Renault Clio Williams

The Eighties were full of brash hot hatches, but in the Nineties there was one clear champion: the Clio Williams.

When it arrived in 1993, its golden wheels, pumped-up body and 150bhp 2.0-litre engine made it an instant hit. In fact, the limited run of 400 cars sold out so quickly, Renault couldn’t resist going back again and again.

Later Williams 2 and 3 cars followed the same formula and are just as much fun to drive as the original, but finding a decent example of any one takes time. The tiny Clio is idolised by boy racers and there’s a huge difference in price between the best and worst out there. The first-edition cars have a numbered plaque, but the French firm got greedy with the Williams 2 and didn’t limit supply. As a result these are the least collectable and most common. The final Williams 3 is the rarest and – with a sunroof, electric mirrors and ABS as standard – the best equipped.

All three come only in dark blue, but the last-of-the-line Williams 3 is a slightly brighter shade. Check for rust around the rear wheelarches on all models and get a history check. Engines are tough, but the gearboxes and differentials aren’t, so it’s worth paying for a mechanical inspection, too. And have a decent security system fitted.