Description[]
The Renault Le Car was the US import version of the French manufacturer's "supermini" hatchback, the Renault 5. The name "Le Car" was formulated to sound French. "Le car" actually means "the coach" in French, not a very apt description for a small four-seater.
This casting was only released internationally. This is one of the rare Hot Wheels from this time period to feature a plastic base. While in Europe this casting never had a long lifespan, the casting had a longer life in India, where it was produced as the Maruti-800 under the Leo Hot Wheels banner despite the real Maruti 800 and the Renault 5 not being related in any aspect; for these Indian releases the "Renault Le Car" name is scrubbed off and covered by a deletion plate.
Versions[]
The Renault Le Car was released in the following 1/64th scale versions:
| Col # | Year | Series | Color | Tampo | Base Color / Type |
Window Color | Interior Color | Wheel Type | Toy # | Country | Notes / Variations |
Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Mainline | Red | "Renault" tampos | Black / Plastic |
Clear | Tan | BW | 3292 | France | 
| ||
| 1984 | Mainline | Black | No tampos | Black / Plastic |
Clear | Tan | BW | 3292 | France | 
| ||
| 1987 | Mainline | Red | No tampos | Black / Plastic |
Clear | Tan | BW | 3292 | France | 
| ||
| 1987 | Mainline | Light Blue | No tampos | Black / Plastic |
Clear | Tan | BW | 3292 | France | 
| ||
| 1987 | Mainline | Light Olive Green | No tampos | Black / Plastic |
Clear | Tan | BW | 3292 | France | Available (exclusively?) in "bulk", without package (at least in Canada) |
|
See Also[]
Gallery[]
.png "Leo-Lecar1B (Large).png (2.37 MB)")
.JPG "LEO-LeCar1 (Large).JPG (395 KB)")
.JPG "LEO-LeCar1A (Large).JPG (377 KB)")