Estimated Price: £30,000 - £35,000
Few hot hatchbacks have achieved the enduring reputation of the Renault Clio Williams. Introduced in 1993 to celebrate Renault's association with the Williams Formula One team, the original Williams 1 combined a naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre, 16-valve engine producing 150bhp with a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox and an exceptionally capable chassis. Finished in Metallic Sports Blue (449) with gold Speedline alloy wheels, the individually numbered Williams 1 became one of the defining performance cars of its generation.
First registered on 11th March 1994, this is Williams 1 No. 421, retaining its numbered dashboard plaque, Williams sports seats, blue seatbelts, carpeting and model-specific trim, together with a fascinating history within the British motoring press.
No. 421 formed part of EVO Magazine's 'Fast Fleet', appearing in numerous articles, road tests and comparisons. It subsequently featured in Top Gear Magazine in 2016 and was digitally captured for the Forza computer game series. This provenance attracted our vendor, who traced the car through an earlier magazine feature, eventually acquiring it directly from its previous owner, reportedly an EVO journalist.
During his current five-year ownership, the Clio underwent a three-year, nut-and-bolt restoration, completed in May 2023, with the intention of returning it as closely as possible to factory presentation. The body was stripped and mounted on a rotisserie, allowing normally inaccessible areas to receive the same attention as the exterior. Components and fasteners were photographed, catalogued and refurbished or replaced, with a worldwide search undertaken for scarce New Old Stock (NOS) Renault parts. Our vendor reports an investment running into tens of thousands of pounds.
The 2.0-litre engine was rebuilt with new pistons and a refurbished cylinder head, whilst the gearbox received new bearings, flywheel and clutch. Further work included a new radiator, starter motor, alternator, NOS Renault hoses, Williams springs and shock absorbers, wheel bearings, brake calipers and brake pipes. The subframe and suspension were refinished, whilst aluminium engine components were vapour-blasted and original hardware re-plated or refinished to replicate factory finishes.
The exterior received a comprehensive repaint, correct Williams graphics, NOS Renault windscreen, replacement window rubbers and sill protection vinyls. New NOS Speedline wheels were fitted with Michelin tyres, alongside a period-correct stainless-steel Scorpion exhaust, with the original silencer accompanying the car. Paint protection film and ceramic coating provide additional protection, whilst the largely unmodified interior retains its distinctive Williams trim and original parcel shelf with suit carrier.
The restoration is supported by photographic records and paperwork, with our vendor advising that the car has received multiple awards. The odometer indicated 102,134 miles at the time of cataloguing, with approximately 1,000 miles covered since completion. Accompanying documentation includes a stamped service book recording maintenance to approximately 99,000 miles, restoration records, media material and two keys. The V5C records seven former registered keepers, whilst the MOT remains valid until May 2027, issued without advisories.
The Clio Williams 1 has long been recognised as one of the great driver's cars of its era, but examples combining such an extensive restoration with this distinctive provenance are particularly difficult to replicate. From its EVO Magazine 'Fast Fleet' history to its Top Gear and Forza connections, No. 421 possesses a history every bit as interesting as the work undertaken to preserve it.
With a reported investment of tens of thousands of pounds, the ever-increasing cost of undertaking a restoration of this magnitude today, extensive use of NOS components and minimal mileage since completion, this must surely be considered amongst the very best examples available, offering a rare opportunity for the serious collector or marque enthusiast.
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