Frog” instead of Le Car. As an alternative, if anyone out there is from Iran, or has relatives there, perhaps they could help me search there for panels as perhaps fitted to the early iranian produced R5? The 5 model is a car manufactured by Renault, with 5 doors and 5 seats, sold new from year 1980 until 1985, and available after that as a used car. It was Renault's first foray into the supermini market, and its most prominent feature was its styling by Michel Boue (who died before the car's release), which included a steeply sloping rear hatchback and front fascia. It caught fire five miles from the dealership. Its unique layout left the car with room to store the spare wheel under the bonnet and also with a classic French umbrella gear lever sprouting from the dash, just like in a 2CV or Renault 4, as the gear linkage went over the engine. American Brands: AMC, Jeep and All Others, Tractors, Lawn Mowers, Off-Road Equipment, Curbside Classic: 1979 Renault 5GTL (Le Car) – Style Pioneer, http://www.r5gordini.co.uk/forum-mainmenu-90/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1927, http://www.autosavant.com/2008/03/29/renault-le-car-lives-on%E2%80%A6in-iran/, CC’s Tenth Birthday – Thanks To All Of You Who Made 16,558 Posts, 678,756 Comments and 75 Million Page Views Possible, 1954 Packard Super Station Wagon – Yes, I Do Want One, COAL • 1984 Chev Caprice—Second Verse, Same(?) These folks both had reason to envy others in our group who had a 1965 Chevy, and another with a 1967 Dart, who never had a problem with their vehicles. Went down, hooked up with a salesman, and took it for a test drive. The new Clio, Captur and Megane (especially the wagon) are everywhere you look. “On this photo, you won’t find a air of menace; I’m the Renault 5”. As many of us have said many times before: Due to strict emission demands in certain European countries, the GT Turbo was not available everywhere. I;m sure service would be a nightmare now, but yeah, I wish I still had her. 1985: Introduction of the second-generation Renault 5 3-door Hatchback range in TC, TL, GTL, Automatic, TS and TSE forms. The torque peak was at 2500rpm, which came up at 35mph in 3rd gear and 45 in 4th, which made for relaxed puttering around town. La livraison est rapide. The Renault 5 was introduced in January 1972. I have never seen any automobile that is completely thought out or devoid of flaws in design or buld quality, realities of production schedules and deadlines, and cost consideration, always generate compromises. After moving to the US, I picked up a 1977 LeCar. ‘course, I could go on a length about the horrible Mercury shop that rarely solved any of the monthly failures in my 78 Zephyr. (1,289 c.c. First of all, a fair number of imports to the USA had options that were not common in Europe, like automatic transmissions and air conditioning. I, too, remember them being sorta jokes in the late ’80s, when there were still a few around. Sales continued through 1984. Like anything else, give it to an indifferent or hostile owner or mechanic and it’ll be a complete pain to live with – but take care of them and they’ll run more or less indefinitely. $4.90 shipping. Great writeup, Roger. Look closely at the interior shots and you can see the bulkhead swelling out around the engine, limiting the location of the radio to an unusual vertical position. Ainsi, en préparant pour la mi-1979 sa grande opération de relance de la Renault 5, Renault tient compte des risques soulevés par la prospective. The 5 has gone down in popular history as one of the most influential cars of the 1970s. I figured that was God’s way of saying, “you don’t want to own a Renault”, and dropped the idea. Given the Cleon-Fonte engine was capable of being enlarged to 1.6-litres, why did Renault limited themselves to enlarging the engine to 1.4-litres (notwithstanding the 1.5-1.65-litre Cleon-Alu / A-Type)? Lots of ground clearance. My mom got one a couple years later and it became my brother’s first car. I would not call it twitchy I would call it self- correcting. both calipers have to be replaced now!!! The car was originally intended to replace the Renault 4, itself effectively Renault’s response to the Citroën 2CV, but instead wound up being pitched as a funky, slightly upmarket alternative. This choice of name was much-ridiculed among Francophones, as it literally means "the coach". The Renault 5 is a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. Later Gremlins from 1977 and ’78 as well as the successor Spirit were actually quite nice looking smaller cars IMO, once AMC redid the front with a shorter clip it didn’t look nearly so nose-heavy. Despite sharing mechanicals with the humble Renault 4, the 5’s appeal to younger buyers was substantially greater, something of which Renault was well aware and accordingly made much of in its advertising and marketing. http://en.int.renault.tv/factual/renault-icons/renault-icons-renault-5/. The entry-level TC had the 956cc engine (rated at 42bhp), while the TL had the 1108cc engine (rated at 47bhp), and the GTL, Automatic, TS and TSE had the 1397cc engine (rated at 60bhp for the GTL, 68bhp for the Automatic, and 72bhp for the TS and TSE). 