This RENAULT SPORT set offered by IXO brings together three iconic elements from the golden age of French rallying: a yellow and white Saviem truck, a legendary Renault 5 Turbo in its orange, red, and black livery, and a transport trailer. This miniature collection perfectly captures the atmosphere of the 1980s, when Renault dominated European rallies with its compact cars and mobile technical teams.
A true concentrate of sporty automotive history, this RENAULT SPORT set is aimed at rally enthusiasts and collectors eager to relive the golden age of the diamond brand in competition. Each vehicle showcases Renault's total commitment to motorsport in the 1980s.
Miniature Features
- Model: RENAULT SPORT set (Saviem + Renault 5 Turbo + trailer)
- Brand: Renault/Saviem
- Year: 1980s
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: Yellow and white Saviem, orange, red, and black Renault 5 Turbo
- Protective case included: Yes
Real Model Description
The Renault 5 Turbo was born in 1980 from Renault's desire to create an absolute weapon for rallies. Unlike the traditional front-wheel-drive R5, this revolutionary version adopts a rear mid-mounted turbo engine layout. This radical transformation turns the friendly city car into a true special stage missile.
The accompanying Saviem truck represents the essential logistical infrastructure for rally teams. These assistance vehicles, recognized by their bright colors, transported spare parts, tools, and technical equipment over the most demanding routes. The trailer completed this ensemble by allowing the transport of additional cars or bulky equipment.
This trio formed the backbone of Renault Sport's rally campaigns, combining pure performance with logistical efficiency. The R5 Turbo achieved numerous rally victories, establishing Renault's sporting reputation for decades.
Brand Description
In the early 1980s, Renault was experiencing a sports renaissance driven by its Renault Sport division. The brand, which had already made a name for itself with the Alpine A110, sought to democratize performance with models derived from its production cars. This strategy allowed Renault to compete with German and Italian manufacturers in the field of sportiness.
The history of Renault, founded in 1899 by Louis Renault, was then at a decisive turning point. After being a pioneer of French automobiles and a major player in the war effort, Renault reinvented itself in the 1970s and 1980s. The nationalization of 1945 had allowed the company to modernize, and the 1980s marked the peak of this renaissance, particularly due to successes in Formula 1 and rallying.
Saviem, a subsidiary of Renault established in 1955, embodies French expertise in industrial vehicles. This brand naturally supports the sporting ambitions of its parent company by providing the essential heavy trucks needed for competition campaigns.
An Anecdote from the Real Vehicle
One of the most amusing anecdotes about the Renault 5 Turbo concerns its presentation at the 1980 Paris Motor Show. When Renault unveiled what looked like a slightly modified R5, visitors were perplexed by the announced price: nearly four times that of a classic R5! Only by lifting the rear hood did the surprise occur: where a trunk should have been, an imposing 160-horsepower turbo engine reigned.
The first journalistic tests sometimes turned into nightmares for drivers accustomed to the series R5. Jean-Louis Moncet, a famous automotive journalist, recounts having executed a spectacular spin during his first test, surprised by the radically different behavior of this seemingly innocuous R5. The car required a completely new approach, closer to that of a sports car than of a city car.
In rallies, the support Saviem trucks were quickly nicknamed "yellow ants" by spectators, as they seemed omnipresent on the routes. These vehicles became stars in their own right, with some drivers developing a genuine affection for "their" assistance truck. Bernard Darniche, a legendary figure in French rallying, fondly remembers his technical team and their miraculous interventions late at night on the Corsican or Cévennes roads.
This era marked the golden age of French rallying, where public passion turned every special stage into a national celebration. The Renault Sport convoys, with their bright colors and formidable efficiency, then embodied French excellence in motorsport, rivaling Audi and Lancia teams on all terrains.
Complete Your Miniature Collection
This RENAULT SPORT set holds a special place in the universe of IXO miniatures, particularly appreciated for its faithful reproductions of competition vehicles. The quality of finishing and respect for historical details make it a must-have for enthusiasts of rally miniatures.
This reproduction fits perfectly into a collection dedicated to Renault vehicles or sports cars from the 1980s. It naturally interacts with other iconic models from the time, creating a true chronicle of French sports automobiles. Passionate collectors of motorsport will find it an ideal supplement to the Formula 1 and endurance miniatures from the same period.
Whether you are a fan of Renault's history, a rally enthusiast, or a collector seeking representative pieces from the 1980s, this set constitutes an authentic testimony to an era when French innovation shone on racetracks around the world.
