Clenet Series III Price Guide

The Clenet Series III Asha, produced from 1981, was named after Alain Clenet’s daughter born in 1978. The car was a more compact neo-classic than the Series II that used a Lincoln-Mercury 4.9-litre V8 in a slightly more angular body. Only 51 or 52 were built, making it even rarer than the Series II.

The Car

The Series III used a 4.9-litre Lincoln-Mercury V8 producing 136bhp in a shorter body than the Series II, with the passenger compartment now a separate Clenet-built structure rather than a modified standard unit. The first 14 cars were hardtop coupes; subsequent production was convertibles only. The more compact proportions gave the Series III a 50/50 weight distribution. After Alain Clenet sold the company to Alfred di Mora, a further batch was produced at a new Carpinteria facility before the marque effectively ended.

Buying

The Series III is rarer than the Series II and slightly more modern in character. The Lincoln V8 is less powerful than the Series II’s Ford 351 but better balanced. Provenance verification for any Clenet requires establishing which production phase (pre- or post-sale to di Mora) the car represents. The Clenet community in the USA is the primary resource.