Matchbox 21f; Renault 5TL

This is the second generation Renault 5 or Supercinq. My wife & I bought one of these for her to use just after we were married in 1985, two door like the Matchbox, but the entry-level 950cc TC. It was such a cute little car in bright metallic blue. When the children came along a few years later we decided that rear doors would be a good idea so we swapped it for a four-door 1.4 litre GTS with all the extras in all-over white. We kept this car for 12 years and it was excellent, still smart with everything working it when it was traded for a Scenic as the kids had outgrown the space. I always thoroughly liked the R5.

Matchbox made the Renault 5 from 1978 through to the crash in 83 with the car continuing to be produced under the new ownership. It was a feature of the Renault 5 that several special editions were released by Renault with extras packs and colour/graphic theming. Matchbox picked up on two of these, 'Le Car' (1978/79) and 'A5' (1979/81).

From 1978-9 the car was metallic blue with no graphics or yellow with 'Le Car' graphics. From 1979 to 1981 it was silver, some of these cars have 'A5'graphics and some are plain silver, from 1981-82 it remained silver with 'Le Car' graphics. From 1982-83 it was either white or red. The white car can have racing number 4 or 21 and either 'Renault' or 'Rolloil' graphics. There are a wide range of base colours in all variations.

The highest values are for silver with a tan interior, white with an orange base or any of the red cars.