The Renault Clio 182 Trophy turns 20: here’s a £16.5k example to celebrate

Grab the candles and matches: the excellent Renault Clio 182 Trophy is celebrating its 20th birthday this month, and hasn’t it aged well?

Based on the second generation Clio Phase 3, the Trophy is a hardcore, limited-run evolution of the 182, featuring a tweaked version of the 2.0-litre ‘F4R’ nat asp four-pot found in cars like the Espace and Laguna of its day.

Here, it’s been repurposed to send 180bhp and 148lb ft of torque to the front wheels via a five-speed manual. 0-62mph sits in the high 6s before levelling out at 139mph; numbers unlikely to set your pants alight, but the Trophy’s skills lay elsewhere.

The big change from a regular 182 are the motorsport-derived Sachs dampers, which improve body control. It also sits 10mm lower to the ground, gets a slightly wider track and stiffer spring rates. Combined with the revised steering geometry, the result is some spectacular cornering ability.

Renault also fitted lighter window glass, reduced the sound proofing and added lightweight Turini Speedline alloys, shaving off 1.3kg per corner. No sarcastic wows please, this is a grown-ups party.

That rear wing is styled off the chonky Clio V6, and there’s a front bumper extension to give the face a gnarlier look. Inside, the Recaro seats are positioned lower down than normal, the side sills spruced up for a sportier look, and there's a numbered plaque along the seat tracks.

Just 550 of these were built in total, and at this link you’ll find chassis number 421. It was originally supplied to a buyer in New Jersey before relocating to Oxford in 2016, where it has been ever since. Mint, we know.

The seller has also done a full mechanical sweep, which includes a new cam belt, water pump and injectors, so that four-banger should still be as lively as ever.

Interested? It’s up now for £16,495 - about a thousand pounds more than what it was originally marketed for two decades ago. Who’d have guessed the hearty Clio would hold its value so well?