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1991 Renault Clio 16v Dimma, John Hemming
The Renault Clio of this era was a popular small car that found plenty of buyers thanks to its neat styling and ease of ownership. But as you can see for yourself it’s fair to say that this one is a little bit different, and rather more eye-catching…
John says that he owned Dimma-styled Peugeot 205 GTIs many years ago and fancied having another, but struggled to find something suitable. “I searched for months but without success, and then came across this Renault which turns out to be quite rare. Only 38 were made and this one is number 13.”
He goes on to say that while he wanted a Dimma car - and looked for them online every day - he hadn’t considered the Renault. A good friend inspected the car and reported back that it was in very poor condition, so he knew that a complete restoration was going to be needed.
That would include removal of the body kit, a full respray in the Nissan Skyline GTR colour of Bayside Blue and a whole lot more. It also involved sourcing a donor car that would supply replacements for the badly-corroded wings and chassis sections, and with every single nut and bolt replaced it’s now like a new car inside and out. It cost a lot of money as you might expect!
The cool French hatchback also sports an interior from a Clio Williams, and John adds that the engine is a mix of Willams and original 16-valve parts. He reports that performance is impressive, so it now goes as well it as looks.
The restoration took around 18 months to complete, and it’s certainly been enjoyed since although it never gets driven in the rain. After tackling so much rust we can definitely understand that.
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