So the Toyota GR Yaris is getting a follow-up. Well, a mid-life facelift at any rate. That’s standard fare for most cars given it helps manufacturers shift models that have been on the shelf for a few years, but less so for homologation specials. The whole point of them is to allow a company to go racing (or rallying), which has historically meant firing out as few examples as possible to scrape through the regulations. And while the GR Yaris never fulfilled its initial role as a rally special, it was conceived as such and probably isn’t making Toyota as much money as a regular Yaris would.
The same goes for almost every era of production-based rally cars. Audi built just 214 Sport Quattros (of which 164 actually reached customers), and while the official line from Lancia was the 037 and Delta S4 earned 200 road-going examples apiece, it’s widely believed real-world numbers were considerably lower than that. Why? Because they were expensive and, frankly, a nuisance. Renault, on the other hand, did things a little differently with its rally special. The French carmaker launched two versions of Renault 5 Turbo, with the second iteration serving a slightly different purpose to the first.
In a nutshell, the original Renault 5 Turbo was equipped with all the bells and whistles so that the French marque could scrape through the Group 4 homologation process. That included Bertone-designed wider rear arches with extra cooling for the mid-mounted 1.4-litre turbo four, lightweight bodywork and a bespoke interior that mirrored the rally car. But once the required 400 examples had been produced, Renault switched its attention to a follow-up model. The Turbo 2 wouldn't be a rally special for the road, it would be a slightly simpler and more attainable offering - and, crucially, easier to produce in greater numbers.
All the core ingredients of the R5 Turbo were retained for the Turbo Deux, including the mid-engine layout, boosty 160hp engine (albeit with a dip in torque) and blistered arches. The important stuff, then. It was, however, built on the same platform as the Renault 5 Alpine, meaning it did away with the lighter aluminium bodywork, rally-esque cabin and the unique Bertone seats. The cost-cutting measures resulted in a 70kg increase in weight, adding a smidgen over a second to the claimed 0-62mph time - from 6.6 to 7.7 seconds - but we still found it to be a properly engaging (and chuckable) sports car when we sampled one a few years back.
Despite that, Turbo 2s don’t have the same cache as original R5 Turbos among collectors. But that just means you can bag a quirky rally special with boxy arches for a sizeable discount over the near-identical-looking original. Take this 1985 car, for example. It’s covered just 28,195km (that’s 17,520 miles in our money) and looks about as immaculate as a near-40 French hatchback can be. The seller’s asking £89,995 for it, whereas you’ll likely need to find north of six figures to secure a Turbo 1 in as good a nick.
Admittedly, the condition of this Turbo 2 has come at a considerable cost to the previous owner (to the tune of over £60,000, so says the ad). It was discovered tucked in the back of a Japanese barn in 2020 and shipped to the UK for extensive restoration works. That included an interior re-trim, gearbox rebuild, and structural repairs - the works, basically. Only the bodywork was left untouched, with the seller claiming it still proudly shows its ‘original patina’. Whether you leave it as it is or take an electric polisher to it, it always makes us happy to see a car like this get rescued. Hopefully, that means there are plenty more years of sideways action left in it.
SPECIFICATION | RENAULT 5 TURBO 2
Engine: 1,397cc four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 160@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 155@3,250rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1985
Recorded mileage: 17,520
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £89,995
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