Rare, barely driven, and recently refurbished, this 1998 Renault Sport Spider in Miami, Florida presents a curious opportunity to own an unusual mid-engine, scissor-door sports car. After a reported $14,500 in replacement parts and mechanical and cosmetic work, the Sport Spider reportedly delivers a “thrilling driving experience,” according to the listing here on eBay. Membership in the exclusive Sport Spider Owner’s Club will run you $55,000 via Buy It Now or tempt the seller with Make offer. Thanks to reader Kyle K. for spotting this specimen of the elusive Sport Spider.

Check out the gorgeous factory Sport Spider web page for a deeper understanding of Renault’s road-legal racing car. Fans of nimble lightweight four-cylinder racers won’t mind limited creature comforts or minimalistic elements like bare welded aluminum structure in the cockpit. Building a 790 kg (1742 lb) street car comes easier when you forfeit power steering, power brakes, ABS, and cabin heat. Now we’re beginning to understand how a 25 year-old car might accumulate fewer than 2000 miles. For road feel and communicating the limit of cornering and braking traction, you can’t beat manual brakes and steering; any additional effort becomes incidental at speed.

Scissor doors mark the epitome of cool, and part of the refurbishment included a repaint of the rear bumper. Note the practical use of (presumably) one rear fog light and one reverse light in the inner positions, respectively.

Last but not least, behold the transverse 150 HP inline four cylinder powerplant, mounted midship and spinning a five-speed manual gearbox. Be careful not to sear your palm on the muffler when checking your fluids in the pits. Having minimal mid-engine driving experiences (a V6 Fiero and a Honda Del Sol VTEC) I’d wager logging a couple hours in this Sport Spider will leave your face muscles sore from a permanent ear-to-ear grin. Have you heard of Renault’s Sport Spider?