2003 Renault Clio V6

In the care of the vendor for almost eight years as part of his extensive collection of classic cars, this eye-catching Clio V6 Renault Sport, finished in what might be the most iconic Renault livery of them all, has only covered around 2,000 miles while in his curation and a total of only 46,100 miles from new.

Number 1167 of only 1,513 ever built, it is almost completely standard mechanically, making it of interest to both the collector and the enthusiast. Robust and reliable, the vendor tells us that it has never failed to start, even after lying unused for months at a time. 

Best of all, it’s being offered with no reserve, which means that it will sell from the very first bid.

Originally finished in a silver/blue metallic, this beautifully presented Clio was used at one point for a spot of weekend hillclimbing, which explains why it has been repainted in the famous black, white and yellow Renault Motorsport livery.

The work was done by JayTek Racing in Birmingham and it was done very well indeed. The finish has stood up splendidly to its (admittedly light) use since then, and panel fit and finish are also surprisingly good for what is essentially a hand-built car.

The 17-inch OZ Racing alloy wheels are in fine fettle, with only the odd stonechip to mar their finish. Finished in black, they offer a stark contrast to the upgraded yellow AP Racing brake calipers that peek between the sixteen spoked front wheels.

The tyres are matching directional 205/50 ZR 17 on the front and 225/45 ZR 17 on the rear. All are Toyo Proxes and all have good tread, although we have noticed that the rear wheels have been fitted to the wrong side and so will need to be swapped round.

As we will never tyre of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Problems, other than the need to swap the rear wheels round, are minimal and amount to little more than the odd stonechip here and there and minor scuff on the underside of the front splitter. None of it is especially noticeable, and we’d leave well alone and just concentrate on enjoying what might be the most usable example of its type on sale today.

Oh, and the ‘J5 CUO’ cherished number will stay with the car.

If you find the design of the Clio’s grey and dark blue interior somewhat underwhelming (and who would blame you as it is essentially standard fare…) then you will at least be delighted to see that it’s in such good condition.

With only the very gentlest of patination to the model-specific leather and Alcantara front seats, the Clio wears its 46,000 miles more lightly than many we’ve seen. The seats are still supportive and comfortable, balancing those competing demands surprisingly well.

It’s the same story with the steering wheel, carpets, door cards, dashboard, and headlining; all are completely standard and all are in great shape and in need of nothing. Even the model-specific trim over the engine is in great shape and holding back the years gracefully.

The rear seats are, of course, MIA and replaced by a purposeful engine cover that might hide the oily bits but does little to silence the anguished howl from the V6 that sits directly behind you. Still, if you want sensible then we hear Kia’s seven-year warranty is unbeatable…

Speaking of which, the rear boot/engine bay is home to the small but perfectly formed toolkit.

The Clio has only done 46,100 miles from new and comes with a full service history from a mixture of main dealers and independent specialists.

The engine, gearbox and rear subframe were removed as a unit in February 2018 in order to replace the cambelt, tensioner, and waterpump as part of the car’s planned preventative maintenance.

A Janspeed exhaust system helps the engine breath more freely and adds a suitably boisterous note to the engine’s already impressive blare and it was fitted with a new clutch in October 2010 and 39,072 miles.

The engine itself is neat and clean, but not obsessively so. This is entirely in keeping with this example’s role as a driver’s car rather than a static showroom exhibit, although detailing it to a good standard would be very straightforward should the new owner want to go down that route.

The front boot is lightly populated with a Bosch battery, wiring and braking components. All look to be in good order.

The Clio’s MOT certificate expires in March 2021, and the ticket was gained without a single advisory point. The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and confirms the car’s low mileage.

The car also comes with a number of expired MOT certificates, plus some old invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years as well as a stamped service history booklet showing a mixture of main dealer and independent specialist stamps.

It also comes with the original owner’s handbook, and the original equipment Renault wallet with which to keep the paperwork safe and secure.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest standard.

NB. We know that you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on. Or, even better, contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call, where you can direct us in real-time.

With such a limited production run – just 250 right-hand-drive examples found their way to the UK – the Clio V6 is proving to be a good investment, and with the price of the very best examples having topped £40,000 a while ago, the £16,000 to £26,000 we estimate this one will sell for is something of a bargain.

Why so cheap? Well, the vendor acknowledges that the livery is going to be polarising and as it is painted on rather than a wrap, it’s going to be considerably more complicated to remove should the new owner not like it.

But, we think this might be a good thing if you’re looking for a tidy example to drive rather than to mothball; recently serviced and with a low mileage, this one is beautifully fettled, completely standard, and is itching to be thrashed mercilessly once the current travelling restrictions are lifted - and, for those of a motorsport bent, it would be the perfect tool for events such as the annual Circuit des Remparts at Angoulême

And, there’s even better news as it is being offered with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid, no matter how derisory that might be.

This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.