I always loved this little beauty. Here in France, still a fair few of them around. Not a rarity, by any means. You are a great presenter; always packed with interest and knowledge - and fun, too. Keep 'em coming.
Another one of your vids bringing lots of memories back for me. When I was learning to drive in 1985 a friend of a friend was offered £50 trade in on yellow 1976 R5 TL 950cc. I bought it and another friend helped me repair the Fred Flintstone floors, rotten wing and various other holes (remember it was less than 10years old...) and give it a blast over with new paint. Mine was also floor change and I remember it nearly on its door handles when cornering at even moderate speeds. I had a few lessons in and then after passing my test used it for a year before selling on to another friend. From memory I had to fix a wishbone bush and CV boot for the MOT and new points were difficult to buy due to mine having a unusual ducellier (?) dizzy. I couldn't stop it raining in so drilled some holes under the front rubber floor covering to let the wet back out. Sometimes the rear hatch didn't latch shut and would come open as you were driving along.
Excellent video as always, Ed. Early nineties I had a 1988 Super-Cinq 3 door basic Campus model. Seriously one of the best cars I've ever had, loved it and would have another in a heartbeat. I have to say I'm not a fan of EVs but I reckon Renault have done a fantastic job resurrecting the R5 as an EV.... they've kept the charm
When I was in college here in Texas in 1981 the prof I was working for went on sabbatical in France that summer and brought back a Renault 5. His wife wouldn't let him keep it saying it was too small so he sold it, cheap, to me. I loved it, it had the rubber roof. I drove it for 100K reliable miles. It remains my favorite of many, many cars. I'd buy another now if I could.
Excellent driving impressions and well done for coping with a LHD car so competently! i remember the R5 being released and on those first ones you could have a "wet look interior" in bright orange..so cool today, probably not that good on a hot day though?
It's incredible to think that when this car came out, the Morris Minor's production had ended earlier the same year - they are from different worlds. My grandparents had a 1974 M reg but theirs must have come off the production line earlier as it had the short-lived umbrella gear level. They towed their Sprite 400 all the way to Italy with it - over the Alps. They are incredible cars.
So many memories... Whilst we never had an R5 when I was growing up my folks had three R4s one after the other. They got their first one when I was 3, in 1974, and it was exactly the same colour as this R5 🥰
I owned an early model with the dashboard gearchange.. It was a similar colour and I loved it a lot. It eventually succumbed to rust and I was very sad to see it go. The big downside was that the silencer box on the exhaust was positioned above the front nearside wheel (it was a right hand drive model) and of course all the spray went directly to the silencer. New exhausts were a frequent maintenance item.. It was probably the favourite car of the ones that I have owned.
In the late 1990's I owned a 1988 Renault Super Cinq TL 1108cc for a while. Brilliant little car. Far quicker than just 47bhp would have you believe. And even with a 4 speed box it wasn't overly fussy or noisy at motorway speeds. I'd love another one.
How does this car even still exist? These vehicles were delivered out of the factory with rust, because of the train ride in the open to their nearest point of sale. Really astonishing. Back in the days, we drove these cars, which was like 1986 until 1989. It is difficult to get into the head of the engineers who designed this thing. It is difficult to understand why they did what they did. Buts that is not even important. It's wasn't important to no buyer if this vehicle. What was important that it worked and that it was as affordable And it worked brilliantly. Many people think today that this car like other small hatchbacks are somewhat special or legendary. And they are in the context of time, but for us back in the days, 40 and some years ago, they were just cars to get around in for little money. And don't forget, that was the purpose of these vehicles. Why can't we have simple cars like that anymore? Well, I am no "know it all" person, but I do remember the first Chinese and even Japanese as small, cheap cars entering the european car market in the early 90ties. The were regularly destroyed by the press and car testers. European car manufacturers turned up their noses. Look where Japan and China are now in the car market. Anyways, I surely appreciate your enthusiasm. In the end, we killed great little cars like that ourselves, because we demanded A/C, we demanded crumble zones, we demanded decent brakes and power windows, all of which demands killed the cheap little car. It's not a bad thing, it's just progress. Keep up the good work, I'm just rambling.
