- Historic vehicle from Renault’s ‘Grandeur Nature’ rally in 1988

- Rare four-wheel drive Quadra version

- Interesting original condition

- For spare parts

- No reserve

July 1988, Conakry: Renault’s ‘Grandeur Nature’ long-distance rally set out from Guinea for the North Cape. Five weeks and 15,000km to cover for the eight Renault 19s accompanied by two support trucks and two Espace Quadra liaison vehicles. The goal: to test the strength of the Renault 19, unveiled the previous month, before it went on sale in September.

Right from the start, the crews faced challenging conditions: muddy tracks, bridges swept away by floods ... The first days were gruelling, with the trucks put to the test to pull out cars bogged down in the mud or stuck in a ford. A makeshift bridge was built to cross a swollen river, but one of the lorries nearly fell off it, which would have put an end to the rally. From the Ivory Coast onwards, the roads were better, but then came the desert in Mali. These physical challenges were sometimes compounded by administrative complications: after waiting 36 hours at the Algerian border, the crews had to keep going day and night, with one driver at the wheel while the other slept. Spain, France and Germany were gobbled up in just three days, before Scandinavia, with some difficult sections, and, finally, the North Cape. For the 40 adventurers, all of whom worked in Renault’s factories, it was a complete success. For the Renault 19 too ...

The Espace 2000 TSE Quadra from the collection is one of the two that took part in this amazing trip. This version has permanent four-wheel drive with a central viscous coupling which apportions the power between the front and rear axles. In its production specification, this Espace is fitted with a sophisticated audio system and is in unusually well-preserved condition, with 27,010km on the clock. Having been stored in the collection without moving, it will need a thorough overhaul before being driven again. With its stickers from the trip, it is a living reminder of a magnificent intercontinental adventure.