Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications

Discover how Anthony Wilson transformed his Renault Clio Mk1 Williams into a unique Max Power, award-winning show car with custom modifications and a powerful performance.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications
Renault Clio Williams Mk1: A Masterpiece of Max Power Custom Modifications

Anthony Wilson

Renault Clio  Williams Mk1 

Instagram: @Phantome46

Performance Stats: 175bhp

“If you can think it, you can make it.”

A Passion for Cars and Creativity

I am passionate about cars and have always been modifying since I was 15. I have basically taught myself how to weld, fibreglass, fill, wire, and do bodywork and mechanical work because I really enjoy giving things a try. This is my hobby, as my day job is creating some of the world’s best-known alcoholic liquids. I am a real creative thinker and love to express myself through the things I build. “If you can think it, you can make it.” I am massively into modifying cars, and even now none of my cars are standard. My signature is big wheels and making them fit. I also think a modified car should be finished to a standard where you're not sure what's factory and what's not.

This Car Can Be Found In Our Stance Auto Magazine Max Power Themed 2024: A Journey Back In Time.Printed Magazine

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 boot lid open

Following a Father's Example

Early Influences

My dad was always into cars and classic restoration, so I used to help him in the garage. My focus was modified cars. I began to experiment and make stuff fit with a view to getting a personalized expression of a car. I restored and customized a VW Beetle as my first car and then had a Renault Clio 1.4 RT. I added nice wheels, an exhaust, a splitter, and a spoiler. Then I built a boot install with subs.

That got me hooked on Renaults, and a Valver was the one to aspire to. I got featured in Revs magazine and then I wanted to have a show car. I built a 306 convertible with a full Ecosse kit on it, but instead of keeping it like the rest, I modified the parts to make them more unique. I fitted 18” rims to the cab when others had 17’s because that was the challenge: target no rubbing and a car full of people needed to be possible. That was also featured in a magazine. I went to Max Power Live in 2003 with the 306, and over the weekend, I decided I was going to build a cover car that could win shows. But it had to be unique and push the boundaries of anything I had done before.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 doors open

Building an Untouched Gem: Renault Clio  Williams Mk1

The Inspiration and Initial Build

Saxos and Peugeots were the weapon of choice at the time, and the Clio seemed to be an untouched gem. The lines are really unique as a body shape, and it had lots of potential as a base to start working from. I sketched a few ideas down on paper and began to think about what I wanted to do. Once I had a basic idea, I started and let the plan evolve as the car was built. Time and the journey shape the final idea.

Custom Modifications

The car has a one-off handmade body kit that is moulded to the car as one piece to achieve smooth and soft lines. The headlight conversion is from an Astra Mk4 and required the car to be extended by two inches and the whole front to be reconstructed. Once the headlight conversion was in place, the bonnet could no longer open forward like Clio’s do, so a big modification was to change the bonnet hinging so it opens the opposite way, but without hitting the strangely shaped wings. All the handles, rear lights, etc., have been smoothed out to give the sleek lines. No functionality was lost; it was just disguised into the build to avoid spoiling the aesthetics.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 showing the engine bay

Unique Features

The boot is one of the standout features that draw people in—the slide-out nature of it came about to allow for the spoiler to clear the roof and also provides an acoustic wall for the stereo in demo mode. The wheels are 19 inches seated behind 300mm Hi-Spec front and rear brake conversions, all color-coded in black and orange. There is no rubbing at all, and it's static. Air suspension would have been too easy, if it was even available 20 years ago when the car was actually built. The fuel system then had to be modified to make way for the wheels, so the filler was relocated to the rear bumper behind the tailgate (out of sight) and rerouted under the boot floor.

Renault Clio  Williams Mk1: Interior and Engine Upgrades

The interior features a totally custom dashboard that grafted a left and right-hand dash together. Two screens replace the original gauges on both sides for sat-nav and TV amusement, and in the center features a digital dash from a quad with all the functionality needed but smaller and more aesthetically appealing. There is a Kenwood TV head unit in the passenger floor controlling all of the media systems and a total of seven screens in the build. Custom door cards in the front and 6x9s in the rear, along with two 12-inch subs, deliver superb sound quality.

There is a smooth custom-painted boot build with color-coded amps and subs to keep the black and orange theme running throughout the car. As most of the interior is painted, it's nice to have the contrast of a black leather dash top and seats all orange stitched to give the interior a more luxurious feel. The engine bay is a tuned Renault Williams engine with headers, cams, carbon air induction, and a mapped ECU. The whole engine has been painted black with orange details. No area on this car has remained standard; it's a truly modified car in every sense.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 BOOT BUILD

The Uniqueness of the Clio Mk1 Williams

Show-Stopping Appeal

It’s one of one, and there will never be another one. It’s the car that always seems to get ridiculous amounts of attention at shows. People are always trying to guess what it is and often ask and tell friends, “I told you!” The car is very hard to own and maintain, keeping it in the condition it's in now (the car is 20+ years old with original paint). Driving it is fun—these days, she is a trailer queen to try and preserve it, but I do try and move it around shows so people can see it drives and steers even while static on the wheels. It looks amazing when it's rolling.

Achievements and Recognition

The car has been an amazing show winner in its time, winning Best in Britain 2008, having had three front covers, being recognized as top 10 at GTI International, and then winning Ciney Show Europe the first time I took it. I have been automatically disqualified from show and shines with the excuse that it's not fair on others, as I’ve consistently improved or done more and more on the car. But this is an expression of me—a work in progress, and I modify for my pleasure, not others. I have ridiculously high standards, and I hope this shows in the car. I won a top 10 award at Modified Nationals the first time I brought the car out after 15 years in 2020 and then won Petrol Hedonism Concourse Elite in 2022. Never won a Max Power award though in the car's history!