8,00 EUR. After the first 500 Turbo one’s Renault decided to rationalize production and theTurbo 2 received all steel panels and the dashboard and seats of the Renault 5 Alpine (or gordini as it was called in the UK). All specifications, performance and fuel economy data of Renault 14 GTL (43 kW / 58.5 PS / 58 hp), edition of the year 1979 since September 1979 for Europe , including acceleration times 0-60 mph, 0-100 mph, 0-100 km/h, 0-200 km/h, quarter mile time, top speed, mileage and fuel economy, power-to-weight ratio, dimensions, drag coefficient, etc. The studs were so soft they often broke off when impact wrenches were used. Also true that you could throttle-steer them, and this just added to the amusement factor. Renault 5 GTL 5-door (1979) - pictures, information & specs Only 2nd gen french superminis, such as the 205, the Supercinq and the AX got diesel engines. Ive seen one or two of these I guess they were sold here though in numbers of I have no idea other French brands are more common, I drive one so I notice them. The distinctive styling changes for the mid-engined car were by Marcello Gandini and the car became the first of a consistent series of Renault hot hatchbacks, today based around the Renault Clio. edit: don’t most independent rear suspension systems toe-out under compression, unless somehow kept from doing so, causing roll oversteer and twitchy behavior? Like they made a little sedan from two different cars. It sounds like a gold mine of spares. Renault Images and details of the Renault 5 were published on 10 December 1971, the car's formal launch following on 28 January 1972. Copyright 2011 - 2021 Curbside Classics. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Wasn’t long before the Hyundai Pony succeeded the Yugo / Lada etc in that category. Now that I am into a longer-term resto-mod of an 80s Japanese car I can’t see me getting one any time soon, more’s the pity. I remember pushing 12 inches of fresh snow to get to work at UPS. Second of all, the Japanese did their homework pretty well when it came to modifying their cars to meet US regulations. The Germans and the Swedes did better. I just checked the 2013 sales numbers, the top 5: 1. It dethroned the Golf Diesel for its lively character. I guess Vauxhall and Ford are the UK best sellers ? While the plenum had a drain tube to drain water from the plenum when it rained, snow would collect in the plenum. I remember these in Canada too…Viva Renault Le Car…! Renault 5 GTL. Nice warm air intake ! Many of the European makers didn’t do so well, particularly the French and Italians. We both also came away with a diagonal set of bruises where the seatbelts caught us. 1988 models should now be Federally-eligible for import under the 25-year rule, electrics were improved, and doing clutches on them is much easier due to the transverse engine layout. at 6,000 r.p.m. The 85 GLC that followed it, a better car by nearly every measure, failed in the canyon, lacked the Renault’s suspension control and rigid body. It did serve to surprise a few of the Max Power crowd once or twice – let them rev their Nova GSi a couple of times, then blip the Renault’s throttle enough to spool up the turbo and watch their faces suddenly become concerned that they might have bitten off more than they had anticipated. Of course, the 1307 is only a 4-speed, but even with its better insulation, at same rpm, it’s way more noisy than the R5. And therefore the appropriate term would be something like “Typical European rubbish”. Salted roads ate all metal equally, and smaller cars in general, and unitized body, as opposed to body on frame vehicles, suffered the most. I presently have 2 R5, a 1980 US spec 3 door and a 1986 Canadian spec 3 door. Thanks for covering this car, Roger, as it is easily one of my favorites. Versions Edit One of my favorite shapes of the 1970’s. Crashworthy–that foolish-looking little thing? Electricians, plumbers, house painters etc., they all belonged to Renault’s clientele. Not only did it have a long wheelbase, it also inherited an unusual longitudinal drivetrain layout, with the gearbox mounted ahead of the engine. That’s an interesting point of view. Of course, the cars were obviously not perfect, and their engines dangerously overmatched by freeway speeds. At this time, Renault also offered a deliberately high geared version, known as the GTL, often fitted with very deep polyester mouldings all around. Must have been grey market, That was one impressive little rocket. It uses material from Wikipedia. http://www.r5gordini.co.uk/forum-mainmenu-90/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1927 I guess I like spartan interiors. Under the name GTE, it produced 95PS (70 kW/94 hp). 