Rare Alpine A442 and Formula 1 icons drive massive results in 100% sell-through auction to fund Renault heritage center
Published on Jan 31, 2026 at 11:23 PM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Jan 29, 2026 at 8:18 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Renault made a rare move and let some of its most important cars go.
The lineup included a Le Mans-raced Alpine A442 and multiple Formula 1 machines with real championship history.
Rather than storing them indefinitely, the car company chose to sell them in one focused auction.
The goal being to turn racing history into the foundation for a new heritage center.
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The Alpine and Formula 1 cars that carried the auction
From the moment bidding opened, it was clear what people had come for.
Race cars.
The real machines that carried Renault’s name through its most competitive eras.
One of the stars was the Alpine A442, the very first example built and a car that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the late 1970s.
Offered through Artcurial, it sold for over $1.5 million (€1,278,080), blowing past its estimate and immediately setting the pace for the rest of the sale.
Formula 1 icons followed closely.
Renault’s RE40-03 from 1983, a Belgian Grand Prix winner at Spa, changed hands for roughly $1.4 million (€1,198,000) as bidders chased genuine turbo-era history.
Then came the heavy hitter.
The Williams FW19, the championship-winning chassis from the company’s dominant 1997 season, ended the night as the most expensive lot, selling for $1.57 million (€1,312,400).
Even standalone pieces of racing history found buyers.
A Renault EF15 turbo Formula 1 engine from the 1980s pulled a strong result on its own, while full cars like the Lotus 95T reminded bidders just how valuable original, period-correct machinery has become.
By the time the final hammer fell, nothing had been left behind.
Every lot sold.
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What Renault plans to do with the money
The entire $13 million (€12 million) raised is now going straight back into Renault’s story.
The funds will be used to build a new heritage center at the company’s historic Flins factory, about 35 miles west of Paris.
The site has been producing Renault vehicles since 1952, and the new space is scheduled to open in 2027 as a permanent home for the brand’s past.
While Formula 1 and Le Mans cars led the charge, the auction showed depth as well as star power.
Touring cars, rally machines, prototypes, and design studies all performed strongly.
A rare Alpine A610 Evolution Le Mans prototype found a buyer, as did a well-preserved Clio Williams from the 1990s.
Even some unexpected items attracted attention, proving bidders weren’t just chasing trophies but the wider Renault story.
In the end, the plan worked.
Renault let its most famous cars do what they’ve always done best.
They went out front, set the pace, and paid for the future.
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With roles at TEXT Journal, Bowen Street Press, Onya Magazine, and Swine Magazine on her CV, Molly joined Supercar Blondie in June 2025 as a Junior Content Writer. Having experience across copyediting, proofreading, reference checking, and production, she brings accuracy, clarity, and audience focus to her stories spanning automotive, tech, and lifestyle news.
