For the discerning enthusiast, certain vehicles transcend mere transportation, becoming legends in their own right. Among these rare gems stands the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 by Christian de Léotard, an unparalleled marvel that seamlessly fuses engineering ingenuity, a rich rally heritage, and a distinct touch of French automotive artistry. While it never achieved mainstream production, its profoundly unique design and captivating backstory have cemented its status, earning it a fervent cult following among automotive aficionados across the globe, including here in the United States.
This extraordinary creation emerged from an era of unbridled innovation in motorsport, particularly the Group B rally period, renowned for its formidable, high-powered vehicles and daring technical advancements. Renault itself was at the forefront, consistently pushing the boundaries of performance engineering, which led to the standard Renault 5 Turbo becoming an undisputed symbol of speed and agility. This fertile ground of automotive ambition provided the perfect canvas for a visionary like de Léotard to unleash his radical ideas.
Today, we embark on an in-depth exploration of the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6, peeling back the layers of its fascinating origins, dissecting its technical brilliance, and understanding its profound, lasting impact on the ever-evolving automotive landscape. Prepare to discover the intricate details and compelling narrative of a machine that truly defied logic and inspired generations.
1. **The Renault 5 Turbo 6×6: A Legend Reborn**For rare car enthusiasts, the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 by De Léotard is nothing short of a legend, an automotive unicorn in its truest sense. This rare gem is an unparalleled marvel, representing a unique fusion of engineering ingenuity, deep rally heritage, and unmistakable French automotive artistry. Unlike any vehicle before or since, it carved out a singular niche, captivating imaginations without ever becoming a mainstream production model.
For rare car enthusiasts, the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 by De Léotard is nothing short of a legend, an automotive unicorn in its truest sense. This rare gem is an unparalleled marvel, representing a unique fusion of engineering ingenuity, deep rally heritage, and unmistakable French automotive artistry. Unlike any vehicle before or since, it carved out a singular niche, captivating imaginations without ever becoming a mainstream production model.
Its inherent uniqueness stems from being a one-off modification, conceived for the sheer thrill of innovation and the rigorous demands of competitive rallying, rather than for mass consumption. This distinction alone elevates its status, transforming it into a coveted piece of automotive history, especially for collectors who value limited-production vehicles. Owning or even encountering this car offers a tangible connection to a bygone era of motorsport pioneering.
In essence, the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 is more than just a car; it is a statement of bold ambition and engineering prowess. Its bespoke car modifications and profound roots in rally racing make it a standout example of what can be achieved when innovation meets genuine passion, pushing the boundaries of conventional automotive design and performance.
2. **Rallying Roots: The Genesis of the R5 Turbo**: The story of the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 cannot be told without first understanding the foundations laid by its progenitor, the standard Renault 5 Turbo. This iconic vehicle was itself born directly out of the fiercely competitive Group B rally inspiration, a motorsport era defined by its high-powered, audacious vehicles and groundbreaking technical innovations. By the 1980s, Renault was actively pushing the very limits of performance engineering, seeking to dominate the rally circuits.
The original Renault 5 was a small, front-engine, front-drive hatchback that first debuted in 1972, envisioned as a modern, boxy French alternative to popular compacts like the Mini and Fiat 500. Over the years, Renault developed multiple high-performance versions, solidifying its place among the first wave of hot hatches. The 1976 R5 Alpine, for instance, even predated the seminal Volkswagen Golf GTI by two months.
However, it was the R5 Turbo that became truly legendary, radically shifting a turbocharged engine behind the driver and transforming the car into a potent rear-wheel-drive machine. Its immense success in the World Rally Championship (WRC) and its strikingly wide rear fenders became its signature claims to fame. This radical spirit of the R5 Turbo set the stage for de Léotard’s even more extreme modifications.
3. **Christian de Léotard: The Mastermind Behind the Six Wheels**: Into this vibrant automotive landscape stepped Christian de Léotard, a French rally enthusiast, visionary car modifier, and an individual driven by an irrepressible sense of humor and a broad creative streak. Born in Paris in 1948, de Léotard trained as an electromechanical engineer before landing a position at Rover in 1978. It was there that his lifelong obsession with six-wheeled vehicles truly germinated, as he worked on internal 6×6 Range Rover projects, mostly for commercial purposes like ambulances or firetrucks.
His journey took him from Rover back to France, where he joined Application des Procédés Tissier (ADPT), a pioneering coachbuilding firm founded by Pierre Tissier. At ADPT, de Léotard honed his coachbuilding skills working on “Loadrunners”—unique multi-axle, primarily Citroën-based vans and transport trucks. These bizarre vehicles, like the DS station wagon conversions with hydropneumatic levelling suspension on all three axles, were designed for high-speed newspaper distribution, traveling at over 100 mph from Paris to distant European cities.
