Dieppe to Dallas - Photos of the Texan owned Ph1 172

Hello everyone! Some of you may already know me from my build thread but if not, here is the link: https://cliosport.net/threads/172-phase-1-oem.851529/

A little bit of a backstory, I am prior military and I was stationed in Europe. While there I picked up a Ph1 172 and it is now back in Texas with me permanently. As far as I know, there are only two Ph1 RS’s in the US and mine is the only one in Texas.

This thread, Dieppe to Dallas (really DFW or Dallas-Fort Worth), was a bit of a fun idea I had of taking my Clio around in a sort of way of “showing it things it’s never seen before.” I will be posting photos here of my Clio with iconic Texan and American locations and landmarks.

I hope y’all enjoy this series as much as I enjoy creating it!


This is the Tarrant County Courthouse. Completed in 1895, it stands in the heart of downtown Fort Worth as one of Texas’ finest examples of Second Empire Architecture. Designed by architect Wesley Clark Dodson, the building is instantly recognizable for its pink Texas granite, ornate detailing, and central clock tower. It replaced an earlier courthouse as Fort Worth boomed alongside the cattle trade and railroad expansion, symbolizing the city’s transformation from frontier outpost to major economic hub.


Joe T. Garcias, founded in 1935 as a humble 16 seat cafe, has grown into one of Texas’ most iconic family-owned Mexican restaurants. What began during the Great Depression as a small neighborhood spot in Fort Worth’s Northside expanded over generations into a sprawling compound famous for its lush Fiesta Gardens, brick courtyards, fountains, and twinkling lights. Still run by the Garcia family, it has become a rite of passage for locals, politicians, and visitors alike serving a famously simple menu.

Very cool.

Thread should be titled "Oui-hon to Yee-haw"

Very cool having a French shitbox over there though, does it get a lot of attention?

So cool. It must feel tiny compared to the big SUVs and trucks out there. Do many people know what it is?

Cool!

Love this!

Mr Squashie said:

Thread should be titled "Oui-hon to Yee-haw"

Very cool having a French shitbox over there though, does it get a lot of attention?

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That’s honestly a pretty good title option as well!😂 It mostly gets overlooked as just another econobox and then there’s a few who see it, notice what it is, and absolutely love it.

massiveCoRbyn said:

So cool. It must feel tiny compared to the big SUVs and trucks out there. Do many people know what it is?

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Yes, it is quite tiny. Unfortunately most people don’t even notice it, some are familiar with Renault, and then a select few know exactly what it is. I’ve actually run into 2 different British guys this last weekend who both went crazy over it being here.

Yeti_runner said:

That’s honestly a pretty good title option as well!😂 It mostly gets overlooked as just another econobox and then there’s a few who see it, notice what it is, and absolutely love it.

Yes, it is quite tiny. Unfortunately most people don’t even notice it, some are familiar with Renault, and then a select few know exactly what it is. I’ve actually run into 2 different British guys this last weekend who both went crazy over it being here.View attachment 1778388View attachment 1778390

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Holy f**k😂😂

The bonnet height is bigger than the clio?!!! Is that genuine or an illusion of the photo?

Clio probably has more space in it

Crybert said:

Holy f**k😂😂

The bonnet height is bigger than the clio?!!! Is that genuine or an illusion of the photo?

Clio probably has more space in it

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The first photo is an illusion taken on my phone at 0.5x zoom, the second is genuine. The bonnet is slightly taller than the Clio. That is a rig for towing with a 6.6 liter turbo diesel V8 with approximately 1321 nm of torque, 470 horsepower, and rated for towing 10 tons. It’s the most extreme example of the sheer size difference I have taken so far.🤣

Have you tried getting it in the back of the pickup?

You could take it to the track without a trailer.

DaveDreads said:

Have you tried getting it in the back of the pickup?

You could take it to the track without a trailer.

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I mean with a 10 tonne towing capacity he could tow 9 of them😂

It’s honestly very close to fitting on the back but not quite. It is wide enough but the Clio is just barely too long. I’d also need some very very long ramps to get it up there😆

Love this.

Who will maintain it? Is there any Renault specialists in the states?

Poopensharten said:

Love this.

Who will maintain it? Is there any Renault specialists in the states?

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Well, Renault specialist are very very few and far between here. There is a small niche Renault community scattered across the states as well. I will be doing all of the maintenance on it though which is quite overwhelming at times since if I get stuck on something there’s no one to bail me out but I find it beyond worth it in the long run. Luckily it does have a freshly rebuilt engine and there are only 119k km on the chassis and absolutely no rust or rot.

