The Clio V-6 is, in general, a unique and famous vehicle. There haven’t been many cars that have followed its lead, but it did change the perception of what a hatchback can be, which includes having a mid-engine layout. Renault Sport went above and beyond in developing the Clio V-6, and that’s a big part of what makes it famous. The 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V-6 in the Phase 2 model, like the one you see here, was good for 255 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. With a curb weight of just 1,400 kg, it had an impressive power-to-weight ratio of 182 horsepower per ton and could hit 62 mph in as fast as 5.8 seconds. This, along with the mid-engine layout, is what made the Renault Clio V-6 special, but it’s not the reason this specific model sold for a record-shattering £90,000 or about $120,000 at current exchange rates.

The Renault Clio V-6 is Rare, but this one is Really Rare

While Renault Sport went out of its way to build a mid-engine hatchback that defied all logic, the people buying these things had a decent list of options to choose from. And, that’s part of what made this particular Clio V-6 worth so much to whoever bought it. It is believed to be just one of 18 existing in the world that is equipped with the Complete Leather Pack. This optional package came at a cost of £3,900 or about $5,221 and included Nappa leather door card inserts, leather shifter, leather handbrake, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a leather engine cover. There was also light great Alcantara applied to the headliner and A-Pillars for good measure.

So, yeah, makes it pretty rare, but that’s not where the story ends. This model’s striking Acid Yellow finish was only applied to 21 vehicles from the factory, only eight of those were right-hand-drive like the model we’re talking about today. So, this Clio V-6 is, quite literally one of just eight in the world – and that’s assuming the other seven actually featured the complete leather pack.

Beyond this, it has also been owned by the same person for the last 16 years and before that, it was owned by none other than Renault U.K. According to the Collecting Cars listing, this specific model was also used as the safety car to support the 2005 Clio Cup Series as part of a promotional campaign, and it was even launched up the Hillclimb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed by ex-F1 racer Patrik Tambay. Between the car’s rarity and its history, would you say it is worth $120,000? Someone sure did, and I have to admit I can’t blame them. It’s a unique part of Renault's history, and it’s pretty damn cool all the way around.

Renault Clio V6 Specifications