5 hot competition classics for sale

Feel the heat

Now isn’t this a storming set?

These five fantastic classic competition cars come from the same private collection and will go under the hammer, as individual lots, on Saturday 14 November with Silverstone Auctions, at its NEC Classic Live Online Auction.

If new lockdowns and restrictions are getting you down, these little firecrackers will really make your day – and we can’t resist taking a closer look…

1. 1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (est: £300-350,000)

One of three Renault 5s in this private collection of classic race and rally cars being sold this month is this great-looking example.

It has serious provenance on its side, too, being just one of three.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

Renault plucked six new R5 Turbos, with alloy doors and roofs, and these would form the foundations of the marque’s assault on the ‘Production’ class of the 1985 French Supertourisme Championship.

And determined to win outright in ’87, in late 1986, three of these cars where heavily reworked for the new season, to be driven by Jean-Louis Bousquet, Jean Ragnotti and Erik Comas.

This is one of those three, and records show it was driven by all three drivers during Renault’s ultimately successful ’87 campaign, Comas also crowned drivers’ champion.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

The other two examples of this most extreme Renault 5 Turbo ever built by the factory are kept at the marque’s Parisian museum – this is the only example ‘out in the wild’.

And wild it definitely is. The bodies were made stronger and stiffer, the cars hugged the ground even more closely than before, the front and rear tracks were increased, and the hand-welded or handmade suspension was optimised.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

Bozian Brothers usually supplied the race cars’ engines, but for this special trio, Renault Formula Three engine specialist Sodemo Moteurs was asked to produce a slightly stroked 1419cc version of the R5T engine (nominally 1397cc).

Sodemo and SYTEL used their own ECU, ignition and fuel-injection systems, as well as designing a new custom inlet manifold for these cars.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

And there’s more. A hotter camshaft and a new Garrett turbo were among the changes that helped this compact racer’s engine punch out 385hp at 6950rpm – a period dyno test shows that these engines could get 410hp at 7000rpm, with 3.2 bar of boost.

It must’ve been pretty noisy and frantic in this stripped-out cabin.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

This blue, white and red, Philips-livered R5 is one of those three ultra-focused racers that won the French Superproduction title in 1987 – between them, the trio of Renaults won six races that season.

The manufacturer’s records confirm that this car, chassis #C3/86, claimed two of those victories, both with Comas, first at Montlhéry and also at Pau-Arnos, the latter being the win that gave him the championship.

1987 Renault 5 Turbo ‘Superproduction’ (cont.)

After its championship charge, this car was sold to hillclimber Gerard Petit who had it repainted silver and campaigned it with limited factory support, until water-injection failure sidelined him.

He then returned it to its Philips livery and it was consigned to the Prince Rainier collection and exhibited in Monaco until 2016, when it joined the collection from which it is now being sold.

This is a unique opportunity and the winning bidder on 14 November will have one very special R5.

2. 1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (est: £240,000-280,000)

Sticking with R5s, but this time it’s a rally car, not a racer – indeed, this purposeful-looking classic is the only genuine ex-works Maxi 5 Turbo in the UK.

Another special opportunity for bidders at this month’s NEC Classic Live Online Auction from Silverstone Auctions, then.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

The auction house says it is in ‘immaculate’ condition and is a former concours winner, but we know that’s not the part of its history that truly excites you!

Rallying legend John Price, who passed away in April this year and often had his wife Caroline co-driving him, developed this car from the number 16 1985 works car, with co-operation from Renault.

And it was in this car, Price’s favourite R5, that he enjoyed his final professional competition, at Prescott hillclimb in 2011, where he scooped class honours.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

R5 development was aimed squarely at beating Lancia and its Stratos in the World Rally Championship.

Indeed, the Maxi Turbo remained a force to be reckoned with until the advent of the four-wheel-drive Group B monsters.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

This new challenger’s power came from a 1397cc engine from the Renault 5 Alpine (called the Gordini in the UK).

