Look at all these tremendous old Renault 5s

Renault recently announced that the R5 is BACK (baby). The all-new concept is really rather special, and even managed to pick up our Concept of the Year gong at the TG Electric Awards, but let's take a moment to head back to where it all started... 

The first-gen R5 was launched in 1972 and remained in production until the mid-Eighties. For much of that time it was France's best-selling car. 

The second-gen R5, which looked similar to the original R5 but was actually all-new, was launched in 1984 and survived until 1996. This one's a 115bhp GT Turbo from 1986 - faster than a 205 GTI 1.6, but not quite as good, and not worth as much nowadays. 

Of course it wasn't the first hot Renault 5. The R5 Alpine, or Gordini in the UK, landed in 1979 at around the same time as the Mk1 Golf GTI. 

Then came this. The iconic R5 Turbo - a homologation special with bespoke everything and a mid-mounted engine. Phwoar. 

Just look at its interior. We'd buy a modern-day Clio with an orange dashboard and blue carpet, were such a thing available. Just because. 

Much success was had - here's Jean Ragnotti winning the 1981 Monte Carlo Rally. 

Then came Group B, and the fire-spitting R5 Maxi Turbo. Just 20 were built, with a highly-strung 1.5-litre engine with an anti-lag system borrowed from F1, it made a handy 350bhp and weighed comfortably under a tonne. 

The R5 raced on tracks too - here's a load of second-gen cars at Donington.

A far cry from the original R5, those motorsport specials. Looks like this one was someone's Christmas present.

Welcome back, Renault 5. We'll see the real you in a couple of years. Click here to read the full story.