Photo: The fact that Vincent's Renault 21 Turbo has two tonnes on the odometer is hardly noticeable.
Competitive sport is in Renault's genes. Throughout its long history, the marque has produced some high-flying cars. A good example of this is the Renault 21 Turbo, which is highly regarded by true enthusiasts.
A 2.2 litre engine producing 110 or 120 bhp in a business saloon was ample in the late 1980s but not very sporty. Renault had to pull out all the stops. They had already entered the turbo era with the 5 Turbo, 5 Alpine Turbo, 9 and 11 and the 25 V6. Not surprisingly, a turbocharged version of the 21 was also developed.
The engine is the familiar 2-litre from the 1977 Renault 20 TS. This J-series engine is made entirely of light alloy and is produced at the Française de Mécanique in Douvrin. Basically, the 2-litre is very similar to the 2-litre used in the 21 TXE but the much higher power and torque necessitated some modifications such as new pistons, reinforced connecting rods and crankshaft, new big end bearing shells and a partioned alloy lower crankcase. The cylinder head is also modified, with sodium-cooled exhaust valves, brass valve guides, chromed valve stems, valve stem seals and a camshaft with less overlap. The compression ratio is also reduced from 10:1 to 8:1.
A larger capacity oil pump provides better lubrication and cooling. An oil/liquid intercooler is located under the air filter. The capacity of the cooling system has been increased, with two powerful fans mounted on the radiator, and an electric pump added to the system to keep the coolant circulating for several minutes after the engine has been switched off.
Finally, the 21 Turbo is fitted with a cast molybdenum exhaust manifold, and the new dual-drain silencer is tuned to produce an impressive low note.
The liquid-cooled turbo is a Garrett T3. In the first version, these modifications deliver 175 bhp and 270 Nm of torque. Acceleration to 100 km/h in 7.4 seconds is impressive, as is the top speed of 227 km/h.
Photos: A sunroof, air conditioning that works, nice leather upholstery and, above all, a 2-litre turbo engine that is always ready to perform.
Remarkably, the exterior of the 21 Turbo has undergone significant changes in a number of details. Just look at the front end, which is completely unique to the Turbo version. The same goes for the bumpers and the spoiler on the boot lid. Then there are the twin exhausts and the skirts which, like the wings, are painted in body colour. The 2L.Turbo badge is discreetly displayed on the right-hand edge of the boot lid. Finally, the 21 Turbo was fitted with specially designed alloy wheels.
The car was launched in mid-1987, two years before the entire 21 range facelift. This car by Vincent Decosne is an example of a 21 Turbo Phase II, in this case from 1991. The differences to the Phase I are not huge. For example, the front has been slightly modified and this version has wheels of a different design. The options on Vincent's car include leather upholstery and an electric sunroof. The first owner also ticked the boxes for climate control and a Renault radio, although the radio itself is no longer present.
Vincent: "Of course, when I was younger, my preference was the Renault 5 Turbo, but it has become so expensive that this dream is no longer achievable. I did not want the same thing to happen with the 21 Turbo. So I bought this car in 2011. The car was built in 1991 but registered in January 1992.
This example still has the first version of the turbo engine. Depending on the country, a catalyser version was also offered at the time, which reduced the power to 162 bhp and the torque to 260 Nm.
Vincent: "I deliberately chose a Phase II because I like the wheels better and the modified dashboard. The layout is different and the materials feel better. I also preferred a non-cat version to a Quadra for reliability and maintenance reasons.
Vincent also preferred Sports Blue or Red and definitely not this Tungsten grey colour but as the bodywork is completely rust-free and only one owner, he went for it anyway.
From the moment the car arrived at his home, he took care of all the mechanical components. New hoses, full service, brakes, distributor, air conditioning and clutch. He also repainted the bonnet and front wings to give the car a fresh look. He will repaint the rest of the car in due course, but it is certainly not urgent.
It is a pleasure to drive the 21 Turbo after more than 30 years. The sheer power of a turbocharged engine, the smooth performance, the powerful sound combined with a remarkable level of comfort are still convincing. You'll be tempted to take a long holiday drive in no time at all.