As Renault prepares to unveil its new global heritage centre in 2027, the brand is taking an unprecedented step: opening the doors to its private automotive treasury and placing one hundred historic vehicles under the hammer. In partnership with Artcurial Motorcars, the manufacturer will host a landmark auction on 7 December 2025 at the historic Flins-sur-Seine site, just outside Paris—a location that will soon become the permanent home of Renault’s entire cultural and automotive collection.
It is not merely a sale; it is a moment of transition. With 125 years of innovation to curate, Renault is reorganising its holdings to preserve 600 of its most significant and unique models. In cases where the collection owns two or three examples of the same vehicle, the brand will offer selected duplicates to collectors, ensuring at least one of each model remains safeguarded within the future heritage centre.
The result is an auction of rare breadth and emotional weight: a century-spanning journey through engineering milestones, motorsport triumphs, design experiments and industrial storytelling—most of it offered without reserve.
A Century of Renault, Told Through 100 Extraordinary Machines
At the heart of this event is a treasure-trove of 100 historic vehicles drawn from Renault’s 800-strong collection. Each lot reveals a different facet of the brand’s identity, from early mechanical ingenuity to boundary-pushing racing technology and the beloved icons that shaped everyday mobility.
The Beginnings: 1898–1930s
The sale opens a window to the pioneering spirit of Louis Renault. Among the earliest pieces is a fully functional Type D from 1901, a time capsule of the brand’s earliest engineering philosophy. A rare 1933 Renault bus further illustrates the marque’s early expansion into public transport and industrial solutions.
The event also showcases the collection’s carefully constructed replicas of the original 1898 Type A—both in internal-combustion and electric form—built in limited numbers for Renault’s centenary in 1998. They stand as a symbolic bridge between the brand’s origins and its forward-looking, electrified present.
Motorsport: A Tribute to Turbocharged Revolution
Renault’s role in reshaping Formula 1 technology is central to the auction’s motorsport offering. The brand famously pioneered the turbocharged engine in F1, debuting the groundbreaking RS01 in 1977. Though initially mocked as the “Yellow Teapot” for its reliability challenges, the RS01 ultimately paved the way for a decade of engineering transformation.
Twenty authentic F1 cars from the legendary turbo era (1981–1985) will cross the block, including the RE27B, RE40, and RE60 01B. Many were piloted by motorsport greats—Jean-Pierre Jabouille, René Arnoux, Patrick Tambay, Eddie Cheever and Alain Prost—as Renault amassed 15 victories and 31 pole positions between 1977 and 1985.
The RE40, winner of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, stands as a centrepiece. Several cars also come with original engineering notebooks from Viry-Châtillon—rare insights into the technical thinking behind a motorsport revolution.
Endurance Legends: Alpine at Le Mans
A highlight for endurance racing enthusiasts is the Alpine A442, shown in its original chassis 0 configuration. A symbol of French motorsport ambition, it competed at Imola and the Nürburgring in 1975 before returning to Le Mans in 1977. Today it wears a livery reminiscent of Renault’s high-speed Columbus speed-ring tests from late 1977, a visual reminder of its relentless pursuit of velocity.
Rally Icons: The Renault 5 Turbo Era
Renault’s rally heritage is represented by machines steeped in authenticity and dirt-baked drama. The Maxi Turbo 5 prototype B0 stands as a tribute to the explosive Group B years, while the Renault 5 GT Turbo Bandama still carries traces of African red earth—a raw and unpolished souvenir from Alain Oreille’s World Championship exploits.
Everyday Icons and Modern Classics
Collectors seeking more accessible yet equally soulful models will find examples of the 4CV, the beloved R5 Police, the Floride “Disney” edition and the increasingly coveted Clio Williams. Some are freshly restored, others preserved in remarkably original condition, and several come complete with registration documents—a rare opportunity to acquire a manufacturer-certified piece of automotive history.
Alpine Excellence
Beyond the A442, the auction features an array of Alpine models, including the formidable A610 Evolution—the most powerful Alpine ever built—along with the Alpine V6 Turbo and an A110 design mock-up.
Beyond the Cars: A Museum’s Worth of Artefacts
The sale extends far beyond complete vehicles, offering around 100 additional objects that capture Renault’s creative and industrial past.
Wind Tunnel Models & Concept Studies
Roughly forty aerodynamic and design mock-ups—often produced as one-off or limited-run development tools—will be available. They include experimental versions of the R4, R5 and Supercinq, a charming series of Twingos with varied finishes, and several 1:5 scale concept-car models. A handful of rare Formula 1 wind-tunnel models demonstrate the precision work behind Renault’s racing dominance.
Legendary Engines & Driver Memorabilia
Among the most sought-after artefacts is a complete Renault Elf V6 Turbo EF15 engine—the same specification that powered Ayrton Senna’s Lotus at Detroit and during Adelaide qualifying in 1986. It is presented with its original transport crate, elevating it from engineering component to motorsport sculpture.
Helmets, replica driver suits and promotional materials round out a compelling collection of racing memorabilia.
Unexpected Treasures & Industrial Storytelling
The sale reflects Renault’s inventive spirit with a series of surprising objects: railcar models, boats, clocks and prestige mock-ups. One of only three surviving Reinastella “flying saucers,” created in partnership with Eurodisney, is among the most unusual pieces. A 1957 agency mock-up of a Liberty Ship—used to promote Dauphine exports to the U.S.—offers a rare glimpse of Renault’s mid-century global ambition. Completing the selection is a double-sided Bodet clock from the Flins factory, an emblem of the site’s industrial legacy.
A Turning Point for Renault’s Heritage
For collectors, the 7 December auction represents a truly unrepeatable moment. Nearly all lots—more than 90%—will be offered without reserve, ensuring that the vehicles and artefacts find new homes among enthusiasts who understand their significance.
For Renault, the sale marks the beginning of a new chapter in honouring its past. As Pierre Novikoff, Vice-President of Artcurial Motorcars, notes: “We are offering collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the chance to become a curator of this rich heritage.”
And for the wider public, the auction offers a preview of what awaits in 2027, when the Flins-sur-Seine heritage centre opens its doors and, for the first time, gathers the brand’s full collection of vehicles, artworks and archival materials under one roof.
More than a sale, this event is the passing of a torch—from Renault’s custodians to the next generation of enthusiasts who will preserve, celebrate and keep alive a 125-year automotive adventure.
