Armed with all her savings, Mrs. M ordered a new Renault 5 in October 1982 from the Sodirac dealership in Chalon-sur-Saône. She opted for a practical 5-door TL model, equipped with the 1108cc engine and a 4-speed gearbox. The uncommon “Shale Blue Metallic” paint option (ref. 602) was selected. The total bill came to nearly 40,000 francs, a considerable sum for Mrs. M., who lived modestly.
The car was then registered with the temporary number 9105 WWA 71 (a sticker) valid for 15 days, before the final registration. Itwas delivered to her home, as she didn’t yet have her driver’s license, having recently failed the test. The car was carefully stored in her barn at the end of October 1982, and it would never leave again. The final license plates were made but never installed; they sat in the trunk.
Ms. M. eventually got her driver’s license, but feeling uneasy behind the wheel, and likely for other personal reasons, she never dared to take her Renault 5 out again.
Forty-three years passed, the car was never touched or moved, dust accumulated, and the odometer remained frozen at its delivery mileage: 12 km. The discovery of this beautiful and improbable sleeping beauty, opening the door, and finally taking it out were truly special moments.
During the probate process, the car almost met a bad end. Fortunately it was saved and will be auctioned by the French house Aguttes on March 15, 2026, in Paris. Given its unique status, experts have placed an initial estimate between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, though “barn finds” with this kind of mileage often spark bidding wars that push the price much higher.
(via phares_jaunes_et_damier)
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