The Renault R5 Turbo, a mid-engine rally homologation special based on a front-wheel drive hatchback, is not a subtle car to begin with. It might be even less subtle with an unusual engine in its belly, though — and it seems at least one owner has done just that. The resulting creation is a beastly rotary-powered R5 Turbo, complete with aftermarket turbocharging on top of the Mazda swap.
A 13B two-rotor was installed in the middle of this Renault in 2007, according to the seller's listing on Bring a Trailer, then turbocharged. The swap looks like a lot of work, complete with a custom aluminum oil pan and a modified bell housing to fit the rotary to the car's original five-speed transaxle. Impressively, the swapped car was still able to pass California's stringent emissions testing standards as recently as 2019.
Originalists can also opt to swap the car's included original Renault four-cylinder back in, but that would be an unusual choice. The unique value of this car is that it is a strange swap project, not that it used to be a stock R5 Turbo.
If you need a rotary-powered rally homologation special in your life, the 13b-powered R5 Turbo is currently for sale on BaT; bidding is up to $75,000 with one day remaining as of this story's publication. Since the outrageous new R5 Turbo EV probably is not coming to America any time soon, this might be the most interesting opportunity for rear-wheel drive Renault fun in the country.
Note: Bring a Trailer is also owned by Road & Track's parent company, Hearst Autos.
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