Renault 5 L
A tiny hatchback wrapped proven Renault 4 mechanical parts in bright colors and tough plastic bumpers.
Early Renault 5 1.0 TL · Kieran White · CC BY 2.0
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Renault revealed details of Project 122 late in 1971, but the Renault 5's formal launch came in January 1972 and its public motor-show debut followed at Geneva. The basic French-market 5 L used the Renault 4's 782 cc engine, while the more powerful TL received a 956 cc unit. This page corrects the shorthand 1971 queue date and stays with the 34 PS L.
Look a little closer.
Those chunky gray bumpers were molded plastic, so a parking nudge did not have to leave a bent chrome bar.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Old pieces, a new kind of package
Designer Michel Boué drew a compact two-box body over proven Renault 4 hardware. The large rear hatch, folding seat and plastic bumpers made the 5 feel more modern than its familiar mechanical parts.
Source: Renault Germany · 40 years of Renault 5 ↗L and TL are not the same
At launch, the basic French 5 L had 782 cc and 34 PS, while the 5 TL used 956 cc and 43 PS. Joyride separates those versions so the famous shape does not hide the mechanical difference.
Source: Renault Germany · 40 years of Renault 5 ↗Where these facts come from
- Renault Germany · 40 years of Renault 5
- The Originals Renault Museum · Renault 5
- Automobile-Catalog · 1972 Renault 5 L technical record
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.