An impressive example of a 1982 Renault 5 with just 12 km on the odometer was recently found after spending 43 years abandoned in a garage in France.
On his Instagram profile, Farjones detailed the process of discovering the iconic car, which was in a deplorable condition. According to him, the vehicle had been purchased by a French woman at a Sodirac dealership in Chalon-sur-Saône in 1982.
It cost 40,000 French francs, equivalent to about US$7,200. At the time, this was a significant amount, considering that the minimum wage was around 3.35 French francs per hour, resulting in an average monthly income of roughly 3,000 francs.
The driver, who did not yet have a driver’s license, had the car delivered directly to her home. Painted in the rare metallic color Bleu Schiste, the vehicle left the dealership with a provisional adhesive license plate, valid for 15 days before final registration.
The definitive license plates were produced and were found in the car’s trunk. However, after being parked in the garage in 1982, the vehicle never left again. When discovered, the odometer showed just 12 km driven.
Apparently, the woman eventually obtained her driver’s license, but never felt comfortable behind the wheel. For this reason, and for other unspecified personal reasons, she never put the car on the road.
Now, the Renault 5 will likely be inspected and restored before being auctioned at an event organized by the French auction house Aguttes, scheduled for March 15.
Photos: Instagram @phares_jaunes_et_damiers. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
