Derivatives & specials
Variants
Four extraordinary machines
The Spider's aluminium chassis and composite bodywork inspired builders and engineers to push the concept even further — with turbos, V6s, Le Mans ambitions and bespoke hard tops.
ACE Tuning / Fochesato
Spider
Turbo
Twice the power of the original. The Fochesato Spider Turbo takes the standard F7R engine and adds a turbocharger, completely revised engine management, reworked camshafts and valves, and a stainless steel exhaust. The result: 300 hp at 6,250 rpm and 34 mkg of torque — a power-to-weight ratio of just 3.3 kg/hp, placing it alongside a Lamborghini Diablo SV.
The exterior transformation by ACE Tuning adds wide 225/40 ZR18 front and 245/40 ZR18 rear tyres, a front skirt, a redesigned rear cover to house the intercooler air intakes, and a new rear wing. The original roll bar is replaced by twin polished aluminium hoops.
Jean-Michel Roy & Brian Johnson
Helem
V6
To challenge Porsche 911s and Chrysler Vipers at Le Mans, Jean-Michel Roy became a constructor. His creation — the Helem (an acronym of LM, Le Mans in reverse) — is a genuine Grand Touring rival. Roy and his British partner Brian Johnson obtained Renault's authorisation to use the Spider's aluminium chassis. On these extruded aluminium profiles, the small team from Téloché — a village close to the Hunaudières straight — fitted a Renault PRV V6 engine producing 260 hp.
The Helem offers scissor doors like a Lamborghini Diablo, a leather-trimmed bi-colour interior with air conditioning and electric windows. Sold for 350,000 FF — 200,000 FF less than a Porsche 911 — it offered an unbeatable price-to-sensation ratio. Unfortunately, financial difficulties ended the adventure. Mr Johnson returned to the UK with the two race cars.
GT1 — Le Mans 1996
Spider
Le Mans
The opposite of the Helem — a full racing car created to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other GT1 events. The only French GT1 on the 1996 Le Mans grid, this light car (950 kg) powered by a twin-turbo PRV V6 developing 550 hp had a stunning power-to-weight ratio of 1.73 kg/hp — made possible largely by the aluminium chassis, which could handle the stresses of such a powertrain without complaint.
The Spider failed to make the Le Mans start in 1996 through lack of preparation time, and was not qualified at the 1997 pre-qualifying sessions either. It subsequently raced in the French GT FFSA championship and various international events until 1998, without notably distinguished results. Later, under the HRC banner, the car was rebranded as the Hawk and competed in the French FFSA GT championship in 2000.
Coachbuilt — Delémont, Switzerland
Spider
Willemin
A windscreen Spider is good. A Spider with a hard top is better. This is the work of a Swiss coachbuilder, Mr Willemin, based in Delémont near Belfort. The hard top in polyester was handcrafted and gives the car a genuine GT1 road car look — the influence of the Helem is unmistakable in the wing and the roof air intake.
Mr Willemin no longer has time to complete the full conversion, but he can still supply the raw polyester part for the hard top (including the roof air intake). A unique piece for those seeking the ultimate Spider.
