1995 Renault Clio Williams 2

This Renault Clio Williams 2 was first registered on 7 March 1995 and is now showing 115,000 miles, but very little is known of the first ten years or so of its history.

The car had been locked in a garage for over 10 years from the early 2000s following an attempted theft which left damage to the driver’s door and a non-functioning alarm-immobiliser meaning that the car wouldn’t start. The then owner (the third keeper of the car) parked it up with the intention of getting round to fixing it one day but later on when their circumstances changed, it was put up for sale.

So in August 2015, the current owner bought the car as a non-running project and began some extensive recommissioning, keeping things as original as possible - see the History Highlights section for a summary of what work was done.

He wasn’t especially a fan of hot-hatches so his intention was to fix it up and sell it on but unexpectedly he really enjoyed driving it, so it stayed. “It’s been totally reliable and great fun to drive.” he says, “We went to Le Mans Classic 24hr in 2016 and it didn't miss a beat, and there have been numerous trips to North Wales, East Anglia, Lake District and Yorkshire. No matter where I would want to go, I'd feel confident that I could jump in and go without giving a second thought about whether I'd get there. It usually returns 40+ MPG which isn't bad for an old car either.”

He is selling now as his current situation prevents him from doing the exterior work required to take the car back up to the level it deserves. 

The metallic Sports Blue paintwork is in a reasonable condition for a 25 year old car with over 100,000 miles on the clock and we can see no evidence of any serious accident repairs. But it has had quite a few localised resprays which have resulted in a number of slightly different shades of blue now adorning the car.

There are a number of areas where small patches of rust are coming through, such as the top rims of both doors, above the driver’s door, next to the driver side sill kick plate and some bubbling on the door frames. There are also a number of parking scuffs on the bumpers, along with small stone chips and a few trolley dings in both doors. The rear screen wiper arm is also missing its cover trim.

On opening, the driver’s door drops slightly suggesting a weak or loose hinge. There are a set of new bushes and pins in the spares box in the boot to address this but the task hasn’t yet been tackled.

The Speedline alloy wheels - stripped and recoated in gold during recommissioning - are in very good order and are fitted with matching Jinyu tyres which, the vendor reports, cope well with the power from the F7R engine well, even in the wet. 

By way of contrast to the outside, the interior is very good, especially given the mileage on the car. The deeply bolstered sports seats appear in great condition with their unique black pattern and blue piping. They are still supportive and comfortable and also feature the blue monogram "W" on the seat backs. In fact, all the unique Clio Williams blue touches; dials, gear knob fillet and seatbelts are present and in good condition.

The Philips radio-cassette is believed to be original equipment or at worst period-correct and works as it should. The speakers are original and so there are no additional holes in the door cards or parcel shelf.

The blue carpets show a few light marks but there are no signs of damage and there are protective rubber mats front and rear. The parcel shelf, often damaged or missing, still has the zip-up suit-carrier underneath but has slight wear on the corners.

Despite valiant efforts in repairing the car following the break-in, there are still a few gremlins in the wiring which reveal themselves inside the car. The rev counter and oil pressure gauge only work intermittently - improving with regular use, oil pressure and temperature warning lights stay lit (see History Highlights) and the passenger side door lock only works intermittently on the keyfob - again seemingly improving with regular use. 

Under the bonnet in the engine bay, all is complete and looks neat and tidy. The original air filter box is present, the original and hard to replace exhaust heat shield by the bulkhead is there but has been repaired. There are small hints of rust around the bonnet catch, the rim of the bonnet lid and on a few fixings but nothing of significance or concern. Unusually, the jack is stowed under a scuttle grille behind the engine bay.

The undersides of the car present in a reasonably clean condition, not having the years of road dirt and corrosion that you would normally expect. Floor pans still show their underseal and the main steering and suspension components all appear in reasonable order.

In the boot, the carpet and linings are slightly discoloured but tidy and intact. There is a little rust evident in the lower corners of the hatch lid around the drain holes but elsewhere, including the floor under the carpet,vulnerable areas look sound. The boot contains the wheel brace but the spare wheel is held in a wire cage underneath the car. The car comes with a Haynes Workshop Manual and a box of both spares and original items which were maybe removed but replaced with non-OEM parts such as the front fog lights.

Whilst we always encourage an inspection in person if possible, we understand that some potential bidders may be limiting travel and social exposure. Be sure to scrutinise the detailed photos in the gallery first but, as we are looking after the car during the auction, why not use the ‘Contact Seller’ option to arrange a viewing or set up a video call with us to discuss the car and we can zoom in on any areas you’d like a closer look at. 

No documentation exists for the car before current ownership started in 2015, although the vendor has kept most invoices and documents from then on. Online MOT records show just a single failure back in 2017 for corrosion near the towbar mounting point - as if anyone would want to fit a towbar to a Clio Williams? The car comes with a current MOT certificate valid until November 2020.

As previously mentioned, the car was recommissioned by the current owner in late 2015 where virtually every part of the car was cleaned, checked and repaired or renewed as required. This included:

Timing belt & pulleys

Radiator, thermostat & water pump

Battery, alternator & starter motor

Gearbox lower mount

Front coil springs and ball joints

Front wheel bearings

Rear silencer replaced (middle box also replaced early 2020)

Brakes: front discs (rears were fine), pads all round, front brake hoses (new rear flexi hoses included in sale but not fitted), master cylinder, calipers refurbished

Speedline alloy wheels stripped, powder coated and new tyres fitted

Front fog lights: aftermarket units fitted (originals rare) and yellow tint applied

Routine service: oil change plus all filters, spark plugs, distributor cap & rotor arm

Due to the previous break-in damage to the driver’s door around the lock, the ignition and all the locks on the car were changed so that everything operates on the same key as it should. The car comes with two keys and one alarm fob.

There are oil pressure and temperature warning lights showing on the dashboard but the owner has been advised that nothing is wrong with either system. The indicated faults are understood to be a by-product of electrical gremlins following damage to the alarm system, when the would-be thief attempted to hot-wire the car, although the alarm/immobiliser itself now appears to function correctly.

A local car alarm specialist has advised that fitting a more modern alarm/immobiliser would fix the issues (the original system no longer being made) but with lock-down the business has been closed.

Around 2017-18, the wheel arches were cleaned back and repainted to deal with surface rust creeping under the paint. In early 2020 a new original spec Valeo clutch was fitted which, according to the vendor, has made a big difference to the way the car drives, especially when changing gear quickly. 

The Renault Clio Williams continues to be a popular choice for collectors and fans of hot hatches, and owners report nothing but positive comments from visitors to shows and events. Regardless of the Williams F1 team’s name just being an endorser brand rather than baked into the DNA of the car, it is still a popular association and the car has a genuine connection to rallying.

This Clio Williams 2 is a very usable car, which drives well with no knocking or rattling. It has well-sorted mechanicals and a marvellous interior and it can be enjoyed as it is. With a little time, energy, love and money, the new owner can take it to the next value level by improving the exterior finish.

We think this iconic, 205 GTI-beating, slice of ‘90s hot-hatchery will fetch between £6,000 and £11,000 but as it’s being offered at NO RESERVE, there’s nothing stopping you putting in a cheeky bid to try and bag a bargain.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; 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’.