However, de Léotard harbored bigger ideas than simply lengthening front-wheel-drive chassis. As his son, Camille de Léotard, explains, his father was “a dreamer” who desired “much more ideas about six-wheel-drive” and wanted to “choose and decide what he wanted to build.” Consequently, in 1979, Christian departed ADPT to establish his own company, Application des Procédés Léotard (ADPL), jokingly echoing Tissier’s firm, and immediately set about creating his first six-wheeled Renault 5, utilizing parts from four-wheel-drive supplier Sinpar.
4. **The Revolutionary 6×6 Drivetrain: Engineering Brilliance**: At the heart of the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6’s unparalleled capabilities lies its custom drivetrain, meticulously designed to maximize performance and ensure reliability in the most demanding conditions. While the original Renault 5 Turbo featured a rear-mid engine layout and rear-wheel drive, de Léotard’s audacious modifications fundamentally transformed the car. He masterfully added a second rear axle, converting the already formidable hot hatch into a true six-wheel-drive powerhouse.
This innovative torque distribution across six wheels was a game-changer, allowing for exceptional grip and control, particularly crucial on uneven or slippery surfaces typical of rally stages. The independent suspension system, combined with enhanced traction control, worked in concert to ensure superior handling and unwavering stability, whether navigating treacherous muddy rally stages or loose, gravelly roads. For enthusiasts of rally homologation cars, these profound innovations unequivocally positioned the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 as nothing short of an engineering triumph, a testament to its creator’s ingenuity.
Furthermore, in some of his Renault 5 6×6 creations, de Léotard employed a sophisticated hydrostatic all-wheel drive system. This specialized setup, more commonly found in heavy construction machinery and agricultural vehicles, relied on a horizontal oil column to drive the rear wheels, offering robust and reliable power delivery. To ensure that this formidable 6×6 could be brought to a steady halt at any given moment, it was equipped with disc brakes on all six wheels, a comprehensive braking solution for a vehicle of its unique capabilities.
5. **Double the Power: The Unique Twin-Engine Configuration**: Christian de Léotard’s pursuit of ultimate performance and reliability for the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 led to one of its most astonishing and ingenious features: a dual-engine setup. The challenge was formidable: the immense power generated by the Renault 5 Turbo’s engine would have proven too much for the Sinpar four-wheel-drive transmission, risking its structural integrity. De Léotard’s solution was a stroke of combined madness and genius: he simply added a second engine.
The configuration was as audacious as it was effective. The original Renault 5 Turbo motor remained intact in its rear-mid position, driving its set of wheels, while a Renault 5 Alpine motor was strategically added up front, powering the forward wheels. This created a vehicle with not one, but two independent powertrains, each connected to its own set of wheels. Christian himself vividly described this setup as being akin to “a train fitted with two locomotives,” emphasizing that each engine could operate either in tandem or entirely independently.
Further demonstrating the mechanical brilliance, both engines were complete units, each equipped with its own five-speed manual gearbox. The commands for these twin gearboxes were ingeniously routed to two separate shift levers located beside the driver, coupled by a unique “pantograph de Léotard” system. This innovative linkage allowed for synchronized gear changes, meaning that shifting gears for one engine automatically adjusted the gears for the other. De Léotard explained that it was even possible to drive the car with only one engine, offering the intriguing benefit of lower fuel consumption when the powerful Turbo engine was disengaged. While initially thought to be a 6×6, the context clarifies it was in fact a 6×4 or 6×2 setup, with each engine driving its own pair of wheels, making it an extraordinary engineering feat nonetheless.
6. **A Design That Dares: Aesthetics and Purpose**: Visually, the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 is an undeniable spectacle, an unmistakable presence that commands attention from every angle. Its design ethos speaks volumes about its adventurous spirit, immediately setting it apart from anything else on the road. The car features a significantly widened body, an aggressive stance, and prominently flared wheel arches, all contributing to its muscular and purposeful demeanor.
However, it is the addition of the third axle that truly defines its unique silhouette. This modification elongates the vehicle significantly, creating an elongated profile that is rarely, if ever, seen in the automotive world. Yet, despite the added hardware and increased length, de Léotard cleverly retained the lightweight chassis of the original Renault 5 Turbo, ensuring that the car remained surprisingly nimble and agile. This balance of robust functionality and performance-oriented design made it not just a visual marvel but a serious performer on the rally circuit.
For audiences in the United States, where extreme vehicle modifications like the Ford F-150 Raptor 6×6 have garnered considerable popularity, the Renault 5 Turbo 6×6 offers a fascinating European interpretation of the concept. Its daring design, combining extended proportions with high-performance aspirations, speaks directly to the same adventurous spirit that drives enthusiasts to continually push the limits of what a car can achieve, embodying a similar ethos of audacious automotive exploration.
