The Renault 5 was produced by French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. It gained notoriety in the U.S. under the branded name Le Car for its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s.
First generation (1972-1984)
The Renault 5 was unveiled in 1972 and was Renault's debut in the supermini market. Its most striking feature was its design by Michel Boue, with a curved rear hatchback and front fascia. The interior was heavily inspired by the Renault 4, having a longitudinal engine powering the front wheels, torsion bar suspension, and engines ranging from 850 to 1400 cc. To begin with, the gearshift was mounted on the dashboard, yet later it was changed to a more conventional mounted floor shifter. Another innovative feature was the door handles, which were just a cut-out in the door panel and B-pillar. Variants included the Renault 5 Alpine (or Gordini in the United Kingdom), Alpine/Gordini Turbo, and a four-door sedan version, the Renault 7, built by FASA-Renault of Spain.
The American Motors version of the Renault 5, the Le Car, was introduced in 1976 due to increased demand in Europe. It was available with a 1297cc engine producing 55hp, and a conventional floor shifter replacing the dash mount. Sales of the Le Car continued until 1984.
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