In the most highly developed R5s, like this Maxi, drivers had in excess of 350hp at their disposal, a lot in a 905kg car, and Group B regulations permitted this to be taken yet further, the Maxi getting revised suspension, different steering, wider wheels and a 1527cc unit.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

To satisfy Group B homologation requirements, 20 Renault 5 Maxi Turbos were produced in 1985. Of these, 12 remained as ‘works’ entrants, the other eight becoming donor cars to keep the dozen going.

This is one of those 12, Maxi chassis #201 (car #16 as it became known), acquired by Price in 1986. It didn’t have a gearbox, engine or suspension, but was otherwise complete – once he had found and fitted an engine, Price’s first rally in it was in 1988.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

Price rallied this car, but then sold it in the early ’90s to Mike and Jill Oates who registered it ‘80 MJO’, but hardly used it – around 12 months later, Price bought it back. In fact, several times he sold it, but later bought it back again.

Sadly, it was during time in another’s hands that its works seats and dashboard were taken out; they’ve never been traced.

1984 Renault 5 Maxi Turbo (cont.)

Price’s final outing in this R5 was at Prescott in 2011, and in 2012 it was sold to Kevin and Lee Jones who restored the paintwork to Price’s 1988 livery ahead of what was hoped would be a full rebuild, but that never happened.

It entered its current private collection late in 2016. What’s more, its engine note was recorded for use by Sony PlayStation in 2009 and in 2018.

3. 1986 MG Metro 6R4 (est: £475-550,000)

Let’s stay in familiar rally-car territory with this, the second most successful MG Metro 6R4 and another eye-catching member of this formidable collection.

And here’s a fun fact: this car never failed to finish a rally. Ever. Now that’s impressive.

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

What’s more, it heads to auction in original, unrestored condition, ready and raring to go.

Plus, as a former works car, it has serious provenance to boot. How serious?

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

This is how serious. Yes, it was driven by former British Rally Championship winning driver and current head of World Rally Championship team M-Sport Malcolm Wilson, with co-driver Nigel Harris.

With this crew, as a works entry this car entered three rallies, the San Remo where it finished fourth and the Lombard RAC where it came home 17th, before achieving a fifth-place finish on the Bettega Memorial Rally.

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

It was then sold to a collector in the UK and stored for several years, before a subsequent owner commissioned a gentle mechanical refurbishment in 2004, the exterior untouched, so it retains its battle scars.

‘C99 KOG’ has always been kept in the UK – but who knows where the winning bidder will take it on 14 November.

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

We said this car is original, however the exception is the front spoiler, the original a casualty of an altercation with a tree stump in 1986.

The spoiler came off worst, yet this and its original light pod will be sold with the 6R4, in the interests of originality.

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

The 6R4’s engine was designed specifically for rallying, rather than being based on a production unit.

With their super-lightweight bodies, the 12 genuine works cars could complete the 0-60mph benchmark sprint in around just three seconds and, depending on their gear ratios, could hit 110-120mph. Well, they did have 410bhp and four-wheel drive.

1986 MG Metro 6R4 (cont.)

This was – and still is – a serious missile, then.

And while the 200 ‘Clubman 6R4’ models built to homologate this rally legend were still pretty special, with 250bhp and an all-synchromesh ’box, they’re not a patch on the real deal.

4. 1987 DAM4100 (est: £145-165,000)

The fourth car from this incredible collection is rather less immediately recognisable, but look at it, squint a bit, flick to the previous slide and back again and soon it becomes clear.

Yes, this is an evolution car based on the MG Metro 6R4, and it’s the result of a collaboration between 6R4 works pilot Tony Pond and works rally engineer and driver David Appleby.

1987 DAM4100 (cont.)

The basis for this car is 6R4 Clubman chassis number 183.

