History

In the early 1980s, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) sought to create a low-cost spec race car for their sports racing class. The result came in 1984 as the original spec racer, dubbed the Sports Renault, developed by Renault/Jeep Sport USA in Livonia, MI. Designed by Roy Lunn, it cost just under $10,000 and was built with an aerodynamic fiberglass body over a space frame with an integrated roll bar and welded steel underpan. Power came from a mid-mounted 1,700cc Renault inline-four-cylinder SOHC engine that made 85 hp and 108 lb-ft of torque through a 5-speed transaxle. The cars were sold as kits finished in primer, with final assembly being up to the owner.

Despite Renault’s withdrawal in 1989, the SCCA continued the program under the “Spec Racer” moniker until Ford joined in 1994, when it was renamed “Spec Racer Ford.”

This Car

This particular example, Chassis # 0194, was ordered new by Mr. Edward G. Salfelder of Fair Lawn, NJ, on October 5, 1984, through J&J Auto Racing in Bally, PA, for $9,995. The body is finished in red, and additional items ordered at the time include the SCCA mandated white racing decals, a radiator baffle, and a car cover for an additional $46.71.

The car took part in four SCCA-sponsored races in 1985 at Lime Rock Park and Bryar Motorsport Park (New Hampshire Motor Speedway), and placed first in the Sports Renault class at the NAARC Championship Series of 1985. Despite its short-lived racing career, Mr. Salfelder kept handwritten notes with all the lap times from practice to race for each race, as well as receipts and brochures for the motels he stayed at during his travels to and from various racing events. After the 1985 season, the car was placed in long term storage, carefully preserved until our discovery and acquisition.

Upon retrieving the car from its place of slumber the   car received a thorough service for the purposes of making it run, drive and stop. All fluids have been flushed, fuel system refreshed including new fuel cell, timing belt and related components updated and any odds and ends to provide a solid base for the next caretaker to improve upon. Receipts for this work and all other records can be found by clicking the “view documents” button.

As it sits, this is the closest one can get to owning a brand-new SCCA Sports Renault today. Everything appears original and unto untouched, from the decals and #38 racing number to the original Goodyear-branded tires with Renault Jeep Sport stamping on them. If you’re looking to make your debut in SCCA spec racing or simply add to an already existing collection, there is no better way to do it than with the car that started it all.

Included in the sale are three trophies, an SCCA Sports Renault-branded logbook (2), the original sales brochures, letters and receipts for the original order, printed race results, and copies of SCCA bulletins regarding the Sports Renault rules. A wonderfully complete and highly original example.

*This vehicle will be sold on a Bill of Sale only.