So, I was an avid member here, and everybody knew me with my Express GTT. Unfortunately, I had to sell it because I went to Taiwan in 2007 to study my master's degree there. I was very lucky to find the ONLY Renault 5 there, and it was for sale too! So, after spending much money buying it and even more fixing it over the years, I moved again, this time to Australia. I checked for all the Australian import rules, but eventually decided not to (because you needed to convert the car from LHD to RHD).
So it probably comes as a surprise that now, after 2 years without a Renault 5 (they don't exist in Australia), I decide to import anyway? Well, they changed the regulations, and there now is a special club license which allows me to drive LHD cars for a maximum of 90 days per year. Good thing!
And while I was at it, and the opportunity was there, I decided to just buy two at once. And two very special R5s at that!
Now about the cars:
I've found some items on this forum already about the GTT, but only one RTC user owned it and was actually not posting too much. The topic link is
here.
Yes, it's a unique GTT EVO!
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This photo is from my historical photo archive of 2005 (actually, I downloaded all the meeting photos of everybody of all meetings I attended myself - so if someone wants an old photo of his/her car, range 2003 to 2006...). When I found it at
Artvo, it was in not that good condition anymore.
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I read somewhere on the forum someone scratched the bonnet (hood), so it was painted black. Additionally the car had a lot of stickers... A summary of the history of the car based on Robert Turbo's forum entry:
- 1997: white, from guy who works at garage.
- Around 2002: Sander (friend of JiggyMF, RTC), purple, bought that way.
- May 1, 2005: Robert Turbo (RTC), purple, bought that way.
- Begin 2006: Robert fixes and resprays skirts & bumpers, bumpers were cracked. Everything welded and treated for rust. July 2006 finished with it.
- April 2007: Smoke during starting. Could be turbo, but forum recommends to do nothing.
- August 2007: Turbo replaced.
I don't like those stickers, and wanted to have a good looking car to go to Australia. So, I initially decided to respray the complete front and some rear parts where the paint was getting loose. Then however, when we found out the total price and all other things I wanted - I asked how much a full respray would cost. That percentually not being too different (and how often do you export a car...) I decided to completely respray it.
Originally the car was white, but it'll be pearl white when it'll be shipped. Of course, a crack in the front bumper is repaired, some little rust is being repaired and new dorpels are welded. Looks like the 2006 treatment was not that good...
One current thing is that I'd like to have a standard ph2 GTT grille, but they're nowhere to be found anymore... So if someone feels like making this Australian GTT to be a showstopper... please offer me one for sale??
Some more photos of the current progress:
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EVO fuel cap was missing - Bart made a new one from scratch. Dorpel is not yet welded, but preparation is ongoing.
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Car stripped and treated for little rust before going to the painter. Window needed replacing too, so ideal moment!
Things are going very well and very fast. Even though I'm posting this from Australia, Bart's doing an awesome job in getting the GTT in show-state for Australia.
Then, I said I will have two cars. The second car doesn't need so much work, but is nevertheless unique. It's a Renault 5 GTS EBS, a convertible therefore, but it's the only one which has ALL the options. Electric roof, electric windows (front and back), remote control, leather seats and steering, GTT look - all the options EBS offered, are on this one. EBS made 3 full-option convertibles: one does not exist anymore, one is in parts and rusted, and then this one: mine!
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Well, I still decided to repair the roof (it was ripped at some parts) and the little dents are fixed and sprayed as well.
So, I'll be cruising in show-style in sunny Melbourne, Australia (and probably many other places). Awesome!
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Send us some photos when the cars are in sunny Australia 