Yeti_runner said:

Well, Renault specialist are very very few and far between here. There is a small niche Renault community scattered across the states as well. I will be doing all of the maintenance on it though which is quite overwhelming at times since if I get stuck on something there’s no one to bail me out but I find it beyond worth it in the long run. Luckily it does have a freshly rebuilt engine and there are only 119k km on the chassis and absolutely no rust or rot.

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Try and get a camshaft locking tool kit shipped over for the eventual belt change 👍

Matt Cup said:

Try and get a camshaft locking tool kit shipped over for the eventual belt change 👍

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This will eventually be my biggest undertaking on the car. Luckily I can wait a little while before then as I only drive the car on weekends and nice days and it stays in the garage the rest of the time.

Awesome mate! Looking forward to the updates!

@Yeti_runner the company I work for has a small office in Houston, I know its not close to Dallas! But if you ever need parts and can't source them then drop me a message - we often ship things between offices and if theres space in a box I can add some Renault flavoured bits

Flob said:

@Yeti_runner the company I work for has a small office in Houston, I know its not close to Dallas! But if you ever need parts and can't source them then drop me a message - we often ship things between offices and if theres space in a box I can add some Renault flavoured bits

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That would honestly be amazing! I will definitely let you know! I do go down to Houston every month or so for rallycross so that could work out well!

Flob said:

@Yeti_runner the company I work for has a small office in Houston, I know its not close to Dallas! But if you ever need parts and can't source them then drop me a message - we often ship things between offices and if theres space in a box I can add some Renault flavoured bits

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Top man 👏

I went out again tonight for some more photos!


7-Eleven’s story began in Dallas, Texas, in 1927, when the Southland Ice Company started selling milk, bread, and eggs from its ice docks for customer convenience. By 1946, the stores adopted the name “7-Eleven” to reflect their extended opening hours from 7 am to 11 pm which was revolutionary at the time. The brand went to pioneer the modern convenience store concept and eventually expanding worldwide.


My hometown, Midlothian, was founded in 1888 and began as a small rail town in Ellis County, Texas, growing around agriculture and later becoming known as the “Cement Capital of Texas” due to its major cement plants and limestone industry. Founders Row is a recent downtown revitalization project that pays tribute to Midlothian’s origins. The illuminated arch and surrounding space were designed to celebrate the town’s founding year and provide a central gathering point for events and community life.

Awesome thread. The Ph1s are such great cars, and it’s even better seeing one in the US.

Liking the writeups with the pictures too - more please!

Must be impressive to know that your car is 1 of only 2 in the country.

I tend to think that my 'most-common-colour' 182 is a rare sight on the roads, but this is on another level.

McGherkin said:

Awesome thread. The Ph1s are such great cars, and it’s even better seeing one in the US.

Liking the writeups with the pictures too - more please!

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I genuinely love my Ph1. Every time I drive it, it brings me so much joy! I do have quite a few more locations planned but they may be spaced out a bit!

Darren S said:

Must be impressive to know that your car is 1 of only 2 in the country.

I tend to think that my 'most-common-colour' 182 is a rare sight on the roads, but this is on another level.

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It’s honestly a very cool feeling knowing there’s an extremely high chance I’ll not see another one when going to shows and meets. It’s so unique here.

This thread is awesome. 👍

Midlothian will stir some kilts on here I imagine. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

This is so cool, love what you're doing with it 😁👍

Jonnio said:

This thread is awesome. 👍

Midlothian will stir some kilts on here I imagine. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

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I figured it might, Midlothian got its name from Scottish settler Frank Holland who was from Midlothian, Scotland!

I'm loving the historical facts to go with the pictures, if you do other road trips I'd love to see some old 50's Americana like derelict diners and old service stations in forgotten towns the interstate bypassed, I find the faded glory days of 50's car culture fascinating.

DaveDreads said:

I'm loving the historical facts to go with the pictures, if you do other road trips I'd love to see some old 50's Americana like derelict diners and old service stations in forgotten towns the interstate bypassed, I find the faded glory days of 50's car culture fascinating.

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I really appreciate that! And absolutely, I think I can make that happen!

Yeti_runner said:

I figured it might, Midlothian got its name from Scottish settler Frank Holland who was from Midlothian, Scotland!

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It's an area here rather than a town but that makes sense. Something makes me think there won't be a town called West Lothian (my area) despite lots of people escaping here for America. They probably don't want to remember this place 😂

The history lesson with the pictures is just what an absolute cretin such as my self needs. More please Mr Texas. Superb.

