1998 Renault Spider

The Renault Sport Spider we are pleased to offer here is a 1998 example finished in the striking colour of yellow. The car has done less than 15.000km since new and is offered from single ownership, the seller having bought the car at the Brussels Renault dealership in 1998. The example on sale is in excellent condition throughout and has been lovingly kept by its long-term and unique owner.

The car is presented in an attractive yellow livery with some of the body panels in grey colour. The fibre body does not show any signs of accidents and only has very few minor paint chips that are only visible on close inspection (see pictures). The wheels are free from scratches and do not show any corrosion, the owner confirms that he never drove the car in the rain or on wet roads. The rear tires appear to be quite old and should most likely be replaced, and we recommend replacing the front tires as well to enjoy maximum driving pleasure. The lights are free from tarnish and the lenses are not damaged in any way. The original tonneau cover that can be put over the cockpit, using clips to fix it, comes with the car and is in perfect condition. Both side windows are original to the car as their stampings prove. The example presented is fitted with a windscreen, which drastically improves usability of the car. The windscreen is in excellent condition and not damaged by stone chips. The upper window frame is slightly scratched on the driver’s side.

The inside of the very basic cockpit is in an excellent state of preservation, which is not surprising, knowing that this example has seen very little use in its life. The black leather sports seats are in as new condition without scratches or tears and look as inviting as ever. The dashboard and steering wheel look as new and the lenses of the three instruments mounted in front of the driver are perfectly intact. There are some scratches on the plastic panel in the footwell, but we think that those can be removed with some plastic cleaner. The door cards are in equally good condition and the aluminium plate on the doorsill does not have major scratches. When sitting inside the Renault Sport Spider, you cannot help but realize this car means business, as most of the lightweight aluminium box chassis is visible, and on the example on offer, it does not have any dents or scratches and is as shiny as it can be. The three pedals and footrest are made of aluminium and complete the sporty look of the interior.

Given the very low mileage, the car presents exceptionally well from underneath. No rust, apart from very light surface rust to the exhaust and the suspension is visible. As a matter of fact, much of the car is made of fibre or aluminium, which is not at risk of rust at all. All the suspension bushes appear in perfect nick and there is no oil leak visible from the engine or gearbox. In fact, almost all of the factory mounting markings are still perfectly visible. When opening the rear bonnet, the mid-mounted engine is visible. The engine bay is very clean and well maintained and looks completely original to us. The owner has always taken very good care of his beloved Spider, doing the necessary maintenance. If the new owner wants to be on the safe side, he could have the oil and brake liquid replaced. The battery is fitted with a cut-off switch, which makes storing the car over the winter easier. When lifting the rear and front clamshells, the chassis is well visible, and in none of the pictures, we could spot any signs of cracks or accident damage.

The Renault Spider on offer was purchased new by the seller in May 1998 and although it did officially change hands a couple of times, this was only because the owner sold the car from one of his companies to the other; Nickel Car and Michel Cov SA. The caretaker reports that he saw the Spider model at the 1998 Brussels Motor Show and promptly took the decision to purchase one. He never regretted the move and enthusiastically owned the car for more than two decades, with most of the driving done in Belgium. The longest trip was for a day trip to Lille in the North of France. Unfortunately, health issues have now made our client decide it is time for somebody else to enjoy this unique motorcar. The Renault is offered with a full ownership documentation, original invoices, catalogues, tonneau cover and tools.

Rare are the people that can say they have seen a Renault Sport Spider on the open road, and those that have driven or owned one are even rarer. These cars are not particularly usable on a daily basis or for a drive to the South of France (unless you travel light), but they definitely are great fun for a weekend getaway on empty twisting country roads. The laterally mounted four-cylinder engine develops enough power to guarantee a lot of fun and the rarity of the model will make many heads turn, wherever you go. Our example is fitted with the optional windscreen and wiper, which means that a bit of rain is not necessarily an issue, but be advised that the lack of notable driving assistants and rear-wheel drive make this a sports machine that wants to be tamed!

These cars do not often come to market, and examples with low mileage and provenance like this are almost impossible to find. This is an opportunity not to be missed, the summer is not over yet and there is plenty of time left to enjoy this pocket rocket!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.