Appleby and Pond set up shop preparing the 6R4 Clubman homologation cars for club-level rallying and rallycross, their concept of modifying the 10 or so Clubman 6R4s they’d bought from Austin Rover into the DAM/TPR4100 born out of their experience competing at the highest level of rallying.

1987 DAM4100 (cont.)

As you can see, the Kevlar bodywork, styled to be an evolution of the original 6R4’s, is easily removed and can be flipped up for quick access in service parks and paddocks.

Meanwhile, the engines were a 2.5-litre version of the V64V developed from the Cosworth DFV for the 6R4s – that means up to 295hp along with 225lb ft torque.

1987 DAM4100 (cont.)

Stopping power comes courtesy of aluminium AP four-piston calipers, with 12.1.1 discs and carbon-metallic pads.

Very few genuine DAM4100s were built and even fewer are around now, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have success.

1987 DAM4100 (cont.)

Appleby might’ve retired in the first two rallies he contested in this car, but his third event, the 1995 Solent Stages, saw him take a convincing win, followed by a second on the Jersey 95 – in the livery the car still wears today.

Appleby was rallying his own creation because this is a special example. ‘A14 LOO’ was the first prototype he designed in collaboration with Pond – although after the two parted company, it was consigned to the back of the garage for a while.

1987 DAM4100 (cont.)

‘A14 LOO’ is a standard-wheelbase car and the ‘Yellow Peril’ was a firm family favourite.

Although Appleby progressed with developing and building a longer-wheelbase example, of which five were finished, he hung on to this, his favourite.

This car joined its present collection in 2015, and much of its care and fettling in subsequent years has been by Appleby himself – no wonder Silverstone Auctions says it is in ‘stunning condition’.

5. 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (est: £340-380,000)

We’re finishing in familiar rally territory with this championship-winning classic.

This is chassis B0000454 and in 1982 it was delivered new to Renault’s Chatres dealership and although the manufacturer’s motorsport efforts were focused on Formula One, this came as close as any R5 came to being a works car, receiving some technical support and parts from the factory.

1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (cont.)

Driver Jean-Luc Thérier and co-driver Michel Vial campaigned the 1982 French Rally Championship in this car, starting with the Critérium de Touraine in March, and they were soon winners at April’s Critérium Alpin de Grasse, as well as in the 1000 Pistes and the Terre de Biarritz, and scored second-place finishes in the Rallye du Mont-Blanc and the gruelling Tour de France Automobile.

These results and more took this crew – and, more importantly for us – this car to the 1982 French Rally Championship title.

1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (cont.)

Thérier also won 1983’s Rallye d’Antibes in this R5, as well as entering it on the 1000 Pistes and Varand events.

Then in ’84, Thérier and Vial took it to a very creditable fourth overall at the Rallye Monte-Carlo, before handing over to famed driver Jean Ragnotti, who took it to second at the Rallye Terre de Provence, before winning in it at the Rallye de Mont-Blanc that September.

1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (cont.)

It’s said to have been seen on the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, and returned to France in 1999 to join a large collection of rally cars – at this point it was restored to its present condition, then campaigned on a few classic rallies.

It has since been either in a private collection or on show (in a Monte-Carlo museum, no less), and was the subject of a gentle recommissioning in 2016.

1982 Renault 5 Turbo Group 4 (cont.)

With a rich, trophy-laden history, finished in its 1984 Monte-Carlo ‘Team Diac’ livery and with the awesome turbocharged 270hp ‘four’ just waiting to be unleashed, this is one very appealing prospect.

Now UK registered, it will be sold with its previous FIA paperwork and is leaving its current collection after a four-year stay.

Start saving!

Five formidable classic competition cars, then, each offering an insight and tangible link to a very specific part of motorsport history.

They will cross the block with Silverstone Auctions at its NEC Classic Live Online Auction on Saturday 14 November, the firm’s final sale of 2020.

Fancy an early Christmas present? Or are you just dying to see more? Either way, check out the full catalogue for the 13-14 November sale here.