Automation RestoMod Chapter 18:
Renault, Remastered
Hi there, and welcome to Chapter 18 of Automation RestoMod! Automation RestoMod (ARM) is a challenge series focused on taking iconic, preferably real cars and restomodding them. The criteria for modding are provided by each host, and vary Chapter to Chapter. For a more in-depth description of the ARM vision and to get a feeling for the flavour of the series so far, please read through the previous Chapters.
Last ARM:
ARM17 - Estonian Barn Find
First ARM:
ARM1 - The Re-Hatching
About ARM:
General Rules and Guidelines
Le Car
Details
For this chapter, you will be given a 1982 Renault R5 TL 3dr. The Renault 5 was launched in 1972 and had a production run through 1984. It was Europe’s best selling car for many years due to its’ small size perfect for tight city streets, its’ affordable price, and friendly, stylish appearance. It also spawned some of the first hot hatches, the Renault 5 Alpine/Gordini and Turbo. The TL was not currently a hot hatch by any stretch of the imagination, however, with its’ dinky 1.1L engine and 45hp mated to a 4sp manual gearbox. It was a midspec variant, featuring a luxurious 3 ashtrays and 2 separate reclining seats instead of a bench seat. The Renault 5 was initially available as just a 3-door model, with a 5-door variant not arriving until 1979. This recreation has a transversely-mounted engine instead of the longitudinal engine unfortunately, since Automation greyed out the longi FWD option even with the tiny 1.1L.
The Client
Backstory
"Hi, I’m Luc. I was born and raised in the lovely south of France. While I was there, I bought my first car, a tired- looking Renault 5 in a terrible shade of beige. I grew an emotional attachment to it’s charms and named it Veronique. You would not believe the things us teenagers did in that car! It saw lots of abuse and just kept on ticking, with its’ durable plastic bumpers shielding most of the blows. While I went to college, it was given to my sister, who didn’t take care of its’ maintenance. She brought it to the UK with her and drove it until the starter decided to give out, then it sat behind her flat in a pile of weeds. Meanwhile, I started a career as a pilot, traveling all over the world. Over the last few years, I’ve wanted a more stable life, and as my parents are now very elderly and need care I decided to move back to Montpelier and quit my job. Recently, my sister decided to move and asked me if I wanted that Renault, since I was so attached to it. I figured it was a now-or never opportunity and decided to have it shipped back to France. But it’s in a sorry state now, it’s got some rust on it, it doesn’t run and the interior’s falling apart. I started looking into how I could get it back on the road so I could use it as a weekend car. I was talking to my mechanic friend about it when he asked me if I’d heard of restomodding, knowing I love one of a kind things. I looked at it and realized this might be the perfect way of giving this beloved car its’ joie de vivre back! I’d like to make it a little bit more powerful- it’s very short on power and it’s a bit scary in modern traffic. It’s always been fun to whip about since it’s so light, but I wouldn’t mind it being a bit sportier. However, not at the cost of my back, which can’t take the abuse they once could. A more adventurous route would work well too- in the countryside there’s a number of dirt paths where it could be fun to rip around. I’ll be curious to see what ideas you all have!
Judging Criteria
Two categories, both ranked from high to low importance:Aesthetics and Overall Package:
Uniqueness (judged by me)Cohesiveness/Detail- both styling, engineering, story- how well does it accomplish what it intends?
Authenticity (judged by me, and backed up by stats)
Prestige (stat)
Engineering:
Comfort (stat)Drivability (stat)
Reliability (stat)
Sportiness/Offroad (stat)- how well does it accomplish what it intends?
Fuel Economy (stat)
Purchase Price/Running Costs (stat)
Requirements
Cost ($50k AMU or less)
ET (150 engine, 135 trim or less)
Safety (at least 40)
MPG (13 L/100km or better)
Octane (91, 95 or 98 RON unleaded)
A catalytic converter and at least one muffler of some variety
The Quality slider is limited to ±3.
The Techpool must remain set to 0.
Body modifications allowed:
Morphing wheel wells
As much 3D fixturing as your heart desires, though if it emulates another Renault body option closely it’ll incur the $2k body change cost
Advanced Trim Settings:
Allowed: Chassis Tunnel Size, Firewall Position, Tyre Tread Width, Tyre Sidewall/Tread Curve, Ride Height (see below). All else are banned.Ride height is limited to between values of -5 to +5. The combined value of the Front and Rear Ride Height sliders must be zero (If you have +3 front you must have -3 rear, etc). The only exception to this is if you want to go lower or higher than the suspension sliders will allow for that suspension type. You are allowed ±3 over/under that threshold on each axle.
Bigger changes' added costs:
Transmission swap (to another type)- $3k
Transmission swap (adding gears to the 4sp manual)- $2k, smaller authenticity reduction than a full swap
Engine swap- $3k
Engine orientation change- $2k
FWD to RWD/AWD- $4k
Suspension design change (chassis screen)- $1k per axle
Panel swap- $1k
You cannot swap chassis materials/type or add chassis quality.
If you keep the stock engine, you cannot change the block or head material.
You can change to another Renault 5 body style for $2k.
If you do both an engine and transmission swap, you’ll get $1k knocked off the total fees since both can be done at once. Same goes for combining engine orientation and drive layout changes.
Other Crucial Information
For this challenge, you will be allowed to have a short interview with Luc to gain a little more information about him or preferences he might have on the build. You are allowed to ask him 3 questions. To interview him, please DM me with your question and he will respond.
Because the Renault 5 is much smaller than an average car and thus has less space that needs attention, attention to detail is especially important in this round.
As always, it never hurts to provide a good backstory to tie your build together! If you can justify engineering decisions, chances are a lot higher that unconventional or otherwise odd decisions will be let slide… At the end of the day, all engineering decisions will be judged in the context of your overall build, so please consider that in the process of creating your car.
- The naming scheme for this challenge is Model/Engine Family- ARM18- (your username). If this naming scheme is not followed, you will unfortunately be instabinned.
- The year on the family and trim of both engine and body must be set to 2020.
- You MUST clone your car completely using the Clone Everything button before beginning work on it.
Here is the car file:
ARM18_-(forum_username)-_Renault_R5_TL.car|attachment (43.5 KB)
The deadline is midnight on Sunday, November 20th, Pacific Standard Time. Countdown timer
Rules will be open for discussion until submissions open on November 3rd. Good luck to all!
