400bhp Legend Automobiles Turbo 3 is a Renault 5 restomod

We’re loving this retro-revolution at the moment, and this could be the coolest revival of a cult classic yet, as Los Angeles-based Legende Automobiles reveals their take on a Gallic hot hatch icon.

RETRO RENAULT

Who doesn’t love a Renault 5 turbo? The boxy French hatch was a true ‘80s hot hatch hero. Its basic premise of a big boosted, small displacement engine in a chassis that weighed little more than an empty crisp packet (with about the same crash-protection too), was an intoxicating mix that couldn’t fail to slap grins on the faces of all that got behind the wheel. But with many meeting their ends through unplanned diversions into hedges, or simply succumbing to the dreaded red rot, it means good examples are hard to come by these days, so anyone wanting to rekindle their love-affairs with one of these French fancies will pay dearly for it, as prices have gone through the roof.

But if you do have pockets deep enough to relive your past, there is now another option that you might want to consider; one that mixes the best of the old school but brings it bang up to date.

Built by a trio of French custom car builders, now based in Los Angeles USA and known as Legende Automotive, the Turbo 3 is a modern day interpretation of the legendary R5 Turbo. Much like the way that Singer works its magic with aging Porkers, the Turbo 3 will be picking up where the Turbo 2 left off, but using the latest engineering tech to make it lighter and more potent than ever.

The bodywork, although reminiscent of the Turbo 2 with its iconic wide arches, has ditched the use of heavy steel and has been made almost entirely from lightweight carbon-fibre. It’s also much wider than the original, which has allowed the fitment of 8x16in wheels at the front and gargantuan 11x17in rims at the rear – the original had tiny 14in rims all round!

A larger rear wing and a two-piece diffuser grace the rear end, along with a twin exhaust system and LED light clusters. There’s more LEDs at the front too, combined with a deep front bumper and one-piece front grille.

Inside the restomod theme continues, with the square-edged dash getting a modern makeover with an multifunction digital screen replacing the speedo clocks and a sequential shifter replacing the H-pattern gear stick. A pair of slimline bucket seats with harnesses complete the minimalist interior with a full rollcage adding the final flourish.

There’s no word on what will be powering the Turbo 3, but it will certainly remain mid-mounted, as per the Turbo 2, and rear-wheel drive. Speculation hints that it will likely be a turbocharged four-cylinder of some sort pushing around 400bhp, which in such a wild lightweight machine such as this, should prove suitably hilarious! We love it!