Description
The car presented here is a 1994 Renault Clio Williams, #0180 of the original production run known as ‘Phase 1’. It was one of only 390 examples allocated to the UK and was supplied new by Renault main dealer, Kings of Taunton, in December 1993 and first registered on the 1st January 1994. It's accompanied by an extensive history file, which includes the original service book containing mostly Renault main dealer stamps - 16 in total. Remarkably, the handover checklist documents issued to the first owner, a Mrs Margaret McPherson, are also in the file together with the original Williams book-pack, drivers manual, Williams maintenance guide, brochures, numerous tax discs, original Philips (DC521) radio cassette manual and warranty card, and original Renault security wallet. All Renault service invoices from new (Graham & Bowness, Kings of Taunton and Nicholas Smith) are in the file, plus every MOT Certificate from 1998.
The Clio has been the recipient of a comprehensive restoration, carried out as closely as possible to the original factory specification, with over 2, 000 hours invested. Phil was nominated ‘Restorer of the Year’ at the Lancaster Insurance NEC event in 2020 and this car is widely known amongst the Phase 1 Clio collectors in the UK.
Prior to the restoration the car had just three owners, again, as fully outlined by the number of documents, invoices and receipts on file - the car had obviously been cherished throughout its life!
The car has covered circa 3, 200 miles since the restoration, has been MOT’d annually (with no advisories) and always kept in a heated garage. The bodywork and paintwork are ‘simply exceptional’, as is the interior and underside.
It’s an absolute pleasure to drive.”
To support the car’s extensive and detailed restoration there are over 2, 000 images showing every step of the restoration. Following its completion, the final addition was to replace the instrument cluster and a new set of clocks at zero miles. This was obviously not to fool anyone, but to support the fact that the vast majority of the car had been renewed or replaced and was deemed worthy of a zero-mileage status. Importantly, the original odometer was retained for future reference showing the 129, 417 miles that the car had covered prior to the restoration.
Recent additions include a bespoke stainless-steel exhaust system by Pipe Werx, a restored oil pressure gauge sender unit by Jason Maher (now providing an accurate reading), a rare original Williams/ 16v front & rear rubber floor-mat set (originally a dealer accessory option when new) and the spare wheel (below the boot) has been shot-blasted and powder-coated. Additional attention to detail like the original Philips radio/ cassette unit has been serviced and the cassette heads cleaned – simply remarkable stuff! There is even a Coverdale bespoke navy-blue indoor car cover.
There are additional extensive detailed notes in the history file from restorer Phil Walker outlining the restoration, and of course, a copy of the magazine feature in which the car starred.
A brief summary of restoration:
• Full metal restoration of bare shell to include an OEM rear AS 1/ 4 panel
• Full professional bare-shell respray
• Full 2-part epoxy underbody protection system
• Fully rebuilt engine, including balanced crankshaft, flywheel & clutch
• New clutch
• Refurbished drive shafts
• Refurbished brake callipers front and rear
• New brake lines
• New fuel lines
• New Radiator and coolant pipes
• New coolant header tank
• Refurbished rear axle
• New Renault OEM front dampers
• New Renault OEM rear dampers
• New OEM front wishbones and bushes
• Refurbished ARB and poly bushes
• Refurbished steering rack
• New steering arms & Steering arm gators
• New steering ball joints
• New interior heater
• Refurbished underbody heat shields
• Stainless steel exhaust system made to original dimensions
• New lambda sensor
• Refurbished wheels to correct colour and polished rim
• New tyres
• Full specialist geometry set up, including camber bolts to -1 degree
Quite simply, ‘Best-of-breed’, no question.