My dad bought a R5 in 1972 and later on a second one in 1975. Basically my first driving experience seen from the backbench as a kid. We used to go on holiday with these cars: mum, dad, two kids, a pet rabbit and a pet bird, 3 weeks holiday luggage, toys, food and in winter even a christmas tree on a roofrack. All in one of these little R5’s. Loading that car was a sort of science how my dad did that, think nowadays suv spoiled parents would not even try to pack a R5 as my dad did in the seventies….🙂 I got also my first car accident in one of these. Playing alone behind the steering wheel as a 5 year old i got the gearbox in its free and undid the handbreak while the R5 was parked on a steep road in front of my parents home. The joyride ended 100 meters downhill at a streetlamp. The frontbumper got cracked with that incident……☺️ By the way, at the time there was a lot of opposition against those ‘plastic’ bumpers, it took way in the 1980’s before public opinion about them changed and plastic bumpers got accepted i remember. In the early 1990’s i drove myself for one year a 1982 R5 1300cc automatic, a silver one with one of those vinyl black roofs. Pretty rare when that car was new to have to possibility to buy a small car with a relative big engine and a automatic gearbox, and yes is was pretty quick for it days……😉
My Grandmother had several...always 1.4 TL since you ask...and my Uncle had a Gordini. I only drove one once but thevsteering column felt like it was liquorice - fantastic ride quality though
Well done Renault This little car is historically important I just about remember seeing a few pottering around town when I was very young indeed. The early ones having the dashboard gear-lever-as in the R4. Friend of the family had a R5 mk1 with the floor change gearbox.. The only issue was, they disintegrated with rust. But even so, those wrap round bumpers were so ahead of their time. Btw, later they went on to own a super 5, the updated car…..they had a fairly high spec 1.4 petrol 5 speed…that was a very nice car. I saw a R4 in that blue in Wiltshire a few weeks ago.
I’m not sure if you meant 5s were rare in the UK in their day because if you did you are wrong. The 5s were everywhere - I had one new in 1974 (TKK448N) the reason they are rare now is they rusted away. Mine was starting to rust by 3 years, in spite of being Ziebart rustproofed. Having said that it was a brilliant little car. .
I remember an uncle having one of these, having traded in a Triumph 1300. It certainly seemed very spartan after that luxurious little car and while painted metal has its place on show in the interior of a simple small car, I also remember the plethora of messy welds and joints in the metalwork which made it look very unfinished inside. Volkswagen did it much better decades later with the Up!. The Renault's ride, though, was spectacularly good especially when racing over hump back bridges; the car took off, landed squarely, crouched slowly on its suspension then gracefully rose up to its correct ride height - superb softness and damping the likes of which we just don't get in any car any more. This 5 did begin to succumb to rust; there seemed to be mud traps lurking somewhere around the rear wheel arches which is where the rot started but I think it would have spread if the car had been kept any longer.
The series one 5 TS was a brilliant car. Weighed next to nothing but, with a 1400 cc engine and twin choke carbs It would accelerate up to the red line and badly needed a fifth gear at the time and you could convince people it was about to tip over but only a rear wheel lifted and easily controlled. Alison’s a 14 also a TS and that too needed a fifth gear. The 5TS had all the bits the basic ones did without. Rear wash wipe, reversing lights, radio cassette player and high back front seats. It a.so had a totally different dashboard to the others with a 6 dial set up. It and the 14 also had that great Renault idea of the spare wheel on top of the engine, thus saving all the boot space for luggage and both had the clever rear luggage cover that folded into the seat back of the rear seat. Still driving a Renaults we have a Captur RS and an Austral mid spec, never can remember what it’s called but, it always returns over 60 mpg every day.
Nah. From back then, I saw the 2CV as weird, and beautiful.., and have owned 2 of them. The Renault 4 had a certain something. The Renault 5, no thank you, it seemed just quite bland to me. And still does.
Lucky for Renault most people did think it was “chic” and Diana Spencer owned one prior to her engagement to Charles when the powers that be forced her into a Metro… Must have been a shock!
@gileshalliwell3591 You're presuming a whole lot. Diana was working at a kindergarten and had the Metro already. However, Charlie boy bought her another car, namely a Ford Escort Ghia.
You really deserve great success with the channel as your knowledge and enthusiasm is very refreshing…
I always loved this little beauty. Here in France, still a fair few of them around. Not a rarity, by any means. You are a great presenter; always packed with interest and knowledge - and fun, too. Keep 'em coming.
Another one of your vids bringing lots of memories back for me. When I was learning to drive in 1985 a friend of a friend was offered £50 trade in on yellow 1976 R5 TL 950cc. I bought it and another friend helped me repair the Fred Flintstone floors, rotten wing and various other holes (remember it was less than 10years old...) and give it a blast over with new paint. Mine was also floor change and I remember it nearly on its door handles when cornering at even moderate speeds. I had a few lessons in and then after passing my test used it for a year before selling on to another friend. From memory I had to fix a wishbone bush and CV boot for the MOT and new points were difficult to buy due to mine having a unusual ducellier (?) dizzy. I couldn't stop it raining in so drilled some holes under the front rubber floor covering to let the wet back out. Sometimes the rear hatch didn't latch shut and would come open as you were driving along.
