A Brand New 1982 Renault 5 TL Has Been Found in a Barm
Mrs. M spent all her savings in October 1982 to buy a new Renault 5 from the Sodirac dealership in Chalon‑sur‑Saône.
She chose the five‑door TL version with the 1108cc engine and a four‑speed gearbox, and she even selected the uncommon Shale Blue Metallic paint, reference 602.
The total cost was nearly 40,000 francs, a significant amount for her modest means. The car first received a temporary registration, 9105 WWA 71, valid for just fifteen days before the permanent plates would be fitted.
Because she had recently failed her driving test and did not yet have her license, the dealership delivered the car directly to her home. She parked it carefully in her barn at the end of October 1982, and from that day forward it never left.
Although she eventually obtained her license, she never felt confident enough to drive the Renault, and for personal reasons she left it untouched. Over the next forty‑three years, the car remained frozen in time, gathering dust while the odometer stayed fixed at its delivery reading of 12 kilometers.
During the probate process it nearly faced a grim fate, but it was ultimately saved. It is now scheduled to be auctioned by Aguttes in Paris on March 15, 2026, with an estimated value between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, though such exceptionally preserved barn finds often sell for far more.