1977: Introduction of the R5 Alpine, similar to R5 TS plus 1397cc engine & 5-speed gearbox. The three door especially is a real cutie. Oh, and the later diesels (a 1.7-litre unit, if I remember) achieve *phenomenal* fuel economy. You can compare the technical specification with other 1979 renault 5 gtl car models, view photos and reviews. By the time I bought my 80, Renault was in the hands of AMC dealers. (first posted 3/12/2014) France is justifiably famous for good food, good wine, great scenery and (outside of Paris at least) a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and pace of life. We wish you to make a good choice of buying a car CARS SPECS Toyota. Top speed on the freeway depended on wind direction. Earlier examples are still around in smaller numbers as well. 0.8 L (845 cc) 8-valve I4; 36 bhp (26 kW); top speed: 120 km/h, 1.1 L (1108 cc) 8-valve I4; 45 bhp (33 kW); top speed: 135 km/h, 1.3 L (1289 cc) 8-valve I4; 55 bhp (40 kW); top speed: 140 km/h (automatic), 1.3 L (1289 cc) 8-valve I4; 64 bhp (46 kW); top speed: 151 km/h, 1.4 L (1397 cc) 8-valve I4; 63 bhp (46 kW); top speed: 142 km/h (automatic), 1.4 L (1397 cc) 8-valve I4; 93 bhp (67 kW); top speed: 175 km/h; 0-100 km/h: 8.9 s, 1.4 L (1397 cc) turbo 8-valve I4; 110 bhp (81 kW); top speed: 185 km/h; 0-100 km/h: 9.1 s, 1.4 L (1397 cc) turbo 8-valve I4; 160 bhp (118 kW); top speed: 201 km/h; 0-100 km/h: 6.9 s. January 1972: Introduction of the Renault 5 in L and TL forms. Air for the plenum came through a grill in the top of the hood. But Renault certainly wasn’t the only one in that era when it came to (a complete lack of) rust proofing. For those after a more sane experience, Renault continued a tradition by offering the 5 in Alpine/Gordini form, beginning in 1976. Underneath the skin, it borrowed heavily from the Renault 4, using a longitudinally-mounted engine driving the front wheels with torsion bar suspension. These were really clever little cars for the time, and I feel have an undeserved reputation for being mechanical nightmares. Information sur d'autres modèles de Renault, munis de moteurs atteignant la même ou proche puissance maximale. I do know that they appeal to me and for some reason that bothers me. I’ll always remember the day my wife and I took her 6’4 brother and 6’2 girlfriend out to see some covered bridges. Your email address will not be published. I have seen them in Spain back in 1977. $25.00 shipping. I had rust coming through on all four fenders in less than 5 years. Most of the drive was on back roads, and in those pre-motorway days (I believe that the sum total of motorways in the Republic were the M7 around Naas, M11, and about 10 miles of the M50 at the time) its size, gearing, and suspension were perfect for blasting along narrow, twisting country lanes. One word of caution for those who never saw an R4, R5 or R6 … never rest on the driver side fender of a freshly stopped one … this is where the muffler lives . After a while I needed a larger car so I traded her in on a Renault 18i sedan. (first posted 3/12/2014)     France is justifiably famous for good food, good wine, great scenery and (outside of Paris at least) a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere and pace of life. Detroit iron had gotten me used to at least one major failure per year. I have owned many imported cars since my high shool days, (I am now 59), and can truthfully say all in all, these are the best cars i have ever owned. This looks to me like a car that one must appreciate for reasons that have nothing to do with its appearance. Yes, the great seats seem to be a French trait, like Peugeots which are also known for their great seats. Perfect for nice days in Southern California with the vinyl roof opened up, scaring the daylights out of BMW drivers on Angeles Crest or Mulholland Drive by hanging right onto them through the curves was always tremendous fun, even if they left my 48bhp in the dust coming out of them. The key differences between the 5 and its competition were a direct result of the car’s origins. Required fields are marked *. Renault didn’t really get with the program until the introduction of the R14 in 76, which begs the question, why didn’t Renault bring in the 14, instead of the 5? Bright yellow, with Le Car on it. $6.00. That one was totalled when I’d had it for just a few weeks.