Dreaming of a Roofless Five

A few days ago, I spotted the new “Five” from Renault on the road. While it had popped up in online ads before without catching much of my attention, in real life it genuinely intrigued me. After it lingered in my mind for a while, I started recalling the earlier versions Renault introduced back in the 1970s. Digging deeper, I discovered that the second generation (1984–1996) was actually converted into a cabriolet by an external company called EBS.

I did some research – and then took it a step further, projecting forward to 2025. Looking at the proportions and cheerful silhouette of the new Renault 5 E-Tech, it’s hard not to wonder: what if a Renault 5 E-Tech Cabriolet existed? A light, compact, urban car with an open roof – wouldn’t that be the perfect antidote to today’s uniform world of SUVs?

I even created my own Renault Concept Car vision of this car as a cabriolet. But it would be disrespectful not to look back in time first. Because history has already given us a roofless Renault 5.

Renault 5 Cabrio by EBS – a Belgian Curiosity

In the second half of the 1980s, Belgian company EBS Automotive converted the second-generation Renault 5 into a true cabriolet. This wasn’t just a one-off prototype – the company is believed to have made around 1,400 conversions (a rarity!). For the right-hand-drive version, only 33 units were produced (a mega rarity), including just 14 GT Turbo examples (a level of exclusivity that even Ferrari could envy).

The ordering process was unusual: customers paid a deposit of about 10% of the price, and completion took 4 to 6 months. In 1989, the base price was 8,998 Deutsche Marks, with options such as power windows, an automatically folding roof, and leather upholstery.

I found only one example currently for sale in Europe: a 1988 Renault Super 5 Baccara Cabrio – a rare convertible in the luxury Baccara trim. Under the hood sits a 1.7L petrol engine with 88 hp, 168,000 km on the clock, and a 5-speed manual transmission. Features include power windows, a leather steering wheel, tinted glass, and alloy wheels – quite attractive, especially for a car from 1988.

[Link to advertisement on autoscout24] I have no interest in providing a link to this ad – photos and link posted for educational purposes only.