Renault 5 GT Turbo Dimma | Spotted

Spend long enough in the PH classifieds (occupational hazard in this job) and, perhaps inevitably, fewer gems tend to emerge. There’s always lots of cool stuff for sale, if little you haven’t seen before. And everything is more expensive than it used to be. Proper surprises don’t come up all that often, which only makes them even more exciting when they do; enter the Renault 5 GT Turbo Dimma. 

Yep, we got one folks. A bigger ’90s pinup than Carmen Electra, the Dimma’d Renault 5 was the dream machine for what’s now known as Gen X. Maybe the older millennials, too. Max Power lads, for want of a better phrase. In truth all of the Dimma machines were lusted after by car-crazy young people at the end of the 20th century; the UK offshoot of the Belgian company was established in 1986 by Terry Pankhurst, and soon had a reputation for making magnificent mini supercars of French hot hatches. 

The 205 GTI was the big ticket conversion, especially Dimma’s four-wheel-drive, Cossie-powered one – because why leave Peugeot to have all the T16 fun? The 205s definitely seemed to be the most popular Dimma conversion, but the company also created kits for the 106, 206, 309, Renault Clio and even Fiat Uno. It’s very easy to lose a lot of time in the Dimma gallery. 

A GT Turbo had all the fun of forced induction in its favour as well, a suitably silly soundtrack to go alongside the wild looks. Well, we say that – by modern standards this really isn’t so outrageous, because a Renault 5 was a genuinely small, small car. Certainly the rear three-quarter remains the Dimma’s best angle, convincingly channeling some mid-engined 5 Turbo energy with the puffed-out arches, spoiler like a lean-to and rude dish to the 16-inch wheels. Many people added bodykits to the 5 GT Turbo back in the day, but nobody quite did it like Dimma. 

This one is believed to be one of just two such 5s remaining; it could well be one of the cars in the Dimma gallery. Registered new in 1987, it was converted in July 1997 by the second owner – what a time to be alive. The advert says that ‘later additions such as clear indicators, revised grille and DTM style mirrors are also provided’; it really is as ’90s as The Big Breakfast, and probably even more fun. 

The Dimma is no mere time capsule, either; lots has been spent recently on restoring it, with a host of new or reconditioned parts as well as engine work. The 1.4-litre turbo came out of the car for that, and the engine bay tidied up in the process. In case the exterior pics didn’t do it for you, those from under the bonnet certainly will.   It’s a glorious little thing, a rare case of reality being better than you remembered. (Though that might just speak to the quality of the restoration.) From the NACA ducts to the exhaust and white-faced dials to the intact parcel shelf, you wouldn’t change a thing. You’d just take it and show it to every car person possible, all the time. Then ask for donations to look around the late 20th-century museum exhibit; after all, it costs more than £40k to buy – that’s got to be recouped somehow…

Engine: 1,397cc, 4 cylinders, turbocharged
Transmission: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 120@5,750rpm (standard car)
Torque (lb ft): 121@3,750rpm (standard car)
0-60mph: 7.5 sec
Top speed: 127mph
CO2: N/A
MPG: N/A
Year registered: 1987
Price new: £11,200
Yours for: £POA