Rare Renault 'spaceship' car owners gather for anniversary

Rare Renault “spaceship” car owners are gathering this weekend for an anniversary event celebrating the Avantime, described as a “vanishingly rare” people carrier. Fans will meet in Long Eaton, a UK town twinned with Romorantin-Lanthenay in France, where manufacturer Matra created about 8,500 units. The gathering marks the 25th anniversary of the model’s release, and organizers expect attendees from across Europe. Organizer Simon Farmer said he would never sell his Avantime, noting it was “very radical” at launch and drew comparisons to a spacecraft. Top Gear previously called it the “strangest ever people carrier” and questioned its inclusion in Gran Turismo 7, while Autocar’s Richard Bremner described it as a “magnificent automotive folly.” Despite being a “commercial failure” and Matra’s last new range before closing in 2003, Farmer said the car has developed strong affection over time, and might have succeeded more if released later.