Back in the ’60s, the best advertising was the race-arena: especially the rally-scene.
Renault understood that and desperately tried to make a car fit for the famous competition. That’s how the R8 Gordini was born.

It was based on the regular Renault 8 Major, an upgraded version of the Renault 8. Renault hired the former race-driver and engineer Amedee Gordini, nicknamed “the sorcerer.” Gordini took the basic 1.1-liter engine and tuned-it to develop 89 hp, which was almost twice as much as the standard R8 Major’s 50 hp. It was the first try, and Renault unveiled it in 1964. But Gordini was not satisfied. It was just a small adjustment for him.

With the car ready to race, Renault lined up six vehicles in the 1964 Tour de Corse. They raced against strong competitors such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ, Lancia Flavia, Ford Falcon, and Porsche 904 Carrera GTS. Renault 8 Gordini took four out of five top positions, including first place.

Two years later, in 1966, the true R8 Gordini saw the light of day. The entire vehicle was redesigned as a race-car under the otherwise bland bodywork of an R8. Renault installed four headlights on the 1966 model to resemble the “Cibie lights” from the rally version, and it launched the car with a specific “blue ciel” color with two white stripes that crossed the vehicle from front to the engine bay, which was in the rear. Unlike the ‘64 version, it featured a 5-speed manual gearbox. The engine was enlarged to a 1.25-liter displacement, and in the street version, it offered 100 hp.

Renault sold the vehicles to the public and started a one-make race championship. The rally version of the R8 Gordini offered 115 hp.