Excellent video as always, Ed. Early nineties I had a 1988 Super-Cinq 3 door basic Campus model. Seriously one of the best cars I've ever had, loved it and would have another in a heartbeat. I have to say I'm not a fan of EVs but I reckon Renault have done a fantastic job resurrecting the R5 as an EV.... they've kept the charm
When I was in college here in Texas in 1981 the prof I was working for went on sabbatical in France that summer and brought back a Renault 5. His wife wouldn't let him keep it saying it was too small so he sold it, cheap, to me. I loved it, it had the rubber roof. I drove it for 100K reliable miles. It remains my favorite of many, many cars. I'd buy another now if I could.
nice one Ed. driving a wrong hand drive on British roads takes a degree of skill but doing a presentation at the same time is very commendable.
Excellent driving impressions and well done for coping with a LHD car so competently! i remember the R5 being released and on those first ones you could have a "wet look interior" in bright orange..so cool today, probably not that good on a hot day though?
Nice. I remember comments like "it's like a car, just smaller". The 5 really was a revoloution in it's day.
It's incredible to think that when this car came out, the Morris Minor's production had ended earlier the same year - they are from different worlds. My grandparents had a 1974 M reg but theirs must have come off the production line earlier as it had the short-lived umbrella gear level. They towed their Sprite 400 all the way to Italy with it - over the Alps. They are incredible cars.
Had an x reg 1108cc was a beautiful little car 50mpg suspended fantastically. Wish we had these choices today
So many memories...
Whilst we never had an R5 when I was growing up my folks had three R4s one after the other. They got their first one when I was 3, in 1974, and it was exactly the same colour as this R5 🥰
I’m currently on a tour of France with my Citroën driving friends and there’s still quite a few R5’s and R4’s bombing along on the French D roads.
I owned an early model with the dashboard gearchange.. It was a similar colour and I loved it a lot. It eventually succumbed to rust and I was very sad to see it go. The big downside was that the silencer box on the exhaust was positioned above the front nearside wheel (it was a right hand drive model) and of course all the spray went directly to the silencer. New exhausts were a frequent maintenance item.. It was probably the favourite car of the ones that I have owned.
In the late 1990's I owned a 1988 Renault Super Cinq TL 1108cc for a while. Brilliant little car. Far quicker than just 47bhp would have you believe. And even with a 4 speed box it wasn't overly fussy or noisy at motorway speeds. I'd love another one.
How does this car even still exist? These vehicles were delivered out of the factory with rust, because of the train ride in the open to their nearest point of sale. Really astonishing. Back in the days, we drove these cars, which was like 1986 until 1989. It is difficult to get into the head of the engineers who designed this thing. It is difficult to understand why they did what they did. Buts that is not even important. It's wasn't important to no buyer if this vehicle. What was important that it worked and that it was as affordable
And it worked brilliantly. Many people think today that this car like other small hatchbacks are somewhat special or legendary. And they are in the context of time, but for us back in the days, 40 and some years ago, they were just cars to get around in for little money. And don't forget, that was the purpose of these vehicles. Why can't we have simple cars like that anymore? Well, I am no "know it all" person, but I do remember the first Chinese and even Japanese as small, cheap cars entering the european car market in the early 90ties. The were regularly destroyed by the press and car testers. European car manufacturers turned up their noses. Look where Japan and China are now in the car market. Anyways, I surely appreciate your enthusiasm. In the end, we killed great little cars like that ourselves, because we demanded A/C, we demanded crumble zones, we demanded decent brakes and power windows, all of which demands killed the cheap little car. It's not a bad thing, it's just progress. Keep up the good work, I'm just rambling.
My dad bought a R5 in 1972 and later on a second one in 1975. Basically my first driving experience seen from the backbench as a kid. We used to go on holiday with these cars: mum, dad, two kids, a pet rabbit and a pet bird, 3 weeks holiday luggage, toys, food and in winter even a christmas tree on a roofrack. All in one of these little R5’s. Loading that car was a sort of science how my dad did that, think nowadays suv spoiled parents would not even try to pack a R5 as my dad did in the seventies….🙂
I got also my first car accident in one of these. Playing alone behind the steering wheel as a 5 year old i got the gearbox in its free and undid the handbreak while the R5 was parked on a steep road in front of my parents home. The joyride ended 100 meters downhill at a streetlamp. The frontbumper got cracked with that incident……☺️ By the way, at the time there was a lot of opposition against those ‘plastic’ bumpers, it took way in the 1980’s before public opinion about them changed and plastic bumpers got accepted i remember.
