A spin-off from the ‘Clio Trophy’ race series and first previewed at the Paris Motor Show in 1998, the Clio V6 230 was in many ways the spiritual successor to the mid-engined 5-Turbo. Launched in 2001, the wide-hipped, mid-engined ‘baby supercar' was broadly based on the Clio Mk II but the V6 variant actually shared very little with its standard counterpart. Where the rear seats would normally be, nestled a tweaked version of the proven and unstressed 3.0-litre, 24v, V6 unit from the Laguna saloon offering access to 227bhp (230PS) fed to the rear wheels and enabling 0-60 in 6.2 seconds and 146mph, not for the faint-hearted in such a diminutive ‘rocket ship’. The Phase 1 cars were assembled by hand at the Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) workshops in Uddevalla in Sweden, using parts shipped from France.

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a modern classic that already has a cult following, is fast becoming highly collectable and tipped to become a must-have for any notable classic car collection. This right-hand drive, UK-supplied Phase 1 Clio V6 is finished in sparkling Iceberg Silver with a Charcoal half leather and Alcantara interior.

Indicating just 45,237 miles at the time of cataloguing, this genuine V6 has been enjoyed by four previous owners over the last 19 years. In 2021, the car benefitted from a complete underbody restoration which is documented with stage-by-stage images and completed by one of the UK's leading Renault V6 specialists. Invoices add up to around £9,000 with perishable items replaced and mechanical items refurbished or replaced where necessary. The V6 is now absolutely on-the-button and handles exactly as it should and its new owner can enjoy peace of mind knowing that the car has been recently thoroughly checked over by a highly regarded specialist. New premium-brand tyres have recently been fitted and the steering wheel has been re-trimmed to address a common issue on Renault cars from this era.

This lovely Renault is accompanied by its history file which contains a current V5C ready for transfer, the current MOT valid until March 2023, various invoices for maintenance over the years and details of the underside restoration. Also included in the sale is the model-specific private registration number, V6 FCU.