In 2022, you are aware that the Renault 5 celebrated its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, we brought out the 1979 Renault 5 Alpine from its “den” at the Renault factory in Flins. For an afternoon, under a brilliant sun, we plunged into an era of automotive pleasures that may be gone today… As the Renault 5 E-Tech electric and Alpine A290, both 100% electric, begin their commercial careers, it is an opportunity to pay tribute to the original Renault 5 of yesteryear, the real one, by republishing our 2022 test.
Throughout 2022, the former Régie Renault went all out to celebrate its star city car. That same year, during the Le Mans Classic, the exhibition dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Renault 5 attracted young and old alike. The charm of the R5 touches all generations of car enthusiasts. Imagine the pleasure we had during the test of the Renault 5 Alpine. Today, it seems that the new Renault 5 E-Tech electric and Alpine A290 are meeting the same enthusiasm as the launch of the R5 in 1972, but for how long?
The Renault Classic department restored this Renault 5 Alpine and other versions to perfection. These are part of the Renault collection based in Flins, which we revisited in another report in 2022. You can rediscover or discover it by clicking on the image above.
Bright and sparkling, the black Renault 5 Alpine from this test irresistibly attracted us like a magnet. Recognizable by its specific front/rear bumpers, “A5” logos, and colored stripes, this R5 is equipped with the famous “Bobine” rims, an evolution introduced in 1977 to replace the Fergat wheels. These small 13-inch wheels represent an entire era.
The interior of the Renault 5 Alpine, owned by Renault Classic, also takes us back to the 70s: red front seats with integrated headrests, a very large steering wheel, quality plastics of the time, and more… Not to mention the Iso-Delta steering wheel with three spokes. It’s hard to resist this vintage atmosphere. Although basic, this interior is irresistible as modern cars are sometimes a bit cold due to their high-tech devices, other integrated controls, and touch-sensitive buttons.
Mechanically, our test Renault 5 Alpine is, of course, not equipped with a turbo. It wasn’t until 1981 that turbocharging appeared on the A5, which then took the name Renault 5 Alpine Turbo. Under its front hood, the A5 carries a 1,397 cm³ (85.3 cubic inch) inline 4-cylinder engine. This “naturally aspirated” block is paired with a Weber dual-body carburetor, reaching a power of 93 hp (at 6,400 rpm) and a torque of 118 Nm (at 4,000 rpm). The Renault 5 Alpine is also optimized with anti-roll bars and advanced shock absorbers.
In terms of transmission, a 5-speed manual gearbox sends the 93 hp to the front wheels. The braking system consists of front brake discs taken from the Renault 12 and rear drums. Indeed, this first sporty R5 had to remain accessible to as many buyers as possible.
Once seated behind the wheel of the Renault 5 Alpine, the charm works immediately. The very inclined steering wheel position destabilizes us somewhat, but we don’t wait a second to turn the ignition key.
In 2022, on the superb roads of Vexin, driving the A5, we feel a lightness that we provocatively qualify as authentic. Today, an electric car weighs significantly more than the Renault 5, which weighs 850 kg (1,874 lbs). All our senses are awakened as the thin sheets that make up the body of the little Renault are fine. Its grandiose glass surfaces for the time also offer us a perfect view of the element we love to travel tirelessly: the road. Here we touch on lost automotive sensations that make the charm of an old car. It vibrates, moves, and makes noise. Of course, today’s cars are much safer, hence a higher weight.
When accelerating, the Renault 5 Alpine’s 4-cylinder surprises with its high-revving stretch. We like to flirt with the red zone. Even if the gearshift lever’s guidance is far from perfect, we literally have fun chaining the gears.
Approaching a turn, we remain humble and calm, anticipating as much as possible. We temper our ardor, knowing the A5 makes us want to go even faster. But the moment we press the brake pedal, the “bombinette” reassures us. The feedback to our right foot is quite precise. In a curve, it moves at the start of a turn, but the Renault 5 Alpine surprises us again with a certain serenity it provides. You just have to let yourself go because the A5 holds its course impressively. As the expression goes, “she wraps.” At that moment, the pleasure we feel is total.
Finally, if we had to summarize this unique Renault Classic test in one sentence: the defects of old cars are their qualities. Safe, highly technological, performant, and comfortable, modern cars are, to caricature to the maximum, all the same: sanitized. In a few hours, the Renault 5 Alpine made us live a great moment of passion and carefree driving.
Text, test, and photos: Frédéric Lagadec