So I’ve got a few more photos for today and a ton of other locations lined up but it will take some time to get to them all. Meant to post these last night but fell asleep while typing this up🤣


Founded in 1982 in Lake Jackson, Texas, Bucee’s grew from a small regional petrol shop into a full blow Texas cultural phenomenon. The brand’s mascot, a smiling cartoon beaver, is central to the identity appearing on everything from signage to shirts, hats, mugs, and plush toys. The beaver has become one of the most recognizable roadside icons in America. Bucee’s is famous for scale. Many locations average between 80-120 fuel pumps with some flagship stores exceeding that, making them among the largest petrol stations in the world. Inside, you can get fresh brisket sandwiches, Texas BBQ, kolaches, and dozens of varieties of fudge, baked goods, hot meals, and branded merchandise. You can also find home decor, outdoor gear, gifts, and tools. Most legendary, however, are the bathrooms. Bucees markets itself as having the cleanest bathrooms in America. It lives up to it even during peak hours when all 80-120 pumps are taken and hundreds of people are in the store, it is still nearly spotless.


Opened in 1996, Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.5 mile quad-oval that embodies the sheer scale of American motorsport. With seating for well over 100,000 spectators, massive high banked corners, and acres of infield, it’s built for NASCAR and IndyCar events where speeds regularly exceed 200 mph. Everything about it is oversized from the grandstands to the multiple infield road course configurations. It’s effectively a motorsport complex rather than just a single track.


Opened in 2009, the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas is one of the largest and most technically advanced sports venues in the world. Home to the (American) football team, the Dallas Cowboys, it features a retractable roof, massive glass end zones, and one of the biggest high definition video boards ever installed in a stadium. The scale is unmistakably Texas seating over 80,000 and expandable to over 100,000, with a footprint that dominates the surrounding skyline being seen from miles away. It’s also set to be a venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.


The painted signage for Hilley’s Drug Store and L and L Grocery in downtown Midlothian aren’t original from the early 1900s, but rather part of a historic themed mural project designed to celebrate the town’s past. The artwork recreates the look of early 20th century hand painted brick advertisements, the kind that were once common in small Texas towns. Historically, independent drug stores like Hilley’s were community hubs, often featuring soda fountains, where locals gathered for ice cream, phosphates, and conversation. Likewise, small grocers like L and L would have served as essential suppliers for a farming and rail-based town in the late 1800s and early 1900s.


Midlothian earned the nickname “Cement Capital of Texas” in the late 20th century as major cement manufacturers established plants just outside town. The area sits on vast deposits of high quality limestone (the primary ingredient in cement) along with abundant clay and shale. Combined with rail access and proximity to the booming Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, it became an ideal industrial location. At one point, Midlothian had the highest cement production capacity in the state, supplying materials for highways, bridges, commercial buildings, and rapid North Texas expansion.

Amazing thread and fantastic work shipping the little baguette 🥖 out there and then using it with the knowledge that you've got the full maintenance plan on your plate too!

Great pictures in their own right too, great eye!

Keep it coming

Can I ask to, is the 76 on the plate your DOB? Or some other significance

This is fascinating, I now understand why the Beaver features so heavily in old movies like National Lampoons Vacation.

Loving the photos and story telling!
Got family in Montana. Evey time im there, always wish the 182 could tag along haha

Would be cool to see the ph1 at Deals Gap/Tail Of The Dragon.....Bit of a drive though 😅
Plenty of photo opportunities with the scenery + reactions from fellow motoring enthusiats.
Perfect driving roads for the little Clio!

Coops Mk1 said:

Amazing thread and fantastic work shipping the little baguette 🥖 out there and then using it with the knowledge that you've got the full maintenance plan on your plate too!

Great pictures in their own right too, great eye!

Keep it coming

Can I ask to, is the 76 on the plate your DOB? Or some other significance

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Thank you very much!

The 76 plate is actually a recreation from the plate I saw in the book les Renault Sportives de Série. I have gathered that it could possibly be the plate number for the original French press release car with 76 being the départment number of Seine-Maritime (Normandy) where Dieppe, and the factory the car was built is in, is located. It’s a little bit of a nod to the original French heritage.

PerthRS said:

Loving the photos and story telling!
Got family in Montana. Evey time im there, always wish the 182 could tag along haha

Would be cool to see the ph1 at Deals Gap/Tail Of The Dragon.....Bit of a drive though 😅
Plenty of photo opportunities with the scenery + reactions from fellow motoring enthusiats.
Perfect driving roads for the little Clio!

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Montana would be an amazing place to drive the Clio. They have such outstanding roads and scenery! Tail of the Dragon is definitely on the list, I’d likely end up towing it there just to be safe. Possibly this fall or next spring!