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Different wing mirrors on the 2 + 3. They are bigger, whereas the originals were the same as the 16v. The 2.0 badges were next to the indicator on the front wing, whereas the later 2 + 3 house them on the door bump strips. The originals do not have the carbon strip on the boot, but grey plastic instead.
Deano
Williams: The original homologation special, 400 RHD cars, numbered individually and made in late 1993. Basically, Renaultsport took advantage of FIA Rallying rules that allowed engine capacity of up to 2.0 litres when a car was homologated (at the time, they were using the 1764cc Clio 16V as the homologation car). In order to do this, they had to make 2500 road-going 2.0 Clio examples. The car was named the Williams to celebrate the Nigel Mansel/Williams/Renault F1 victories, although it was basically untouched by Williams F1 Engineering Ltd.
The original edition was based on the Phase1 Clio 16V, with the various modifications basically concentrated on making the best hot hatch of the day an even more fitting home for the new Group A/N rallying 2.0 F7R engine. The Willy also wore that unmistakable trademark combination of 449 Sports Blue bodywork and gold/silver rimmed Speeline wheels, with wider tracks filling the 16Vs already pumped-up arches and sporting a larger rear lip spoiler. The suspension and transmission were heavily revised and the interior was also treated to some attention.
The distinguishing features over the Williams 2 and 3 are the Phase1 exterior/interior trim ("retro" would be kind), lack of sunroof/electric mirrors/ABS/basic sound system. None of the three editions have any mechanical differences worth mentioning.
Williams 2: Such was the public and press reception for the original Williams (see http://www.cliosport.net/articles/williams-2.asphttp://www.SPAN style=COLOR: windowtext>cliosport/SPAN.net/articles/williams-2.asp), that Renault produced a second batch of Willies in 1994: much to the anger of the original Williams owners. Still, with numbers of RHD cars at less than 400, these are again very rare. These were also Phase2 cars, which in line with the general Clio range are smoother-looking and more soundproofed cars - see elsewhere for more details. The Willy 2 gained some of the refinements of the Clio 16V lost on the original Williams, such as electric mirrors. Still no sunroof or ABS and still 449 Sports Blue in colour.
Williams 3: Renault again gave in to the pressure and produced a final edition in 1995. These cars were again limited to under 400 RHD examples and were Phase2 models. They are distinguished by their Monaco Blue pearlescent paintwork (shared with the Clio 16V), which is a lighter colour than the 449 Sports Blue. These final editions came with an electric sunroof as standard, with ABS as standard (I think, or at least a very popular option).
To some extent at least, its the look and your view that decides your favourite: Willy as the original rally homologation, Willy 2 the best of both worlds and Willy 3 as the refined final edition.
Williams (mine):
http://images.cardomain.com/member_images/10/web/286000-286999/286766_58_full.jpg
Williams 2 (Louise):
http://www.matissefezzy.34sp.com/willy2.jpg
Williams 3 (Nothy_com):
http://erc.qmuc.ac.uk/cliosport/gallery/full/1077817320__clio1.jpg
I feel like a fool, for years I have knocked people for saying their valvers are Williams blue.
I thought why would it be Williams blue if its not a Williams, but hey guess I was the one in the wrong all along.
Technically speaking the valvers arent Willy blue though, the Willys are valver blue, as the Willy came out after the valver!
Myself and king.stromba noticed a few random other differences between his 1 and my 2.
My tailpipe is rolled inwards, whereas his is just a plain round pipe..
His stickers are a thick gold Williams outline on the 449 paint, whereas the Williams 2 stickers are all in one piece, with the fill in on the letters as part of the sticker - I presume they were easier to apply en masse than the fiddly outline stickers of the first Williams.
Random differences but there all the same!!
Another suble difference is with the dials on the williams 3, all the symbols that illuminate like indicators, lights, oil etc are backlit where as the earlier ones are like little cubes that light up.
Again ikle small differences...
Williams 3 gets front door speakers too, dont think the 2s did
The Willy 1 also has an enlarged, colour-coded rear lip spoiler.
Some 400 or so of the original 2500 Williams were called "Swiss Champion", for the Swiss market. The UK got nos 0002 to roughly 425 (because there are some LHD ones numbered under 425) and Switzerland got the next 400 or so. Then the rest of the 2500 were for the continent - and even a few to Japan!
Williams 1 - Sir Frank Special
Williams 3 - Frank Special
Williams 2 - FW Special
dont forget the willy 2 and 3 have side impact bars and more sound deadning, i found this out from a willy 2 brouchure and the willy1 didnt hence the doors are a bit heavier on the 2 and 3.
I have seen a couple of the jap websites for the williams, but i think they are only used for the track now as they have strict laws about 3+ year old vehicles.
Hee hee, mine doesnt, so ive got the best of both worlds.Quote: Originally posted by northy_com on 28 February 2004
The only draw back to owning a Williams 3 is you get a sunroof. And boy can it leak!
Prefer the rub stips of a williams 1 though ben.
Even tho its off the road at the mo
I dunno how this happened...
When I went to see it, it was the first thing I noticed, my first guess it was just a done up Valver. Anyways saw the log-book and done a HPI check both confirming it was a Willy 3.
Anyways I bought it(obviously
) and phoned Renault the next day, they said there was no record of a Sunroof being fitted, so it was either a one-off, or just a simple mistake.It wasnt quite reassuring(sp) hearing them say that. But no ways im gonna demand them putting a sunroof on it.
It looks like a Willy 3 and it drives like a Willy.....well not at the moment, but will be when I get it back from Andy
When I was looking for a Williams, Id previously had a Phase2 16V so preferred the look and build of the Willy 2 and 3. But when it came down to it, I just looked at the most mint cars regardless of whether it was a particular version of Williams.
As it happens, the car I saw was a Willy 1 with the plaque number 123! I practically made an offer on the spot when I saw the number - makes me feel very special, even if it makes no difference to anyone else!
Willy No. 123 is definitely less soundproofed that my old Valver and it took some time to get used to the Phase1 bits (like the crappy mirrors you cant see out of and the weeny grille and side strips), but its not that bad at all.Phase 1 rules Ben. Its a rally car, your not meant to see out of the mirrors
I heard the mirrors are small because the cars behind are oh sooooooo small in them.
