Those of you that came to the Midlands breakfast club will have seen this already.
I thought the Frenchies would be more interested, but seems there is interest in the UK also so due to popular demand here goes...
Finally picked up my new Vee this weekend. Came via a lead from the bodyshop that painted the bumper etc on the first one and deal done courtesy the Irish connection.
Many thanks to Mr Walsh who has looked after it for a couple of weeks and helped restore it to its former glory!
It's an interesting one so here's a pic and some more info:
Renaultsport Clio V6 255
Chassis VF1C61U62****001
Model type: CB1U
Build date: Approx Feb 2002
Registered: June 2002
Colour: Titan Grey (Titanium)
Mileage: 9000km (approx 5500 miles)
LHD
Only recorded keeper is TWR Group, Leafield Technical Centre, Langley, Witney
The car appears to be the first complete, fully finished and working Clio V6 Phase II with a production chassis number ending 001. It was built much earlier than any other Phase II. I have yet to establish whether it was built by TWR or given to TWR by Alpine for testing. It may of may turn out to be a mixture of the two. There is French writing on some parts.
Notable features (differences to production version) that I found so far:
• 18” OZ Racing ‘Mito’ wheels. Custom adaptors/spacers bolted to front wheels.
• Tyres 255/40/18 Rear 215/35/18 Front. Michelin Pilot Sport.
• Front grille (version fitted is as pictured on Clio V6 parts fiche)
• Wheel arch liners have large white writing on the hidden side ‘piece valable uniquement pour essai conditionement’ which means roughly ‘part only valid for test use’. Also some names and a date ‘02 2002’.
• Rear boot carpet carries a label with text ‘Alpine. Sample’
• Plenum chamber badges are metal embossed (but the same design as the production version).
• Plenum chamber and other engine parts have temperature strips fitted.
• All coolant hoses have plumbed in temperature sensors to green wiring.
• Exhaust has plumbed in temperature sensors.
• Expansion bottle and plenum chamber have blue anodised pressure connectors.
• Lower engine cover carries text ‘Random Glass’ and has measurements of thickness tested at various points written on the inside.
• Lower cover has blue temperature strips stuck on in various places.
• Top engine cover is pre-production sample.
• Steering wheel is light grey leather with no texture.
• Trim panel above glove box has slots cut for hangers for data logger, laptop or similar. There are cable tidies stuck to the RH side of the glove box.
• No Xenon lights. (Auto lights, cruise control, rain sensing wipers all present).
• Front bumper has coarse inner fibre glass and lacks definition. Holes drilled for easy removal of headlamps have been filled. Pre-production version.
• Rear brake callipers and discs were missing. Production items have been fitted. Possibly a different size / brand were trialled?
• RHD mirrors fitted in Iceberg. (Now painted Titanium).
• No boot liner. (Have ordered production version to see if it fits).
• Wing to body seals are blended as Phase II but not production quality.
• Radio illumination is white.
• Rear spoiler is smaller and not colour coded.
• Tailgate rams open fully as per Phase I.
• No badge number. Plaque never fitted.
• Exhaust note is different. Subjectively feels faster than regular Phase II.
The car is generally in very good condition and many of the mechanical parts look as new. There is some light cosmetic damage in some areas due to test use and fitment of test equipment. I think it is probably best to leave some of these as they are part of the cars uniqueness. However the bumper holes were filled in prior to my ownership and the mirror covers have been repainted so that it looks presentable externally.
Trafic, Twingo GT, Vel Satis Turbo x 2, Clio V6 Proto Ph2, Vel Satis 3.5, Avantime, Alpine A610, GTA Atmo x 3, GTA Turbo x 3, R5 Gordini Turbo Mid Engine, Alpine A310 4cyl, Alpine A110, Yellow Smart
by mid.engine » Wed Feb 10, 2010 11:30 am 
(by the way love the car mr
