Renault celebrates its history better than anyone
The Originals is a website dedicated to some of the most loved Renault models from the past.
The internet is a wonderful thing. The entire world can be found at your fingertips, and if, like me, you are afflicted with a chronic case of petrolheadism, then you probably spend the majority of your internet time browsing cars or watching old Top Gear clips.
If you are in the market for a new car or even want to daydream over what colour your deviated stitching is on your hypothetical PTS 992 GT3, then the internet has you covered. You can visualise, spec up, and get a walk-around tour of almost any new car you desire nowadays. What an achievement. But what if you don’t want a new car? What if you want something a bit older….. and French?
You see, here is where, as a car nutcase, the internet seems to let us down. There just isn’t the same availability for the older car. Sure, YouTube has no end of videos, but they’re just what someone else wants to show you. What if Victor from Barnsley doesn’t quite capture the door slam of his 1993 Citroën Xantia 1.9 non-turbo diesel the way I had hoped?
Well, thankfully, Renault has stepped up to the plate with an offering to try and satiate even the most feral of us nerds with their ‘Renault The Originals’ website. Dust off the anorak, plonk yourself down in your favourite chair and log on. Then, you will find a beautiful selection of cars from Renault’s back catalogue ready to be delved into, like an automotive charcuterie.
Pick which car you’d like to see (Twingo for me, obviously), and have a flick through the pictures and press photos, with tidbits of history littered alongside. Then you get to the good bit: the soundboard. Complete with everything from ignition to indicator noise. You get to experience total ASMR satisfaction; rarely can we ask for more. It’s not just the Twingo either; there’s the Renault 25 and its sumptuous leather chairs, the R5 Turbo, and the Avantime…..
What’s unique here is how much Renault has leaned into celebrating its past hits. It’s all too common to see brands limit their past recognition to a museum and gift shop, certainly not to offer you a virtual tour of the cars. Online presence is reserved for current offerings, even in the gaming world. Toyota once famously complained that players were not choosing its new cars and instead opting for classics like the Supra and Celica. Well, duh, it’s a game; it’s fantasy. Yes, new cars are what make the company money, but that doesn’t mean former flames should be swept under the rug.
It’s refreshing to see a company have some fun with things in an age where it often seems soft and monotone. These cars exist, so let them be celebrated alongside modern offerings. Even if old Renaults don’t stoke the fire in your cold dead heart, I dare you to have a look and not think that even as an idea, that’s cool and would be well received if other manufacturers did similar. And lest you think it can’t hold a candle to an actual museum, there’s even a gift shop at the end. I recommend the scale Twingo, in green.
You can visit Renault’s The Originals site here.
