10 of the best Hot Hatches sold on Collecting Cars

The hot hatch is surely the ultimate ‘democratic’ performance car, appealing to enthusiasts regardless of their budget or what else is in their collection. It’s a genre that typically combines day-to-day practicality with performance and handling that can bait sports cars at a far higher price point.

Collecting Cars has sold hundreds of hot hatches worldwide on the platform, including more than 40 of the Toyota GR Yaris, great examples of every generation of the Ford Focus RS, and over 60 Lancia Delta Integrales. As we could only pick 10 of our favourites for this rundown, plenty of exceptional cars don’t appear here, but we’ve picked some of the most impressive models sold to date.

While sporting hatchbacks certainly appeared earlier, there is little argument that the first hot hatch icon was the original VW Golf GTI. In 2021, this early car with the 1.6-litre 110PS engine came to market, presented in superb condition following a sympathetic restoration using authentic parts, even down to the correct 15-inch ‘ATS Cup’ wheels. The condition spoke for itself, and spirited bidding saw it sell for €40,750.

The standard front-engined Renault 5 GT or Alpine Turbo was a rival to the Golf GTI in period, but in the late 1970s company bosses initiated a project to use the car as a basis for a mid-engined model that could take on the likes of the Lancia Stratos on the world rallying stage. This project spawned the remarkable Renault 5 Turbo. While visually similar to the donor model, it featured dramatically widened bodywork, and the 1.4-litre engine was now sited behind the two front seats. The road-going version was built to homologate the rally model, and this example sold on Collecting Cars in Australia was a later Turbo 2 variant. Presented in good order with just a few subtle upgrades, it sold for A$155,000.

Keeping with the Gallic contribution to the hot hatch genre, the next car on the rundown is the Peugeot 205 Rallye. This example was the desirable continental Europe model, equipped with the 103hp 1.3-litre TU24 engine fed by twin Weber carburettors. It had recently been extensively restored, including a full respray, reupholstery of the front and rear seats, and refurbishment of various mechanical components. The excellent presentation helped the car to sell for an impressive €19,000.

While the UK also got the Rallye model, it was equipped with a lesser engine, so is not as sought-after as the full ‘Euro’ variant. However, the 205 GTI was no less powerful in UK guise, and the model remains very popular at auction. The 1988 example showcased here was a 1.9-litre 128bhp car, in rare and desirable ‘non-sunroof, non-PAS’ specification. Not only this, but it remained remarkably well preserved, with just 25,305 miles on the odometer, which led to a winning bid of ￡27,500.

Mainstream hot hatches in the early 1990s were typically producing around 140hp, at the beginning of the decade Nissan launched the Pulsar GTI-R (known as the Sunny GTI-R in some markets), which produced up to 230hp. While the likes of the Lancia Delta Integrale Evoluzione and Ford Escort RS Cosworth launched soon afterwards had similar power, they were both heavier, so the Nissan boasted remarkable acceleration in comparison. This 1992 Sunny GTI-R in Europe was particularly special being a rare left-hand-drive model, and showing just 4,472 kilometres on the odometer. After more than 70 bids, it sold for a remarkable €50,500.

Another Japanese icon of the 1990s was the EK9-generation Honda Civic Type R. This was the first Civic to receive the ‘Type R’ treatment, setting a very high bar for the subsequent models. It carried over the high-revving 1.6-litre DOHC VTEC engine from the Integra Type R, delivering up to 185hp to the front wheels via a five-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential. The red cloth-trimmed Recaro bucket seats and titanium shift knob are two of the signature features that still stand out today. This particular car sold in Australia in 2022 was finished in striking Championship White, and remained unmodified from the factory specification, eventually selling for A$33,250.

Returning to the template set by the Renault 5 Turbo in the 1980s, the Clio V6 was a riotous mid-engined hot hatch, developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing. Its 3.0-litre six-cylinder motor produced up to 230hp in the Phase 1 cars, and 255hp in Phase 2 guise; the latter making it the most powerful serial production hot hatch at its launch. The Clio V6 Phase 2 featured here was especially sought-after, finished in the vibrant Acid Yellow and with the exceptionally rare i.d. (Individual Design) Complete Leather Pack. Showing just 17,270 miles from new, it went on to sell for an incredible ￡90,000 (￡94,500 with buyer’s premium ex. VAT), which remains the world record auction price at the time of writing.

While French and Japanese manufacturers feature strongly in this list, our next pick hails the land of Ferrari and Lamborghini. The Alfa Romeo 147 GTA is most famous for its glorious 3.2-litre ‘Busso’ V6, delivering around 250hp to the front wheels. In period, the GTA received some criticism for its chassis and power delivery, but this example had been upgraded with a Q2 limited-slip differential, Koni shock absorbers, Eibach sport springs, and 330mm Brembo front brakes. With low mileage, strong history, and a vast sum of money spent on the car in recent years, it sold for an impressive ￡17,500.

Considered by many to be the greatest hot hatch of all time, the Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy is an outstanding driver’s car, equipped with sophisticated Sachs front dampers, heavily bolstered Recaro front seats, and lightweight 16-inch alloy wheels. Every car was finished in Capsicum Red, but this particular example was serial number ‘001’, the very first delivered to the UK and used initially by Renault as a launch press car. With unrivalled provenance, fastidiously maintained from new, and showing just 16,478 miles on the odometer, it triggered an incredible bidding war, eventually selling for a world record price of ￡45,250.

Based on Renault’s fantastic Megane R26 model, with its improved Cup chassis, uprated Brembo brakes and sports exhaust system; the R26.R version took weight savings to extreme new levels for a hot hatch. The rear seats and retracting belts were removed, along with the passenger and curtain airbags, heated rear screen, headlight washers, stereo system and most of the soundproofing. This Megane R26.R had the air-conditioning fitted as a factory option, and was another vehicle offered following a life in Renault’s Press Car and Heritage Collection fleets. It had covered just 12,458 miles from new, backed up by an excellent service history, and went on to sell for ￡38,750.

While this list above contains particularly special examples of many hot hatch icons, it is of course possible to spend considerably less on higher-mileage vehicles, or those needing some improvement. If you’re in the market, then keep an eye on our Live Auctions and Coming Soon section. On the other hand, if you have a cherished hot hatch to sell, then get in touch with our consignment team to find out how to achieve a great result at auction.