7. **The Alpine 6×6: Dakar Dreams and Early Innovations**: Before the dual-engined Turbo 6×6, Christian de Léotard had already embarked on his ambitious six-wheel journey with the Renault 5 Alpine. Driven by a desire to participate in the legendary Paris-Dakar Rally, de Léotard decided to create a six-wheel-drive version of the Alpine, adapting agricultural traction technology to meet the extreme demands of the desert race. This project, based on an Alpine model, featured genuine 6×6 traction and was distinguished by a notably raised roof, designed to accommodate essential spare parts for the gruelling endurance event.
Completed in a remarkable three months, this innovative Renault 5 Alpine 6×6 saw its total length extended to 4.2 meters, a significant increase over the standard model. Despite the additional mechanical elements necessary for its six-wheel-drive system and the inclusion of disc brakes on all four wheels (implying the primary axles), its curb weight rose relatively moderately from 800 kilograms to approximately 980 kilograms. The car was powered by a slightly improved 1.3-liter engine, originally from the TS variant of the Renault 5.
Bearing the number 210, the curious R5 Alpine 6×6, co-piloted by Francis Dumortier, entered the second edition of the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1980. While it did not manage to complete the test in a competitive manner, it notably “reached the beaches of Dakar out of the race,” successfully fulfilling its promotional objective. The audacious participation generated considerable media attention, as the underlying idea was to market the car as a versatile service vehicle, suitable for roles such as ambulances or security forces vehicles in challenging terrains, showcasing its robust capabilities beyond mere racing.
8. **The Elusive Renault 5 TS 6×2: An Early Foray**: While the dual-engined Turbo 6×6 justly garners the most attention, Christian de Léotard’s pioneering six-wheel endeavors began even earlier and with different Renault 5 variants. Indeed, the very first six-wheeled Renault 5 was not the Dakar-bound Alpine or the monstrous Turbo, but a version based on the more humble TS model, dating back to 1976. This initial creation was a significant step in de Léotard’s journey, showcasing his early vision for multi-axle vehicles adapted from standard road cars.
This TS-based six-wheeler, despite being dressed with Alpine badging, featured a 6×2 traction system, meaning that only the front wheels were driven, maintaining the original front-wheel-drive layout of the base car. Unlike some of his later creations, it did not initially have a raised roof, preserving the standard car’s height, which contributed to its understated appearance compared to the more audacious Dakar or Turbo versions. This early model laid the groundwork for his subsequent, more complex projects, demonstrating the foundational principles of his unique coachbuilding techniques.
Interestingly, this particular TS unit has a survivor story of its own. While many of de Léotard’s creations remain shrouded in mystery regarding their current whereabouts, this early six-wheeled Renault 5 TS is known to still exist. It has since been repainted red and, as of recent reports, was undergoing a restoration process, a testament to its enduring significance as a piece of automotive history and a prime example of de Léotard’s earliest six-wheel experiments.
9. **The Tragic Fate: A Rally Icon Lost to Flames**: The story of Christian de Léotard’s dual-engined Renault 5 Turbo 6xX takes a poignant turn with its tragic fate. This unparalleled masterpiece, a true testament to his ‘madness and genius,’ was not lost to the rigors of rally racing or the slow march of time but succumbed to a devastating fire. In 2002, the car, reportedly stored in a garage near the French town of Nevers, was engulfed in flames, along with everything else housed within the structure. This catastrophic event effectively ended the physical life of one of the most audacious automotive creations.
The images that have since surfaced of the post-blaze wreck are stark and heartbreaking for any automotive enthusiast. They reveal a severely dilapidated chassis, rusted and corroded, with many of its distinctive body panels, wheels, and interior bits missing, reportedly scavenged by visitors and urban explorers over the years. This sad state of affairs is a stark reminder of the impermanence of even the most extraordinary machines and the harsh realities of neglect and unforeseen disaster.
Adding to the mystery and sorrow, the fire also destroyed body moldings intended for a planned series of 6×6 versions of the Clio Sport, underscoring the broader loss to de Léotard’s future projects. The reason behind de Léotard’s apparent reluctance to retrieve the car after the fire remains unclear, though reports suggest he was entangled in a complicated insurance claim, waiting for reimbursement amid complications regarding the garage owner. This unfinished business compounded the tragedy, leaving the fate of the unique Turbo 6xX in limbo until his passing.
As we reflect on the Renault 5 Turbo 6xX and the broader portfolio of de Léotard’s work, it serves as a powerful reminder of the ingenuity that continually drives the automotive world forward. It’s a testament to the belief that some of the most exciting creations arise from taking risks and thinking outside the box, embodying a spirit of audacious exploration. His legacy, infused with both serious engineering and a playful sense of humor, ensures that the “king of six-wheelers” will be remembered as a truly unique force in automotive history, one turbocharged, multi-wheeled masterpiece at a time.
