- Renault is auctioning design mockups on December 7 near Paris.
- The sale includes scale models from the 1950s through the 2010s.
- Most are 1/5 scale with finely detailed exteriors and interiors.
Fans and collectors of French automobiles have reason to celebrate, as Renault prepares to open its design studio archives in what amounts to a high-end garage sale. The French automaker isn’t just parting with small memorabilia, but with design treasures too.
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Alongside genuine concept cars, one-offs, racing models, and classic recreations that we featured in another story, Renault is also auctioning a collection of intricate scale models once used to shape its most celebrated designs, offering enthusiasts a rare glimpse into the company’s creative past.
The auction, curated by Artcurial Motorcars, will take place on December 7 in France and will feature mostly 1:5-scale models crafted from composite materials, a preferred size among designers for its balance of intricate detail and easy transport.
Scale models play a vital role in the design development as they allow designers to evaluate the proposals before moving on to the full-size clay model and static prototypes.
What’s Up for Sale?
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
The auction features around 40 wind tunnel and styling mockups, dating from the late 1950s through the early 2010s. Among the earliest examples are a “berline” study from the late 1950s, a sleek coupe from the late 1960s, and a 1973 mid-engined sports car that never saw production.
Fan favorites such as the 1968 R4L, 1971 Alpine A110, and 1992 Renault Twingo also make an appearance.
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Among the standouts is the 1988 Megane concept, a luxurious V6-poweredsedan packed with forward-thinking touches like camera-based mirrors and adaptive suspension. There’s also the 1997 Pangea concept that previewed the original Kangoo light commercial vehicle with a hybrid LPG powertrain and a detachable trailer that doubled as a power source.
On the more imaginative side sits the delightfully eccentric Reinastella, a 1992 vision of a flying car dreamed up for the year 2328.
Other Highlights from the Collection
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
Renault’s early-2000s era is also well represented. The 2001 Talisman, a four-seat coupe with vast gullwing doors and a V8 engine, bears no connection to the later sedan of the same name.
It’s joined by the Ellypse minivan, the Wind roadster, the Egeus SUV, the Fluence and Fluence Z.E. sedans, and the ZOE Z.E. hatchback, each capturing a snapshot of the brand’s evolving design language in the 2000s.
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The most recent entry is the 2011 Captur concept, one of the first models to express the curvier design language developed under Laurens van den Acker. That aesthetic soon carried through to Renault’s production lineup, most notably with the first-generation Captur subcompact SUV launched in 2013.
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
Another curiosity is a cutaway model of a 1957–58 Cargo Liberty ship carrying 90 miniature Norev Dauphine microcars. There’s also a 1:20-scale replica of the 1959 Renault Panoramic Autorail Type 5150 train, once seen gliding through the Alps and the French Riviera.
What Will They Cost?
Most listings carry estimates between €1,000 and €2,000 (equal to around $1,200–2,300 at current exchange rates). Some, however, climb to €5,000 ($5,800) or even €10,000 ($11,600), meaning certain scale models could command more than full-size concepts offered in the same sale, as those typically sit between €4,000 and €6,000 ($4,600–7,000).
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
Beyond the road cars, Renault is auctioning 1:5 and 1:8-scale models of single-seater racecars from various eras, including 1981, 1982, 1985, 1990, 1992 (Nigel Mansell), 1993 (Damon Hill), 2005 (Fernando Alonso), and 2019 (Daniel Ricciardo).
Built as exhibition pieces, these mini racers are expected to sell for anywhere from €1,000 to €10,000 ($1,200–5,800), depending on rarity and collector interest.
For anyone seeking a closer look, a complete catalog of available models is listed on the auction’s official website that you can check out for yourself over here.
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
According to Renault, all the models on sale exist in “several examples” in their collection, which explains why they wanted to clear up some room.
The automaker plans on opening a new brand heritage showcase in Flins-sur-Seine near Paris in 2027, where visitors will be able to check out past icons from up close.
Flora Ferreira / Arcurial
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