Brand new Renault 5 TL was delivered to its first owner but it never moved for 40 years after bizarre twist and it still has just 12km on odometer
Published on Aug 01, 2026 at 9:07 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Aug 01, 2026 at 9:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
More than 40 years after it was first delivered, this Renault 5 TL still has 12km on the odometer, on account of it barely moving in all that time.
The original owner, known only as Mrs. M, purchased the car back in 1982 before she got her license.
However, by the time she secured her credentials, she never took to driving the car and it sat unused for 43 years.
But the car eventually went up for auction and set a record.
The curious case of hidden cars
Over the years, plenty of cars have turned up in unexpected places.
Oftentimes this tends to be a barn, where as many as 150 cars can be sitting around gathering dust.
Then there are cars that are left idle at airports and hotels too.
But regardless of where they end up, abandoned cars all have a common thread – the intrigue that comes with them.
How did they end up there? Who was their previous owner?
Those questions no doubt circulated in this curious case of a Renault 5 TL which was found deserted in a house in France.
At the time of its discovery, it had been sitting there for 43 years.
Its previous owner, identified only as Madame M, bought it from the Renault Sodirac dealership in Chalon-sur-Saône back in October 1982, The Connexion reported.
On account of its owner’s lack of ease behind the wheel, it only had 12km on the clock and still had on its temporary license plates.
Back in the day, Mrs M would have paid 40,000 francs for it – the equivalent of 15,400 euros ($17,549).
The car went up for auction and sold at a record price
In January 2026, the car was found in a barn in Saône-et-Loire gathering dust.
But besides that, it had held up remarkably well and soon went up for auction with Aguttes On Wheels in Paris.
The auction house described it as the ‘perfect addition’ for anyone who loves the 1980s.
The car was estimated to sell for between €5,000 ($5,698) and €10,000 ($11,396) but ended up going for €64,453 ($73,452).
This set a world-record price for a standard production variant of the original Renault 5.
It’s not the first time that a record has been smashed at auction.
A helicopter-delivered Gordon Murray S1 LM set a record as the most expensive new car at auction, when it was sold last year.
And it’s not just new cars that are bringing in the big bucks – this four-gen Toyota Supra did very nicely for itself at auction.
Key Features: Renault 5 TL
Powertrain: 1.1-Liter Cléon-Fonte inline-4 petrol engine producing 45 hp, paired with a 4-speed manual transmission
Top Speed: 85mph
0–62 mph: 18.5 seconds
Drive Modes: N/a
Starting Price:~40,000 French francs in 1982 ($6,000 – $6,500 at the time)
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
