Renault might not be offering any hot Clio models anymore, but its name has gone down in history as one of the greatest hot hatches ever, named after the Williams F1 team. A thoroughly restored example of the original Renault Clio Williams will soon go under the hammer by Silverstone Auctions, with the detailed photo gallery sparkling a feeling of nostalgia for the 1990s.
The model is a 1994 Renault Clio Williams Phase I, and one of the 390 examples that ended up in the UK. As with all cars from the original batch, it sports a metal plaque on the center console with its build number (#180). More importantly, it recently went through a 2,000-hour restoration process, making it a true time machine.
Read: This 1993 Renault R19 16S Is The Grandfather Of The Megane R.S.
The Renault Clio Williams can easily be distinguished from the lesser variants – even from the sporty Clio 16S – thanks to the Metallic Sports Blue shade which was the only available option, the gold-finished Speedline alloy wheels, and the special stickers. Like the more widely available 16S, it featured a vented bonnet with an asymmetrical bulge, wider front and rear fenders, sportier body-colored bumpers, and a chrome tailpipe.
Inside, Renault blessed it with bucket seats, blue-faced dials, and other blue accents as a reference to the Williams F1 team. Later variants also had a sunroof, but early cars came without it, making them the lightest examples. This particular Clio Williams still has the original Philips radio/cassette unit which has also been restored and comes with a bespoke navy-blue indoor car cover.
The iconic French hot hatch is powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter engine producing 145 hp (108 kW / 147 PS) and 175 Nm (129 lb-ft) of torque. This might not sound much by today’s standards but we are talking about a featherweight vehicle with a tiny footprint, tipping the scales at 981 kg (2,163 pounds). Power is transmitted to the front wheels through a five-speed manual transmission. More importantly, the Williams came with a uniquely tuned suspension featuring a firmer setting and wider tracks, courtesy of the Renault Sport division.
According to the listing, the model comes with a complete service history and all of the original documents. The odometer reading is 129,417 miles (208,277 km) but the hot hatch has only traveled 3,200 miles (5,150 km) after being restored. Notably, restoration work took 3.5 years from December 2014 to May 2018, while the vehicle was always kept in a heated garage since. Besides the immaculate condition of the exterior and interior, a look at the underside and the engine bay proves the huge amount of work invested in this car.
The 1994 Renault Clio Williams will be auctioned on February 25. It is estimated to fetch between £30,000-35,000 ($36,929-43,072) due to its rarity and pristine condition.