In the early 1990’s i drove myself for one year a 1982 R5 1300cc automatic, a silver one with one of those vinyl black roofs. Pretty rare when that car was new to have to possibility to buy a small car with a relative big engine and a automatic gearbox, and yes is was pretty quick for it days……😉
Handbreak ?
Your hand needed a break?
From what?
I had one and the one that followed, loved them. The first one had the dash mounted gear change, my wife used to hang her hand bag on it.
My Grandmother had several...always 1.4 TL since you ask...and my Uncle had a Gordini. I only drove one once but thevsteering column felt like it was liquorice - fantastic ride quality though
Renault 4 and Renault 5 ..Yum.
Well done Renault
This little car is historically important
I just about remember seeing a few pottering around town when I was very young indeed. The early ones having the dashboard gear-lever-as in the R4. Friend of the family had a R5 mk1 with the floor change gearbox..
The only issue was, they disintegrated with rust. But even so, those wrap round bumpers were so ahead of their time.
Btw, later they went on to own a super 5, the updated car…..they had a fairly high spec 1.4 petrol 5 speed…that was a very nice car.
I saw a R4 in that blue in Wiltshire a few weeks ago.
I’m not sure if you meant 5s were rare in the UK in their day because if you did you are wrong. The 5s were everywhere - I had one new in 1974 (TKK448N) the reason they are rare now is they rusted away. Mine was starting to rust by 3 years, in spite of being Ziebart rustproofed. Having said that it was a brilliant little car. .
I remember an uncle having one of these, having traded in a Triumph 1300. It certainly seemed very spartan after that luxurious little car and while painted metal has its place on show in the interior of a simple small car, I also remember the plethora of messy welds and joints in the metalwork which made it look very unfinished inside. Volkswagen did it much better decades later with the Up!. The Renault's ride, though, was spectacularly good especially when racing over hump back bridges; the car took off, landed squarely, crouched slowly on its suspension then gracefully rose up to its correct ride height - superb softness and damping the likes of which we just don't get in any car any more. This 5 did begin to succumb to rust; there seemed to be mud traps lurking somewhere around the rear wheel arches which is where the rot started but I think it would have spread if the car had been kept any longer.
Amazing to see an early R5 still alive. Are there any R14s left? It seemed unremarkable and rusted a lot but was really comfortable.
R14, the rotten pear.🍐
Magnifique!
The series one 5 TS was a brilliant car. Weighed next to nothing but, with a 1400 cc engine and twin choke carbs It would accelerate up to the red line and badly needed a fifth gear at the time and you could convince people it was about to tip over but only a rear wheel lifted and easily controlled. Alison’s a 14 also a TS and that too needed a fifth gear.
The 5TS had all the bits the basic ones did without. Rear wash wipe, reversing lights, radio cassette player and high back front seats. It a.so had a totally different dashboard to the others with a 6 dial set up. It and the 14 also had that great Renault idea of the spare wheel on top of the engine, thus saving all the boot space for luggage and both had the clever rear luggage cover that folded into the seat back of the rear seat.
Still driving a Renaults we have a Captur RS and an Austral mid spec, never can remember what it’s called but, it always returns over 60 mpg every day.
Shame about the “aftermarket” steering wheel but what a great car..!
So thank to its engine layout the R5 has a lot of "prestige space", (the space between wheel arch and door).
Pity about the non-standard steering wheel and optional (inferior) floor gear stick. Had one along with a '71 4L.
Mum had one with the umbrella gear lever RHD
Ive looked for one
But pretty much extinct
Nah. From back then, I saw the 2CV as weird, and beautiful.., and have owned 2 of them. The Renault 4 had a certain something. The Renault 5, no thank you, it seemed just quite bland to me. And still does.
I completely agree
I would never have called it chic. I always considered them ugly.
Lucky for Renault most people did think it was “chic” and Diana Spencer owned one prior to her engagement to Charles when the powers that be forced her into a Metro… Must have been a shock!
@@gileshalliwell3591 I doubt anyone forced her into a Metro.
@@colrhodes377 Yes it was obvious she couldn’t been seen driving a “foreign” car… no sane person would willingly move from an R5 to a Metro…
@gileshalliwell3591 You're presuming a whole lot. Diana was working at a kindergarten and had the Metro already. However, Charlie boy bought her another car, namely a Ford Escort Ghia.
@@colrhodes377 she had a Renault when she first met him and it wasn’t old…