Ph1 172 & others
So the story begins way back in 2005 at the ripe age of 18 years old when I got my first Clio, a 1.2 Grande RN. I loved that car and always planned to replace it with a 172 when insurance allowed.
I moved to New Zealand for five years where in my whole time I saw one Clio and promptly got into JDM life and into drifting. Subsequently owned many Skyline's, Silvia's, an Evo, Levin BZR and plenty of others. Since coming back to the UK about 5 years go I have been into MX5's (still am), got my ARDS licence, started racing and the rest is history I suppose.
Anyway, I'm an instructor at a racing school and we've had this 172 Exclusive for a while as one of our basic training cars. I spent the past weekend teaching in it and subsequently bought it from the school that I work for as I just fell in love with it.
So about the car... It's 172 Exclusive No 12. A bit of research has shown a couple of for sale threads on here but not much other ClioSport history - if anyone here knows any more about it I'd be really interested to know. Apparently it has a Formula Renault F4R head and although I'm on the fence as to how true that is, it has some very extreme cams in it even if it isn't Formula Renault. It's also got the most ridiculously loud powerflow exhaust on it which absolutely has to go - if any 1.2 owner out there needs to impress the local ladies I'd be happy to part with it for a modest amount of folding paper but it's absolutely useless for most circuits so it's surplus to my requirements.
It's been stripped out and has many annoying niggles but my plans are to tidy it up, maybe wrap it a different colour, stick a cage in it and continue using it as a training car for the school and my own private clients. Also just sorted out some Gaz dampers which will be fitted in a couple of months time when the season winds down a bit.
It's got a few issues which I have started to address. The front bumper mounting had been slightly rearranged by an over enthusiastic customer which I've sorted with some clever use of cable ties (old drift habits die hard). The speedometer doesn't work, sensor wasn't the problem so picked up a new set of dials from Midge which are only 200 miles different (sadly 200 miles in the wrong direction) and I've ordered a Momo boss so that I can fit the Sparco wheel from my race car which should make things a more in keeping in the cabin.
I'm also considering doing a Ph2 rear end conversion as I think the bumper / lights look a lot better and also considering a V6 / Trophy roof spoiler. Also will be on the look out for some OZ standard Ph1 wheels which will be shod in AD08R's for a good combined road / track setup.
So yea, Exclusive purists (if there is such a person) will probably cry but I love it and I'm looking forward to developing it more as we go. Anyway, enjoy some pics...
I moved to New Zealand for five years where in my whole time I saw one Clio and promptly got into JDM life and into drifting. Subsequently owned many Skyline's, Silvia's, an Evo, Levin BZR and plenty of others. Since coming back to the UK about 5 years go I have been into MX5's (still am), got my ARDS licence, started racing and the rest is history I suppose.
Anyway, I'm an instructor at a racing school and we've had this 172 Exclusive for a while as one of our basic training cars. I spent the past weekend teaching in it and subsequently bought it from the school that I work for as I just fell in love with it.
So about the car... It's 172 Exclusive No 12. A bit of research has shown a couple of for sale threads on here but not much other ClioSport history - if anyone here knows any more about it I'd be really interested to know. Apparently it has a Formula Renault F4R head and although I'm on the fence as to how true that is, it has some very extreme cams in it even if it isn't Formula Renault. It's also got the most ridiculously loud powerflow exhaust on it which absolutely has to go - if any 1.2 owner out there needs to impress the local ladies I'd be happy to part with it for a modest amount of folding paper but it's absolutely useless for most circuits so it's surplus to my requirements.
It's been stripped out and has many annoying niggles but my plans are to tidy it up, maybe wrap it a different colour, stick a cage in it and continue using it as a training car for the school and my own private clients. Also just sorted out some Gaz dampers which will be fitted in a couple of months time when the season winds down a bit.
It's got a few issues which I have started to address. The front bumper mounting had been slightly rearranged by an over enthusiastic customer which I've sorted with some clever use of cable ties (old drift habits die hard). The speedometer doesn't work, sensor wasn't the problem so picked up a new set of dials from Midge which are only 200 miles different (sadly 200 miles in the wrong direction) and I've ordered a Momo boss so that I can fit the Sparco wheel from my race car which should make things a more in keeping in the cabin.
I'm also considering doing a Ph2 rear end conversion as I think the bumper / lights look a lot better and also considering a V6 / Trophy roof spoiler. Also will be on the look out for some OZ standard Ph1 wheels which will be shod in AD08R's for a good combined road / track setup.
So yea, Exclusive purists (if there is such a person) will probably cry but I love it and I'm looking forward to developing it more as we go. Anyway, enjoy some pics...
haha
