Your classic: Renault Clio Williams

| 15 Jul 2025

I was brought up on a diet of car and WW2 movies and TV shows, all featuring iconic vehicles of on-screen history.

These included the time-travelling De Lorean, KITT in Knight Rider chasing the bad guys, and the legendary Jeeps with the American GIs.

This eventually led to my first classic car.

Back in 2004, I bought one of those wartime Jeeps, but the experience already seemed quite natural to me.

The Renault Clio Williams Phase 1’s gold alloy wheels are a conversation-starter

I had gone to car shows from an early age with my dad, who had owned classics for many years himself.

Then, to go together in convoy was a new and exciting adventure.

When the Renault Clio Williams was launched back in 1993, I was driving a Mini Metro and could only dream of ever owning such a potent pocket rocket.

As you can imagine, I looked on with envy at what would become a legend of the hot-hatchback community.

This Renault Clio Williams was restored in 2017, after it had spent almost a decade off the road

In 2019, I started looking for a Williams, not realising at the time how hard it would be to find a nice – and original – example.

Ideally I wanted a Phase 1, only 390 of which came to the UK.

Both the Phase 1 and the later Williams 2 were finished in Sports Blue, while the Williams 3 was in Monaco Blue.

Ironically, though, the later cars I viewed were in the worst condition, so by this point I’d decided that if I was going to fulfil my teenage dream, it would have to be with a Phase 1.

The Renault Clio Williams Phase 1’s dashboard takes you back to the ’90s

Many haven’t stood the test of time very well: they have either been stolen, crashed or suffered at the hands of rust.

So when I got a call in the summer of 2020 to say that number 263 would be coming on to the market, I was right there.

After a viewing, I quickly made an offer and the deal was done.

The car was registered on 28 January 1994 at Camden Motors, a Renault dealer in Dunstable.

It still had all its original documents, including the bill of sale from its first owner, an aircraft engineer for Britannia Airways, for an on-the-road price of £13,790.

The Renault Clio Williams’ bonnet vent feeds air to the 148bhp, 16-valve ‘four’

It is fascinating to go through all the paperwork, including the manual for the factory-fitted Philips DC521 radio head unit, the press-release pamphlet and the sought-after Frank Williams brochure, but what makes the car special for me is its history.

I can see all the letters and documents from previous owners over the years, from invoices for wiper blades to major services, plus a full set of MoT certificates.

The car was put on SORN in ’08, and it wasn’t until 2017 that work started to get it back to as-new condition.

In many ways, 2020 wasn’t the best year to experience your dream car, but I did manage to get out in the late summer and it certainly lived up to expectations.

This Renault Clio Williams is in excellent condition, including its bolstered front seats

By today’s standards the Clio Williams sounds, dare I say it, a bit underpowered, but bearing in mind that the 148bhp, 16-valve F7R engine only has 981kg to push along, I can honestly say that it goes down a twisting country lane at a pace that can easily match the modern-car crowd.

One of the nicest touches is the curious zip-up suit-holders that are attached to the underside of the Williams’ rear parcel shelf.

I’ve heard various rumours as to why Renault included this feature, ranging from the French liking to arrive in style to giving somewhere for estate agents to store their freshly pressed suits.

The Renault Clio Williams Phase 1 basks in the sun

The polished gold 7J Speedline alloys are a standout feature.

Adorned with Michelin tyres, they appear to be the first thing that people notice.

Of course, a true petrolhead will know all about a Williams, and I suppose that it’s testament to Renault that it is still highly regarded as one of the best hot hatches of all time.

I hope to get out on the open road a lot more in the future with number 263 and my young son, who has inherited the petrolhead gene – I think he must have more Hot Wheels cars than Mattel.

Needless to say, this very special Phase 1 Renault Clio Williams will be staying with me for many years to come.

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