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 the beginning of the build

Renault Clio  Williams Mk1 Build List: 

Exterior: 

Custom front bumper with black centre bars.  Mk4 Astra custom headlamp conversion blacked out with colour-coded Angel Eyes.  Black Crystal LED fog lamps.  Lengthened Clio 16v bonnet with reverse opening, fully motorized with a remote linear actuator. Smoothed nose cone insert, Smoothed colour-coded scuttle panel.  Smoothed side repeaters.  Custom arches and side skirts.  Smoothed handles with remote pop solenoids, de-locked, Smooth roof, aerial, and side sills. Mono wiper conversion.  DTM style LED mirrors.  Smoothed rear boot lid with remote motorized “slide out” conversion.  Custom rear spoiler.  Custom LED rear lights in the rear window.  Custom rear bumper with DTM style cut out.  Full re-spray in Lamborghini  Mica Orange.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 interior

Interior: 

Corbeau Targa RS bucket seats re-trimmed in black leather with Lamborghini orange stitching.  Colour-coded seat plastics.  Rear seats and door cards re trimmed to match.  Smoothed and painted interior plastics, custom-made Twin dash –  2 x  10.2” widescreen LCD screens, all switches & Heater controls relocated, Digital bike dash with custom wiring harness. Leather top dash with matching orange stitching, Chrome roll cage with single cross member.  Black Alcantara headlining with smoothed sun visors and handles removed.  Leather gear gaiter with orange stitching.  Full re-carpet in black, Painted seat frames, pedals and gear knob, Custom painted steering wheel, Custom shortened handbrake conversion. 

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 engine

Performance: 

Clio F7R 2.0 16V Engine. Group N spec uprated clutch, Gunner Racing chipped ECU. Polished and ported head.  KTR Stage 2 racing cams, followers and alloy adjustable vernier pullies. Super sprint tubular manifold and downpipe, Iridium power spark plugs, Magnecor ignition leads, low temp thermostat and fan switch, competition cambelt, Polished hard piped Piper cross Viper induction kit colour coded.  Black painted rocker cover, inlet manifold and top engine mount, Black swirl pot. Stainless battery, power steering, spark, plenum, M cylinder, suspension top strut and map sensor covers.  Orange Samco hoses, Orange coloured stainless steel bolts, colour-coded engine wiring loom. Carbon strut brace, Un silenced de-cat pipe.  Custom full exhaust system with satin black centre exit rear can and gloss black twin oval tailpipes.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 callipers

Suspension and wheels: 

Ultimate coil over -70 mm front and lowered shocks at rear. Torsion bar lowered 80mm. Power flex poly bushes, Uprated lower engine mount,        Hi-Spec 325mm front cross-drilled discs with painted bells and colour-coded 4 pot callipers. The rear 300mm hi spec rear cross-drilled discs with 2 pot hi spec callipers are custom-made from Mk 2 Clio. Custom stub axles and callipers mounting gear. Kevlar brake pads.  Stainless steel brake lines kits and colour-coded rear brake lines.  Ace 7.5 x 19“ 201 alloy wheels painted two-tone Black & Orange with Toyo Proxy 215/35/19. 

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 audio build

ICE: 

7” Kenwood TV/DVD head unit in custom floor build,  7” DIN  touch screen with navigation, TV, Bluetooth phone, Ipod and DVD. 6” Kenwood components. 6” Kenwood 3 way speakers with colour-coded grills, 7” monitor in each door build,  2 x 12” Kenwood DVC power Sub woofers in custom fibreglass enclosures. Kenwood 4-channel amp is fully colour-coded, and the Kenwood 2-channel Mono amp has a remote bass controller. Power Cap with digital display.  Optima battery with split charge system in the rear.  Custom fibreglass 1 piece stereo build with 7” screen flush mounted.  Interior LEDs under the dash and build.

Security:

Remote Start car alarm with dual immobilization and Total closure.

Renault Clio Williams Mk1 i.c.e

Personal and Collaborative Effort

The car has been built by me. The build started on my parents' driveway where I did all of the bodywork, welding, and filler work. A friend of mine, Gel, and his dad did the final body shaping and painting, which made the car as the bodywork is still mint now after 20+ years. I have learned new skills and put them to the test throughout the build. I am still learning now, and I take things off, improve them, and put them back. I don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to this build these days as my passion is BMW M cars, and I have several projects on the go at the moment in that world.

Future Plans

Evolving the Masterpiece

I am now at the stage where I have pretty much-done everything I can to the car. There are always little things I look at and think, knowing what I know now, I would have done this differently, but that was then, and that was the car of the era. Modifying it again to make it modern would ruin the ethos of the building. However, I am still working on a new set of custom splitters. A recent 300mm rear brake conversion and custom headlights gave it a tidy update for the 2024 Max Power Reunion.

I do, however, see myself doing a new boot build, and it's probably time to strip all of the mechanical parts off and do a full underside refresh in matching black and orange, as this is a 31-year-old car. I have the ultimate idea for the car, which I keep thinking about, but it would mean a significant rebuild. The reality is, while cool, it's not going to win shows—so a better idea might be a fresh build altogether, putting what I have learned over the last 20+ years to the test. Setting the new bar for modified cars in the modern world?

Renault Clio Williams Mk1

Shout Outs

  • Del and Dan at Mach 1: For painting such an iconic car.

  • Mark at Max Power Reunion: For reigniting the spark for this type of car and bringing youngsters back into the scene.

Dream Car

Lately, I’ve been dreaming about a custom Lamborghini. It’s on my mind a lot, and who knows, maybe that will be my next big project!