Renault is planning to auction some of its most important classic vehicles in a sale that spans the company’s entire 125-year history.
The move comes as Renault gears up to open a new heritage centre in 2027 – located in Flins-sur-Seine, near Paris.
Combining historic cars with archive documents and artwork, the new heritage centre will also incorporate an events space and vehicle restoration workshops.
However, before the centre can open, Renault needs to slim down its vehicle collection by selling off 100 special models.
Renault history up for sale
Renault plans to keep 600 unique vehicles in its collection, and therefore hopes to sell cars where it has multiple examples of the same model.
Some 90 percent of those to be sold will be offered without reserve, potentially giving enthusiasts a chance to own a piece of automotive history.
Along with the vehicles themselves, Renault will auction around 100 collectable objects, such as racing overalls, crash helmets and even clocks.
Also listed will be 40 wind tunnel and design mock-up models, including one for the original Twingo supermini. A perfect gift for those considering the forthcoming electric Twingo E-Tech, perhaps?
From vintage classics to race cars
Among the cars up for auction will be replicas of the earliest Renault, the 1898 Voiturette Type A, made to commemorate the marque’s centenary.
Motorsport models will form a key part of the auction catalogue, including 20 cars from Renault’s turbocharged Formula 1 era in the 1980s. The F1 cars were driven by legends such as Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Rene Arnoux and Alain Prost.
From the world of rallying, an example of the wild Renault Maxi 5 Turbo is up for grabs, along with the Renault 5 GT Turbo ‘Bandama’ – driven to victory on the 1989 Ivory Coast Rally. The latter car is still covered in red dirt from the rally stages.
Endurance racers include the very first Renault Alpine A442, which competed at Le Mans in 1977.
‘A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’
Renault’s road cars are also represented on the auction docket, with an original Clio Williams, a fully restored 4CV and multiple Alpine sports cars.
Other modern classics listed include a Renault Sport Spider, and even a concept version of the Kangoo MPV.
Artcurial Motorcars will be hosting the Renault Icons auction, which takes place on 7 December 2027. The sale continuing a partnership between Renault and Artcurial that began in 2022.
“We are honoured by Renault’s confidence in us and excited to be organising an auction that will be remembered as a major event. We are offering collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to become a curator of this rich heritage”, said Pierre Novikoff, vice-president of Artcurial Motorcars.
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