Update, 12/14/09: Thanks to flaky bidders, this car is back on eBay. Guess I shouldn’t have been so hasty on the short-eating.
Well, who knew… bringing us down to another level of obscurity is this Black Beauty edition Renault LeCar. I don’t believe this car was actually equine-inspired in any way, but it’s still a neat 70s-style options package based on the R5 GTL. Options, most of which we take for granted nowadays, included a sport steering wheel, alloy wheels, special red striping (ooooh!), AM/FM stereo with delux rear antenna, a locking gas cap, folding canvas roof, and a rear wiper. But really, the most entertaining thing about the brochure (scroll down on the linked page to see it) is the fact that it refers to Le Package. Well, at least it’s funny if you have the mind of a 13-year-old French boy. On a more personal note, the mother of a childhood friend of mine had one of these with the ragtop, and I was pretty impressed at the time with how spacious and smooth-riding it felt.
Anyway, on to the example at hand. Compared to most Renault 5s you see for sale, this one’s in pretty fantastic shape. The black paint and striping are shiny and presentable, and the interior looks pretty tidy as well. It’s also comforting that the seller has thoroughly photographed the car inside and out, so you can see both its flaws and its strengths. On another amusing note, the gold plaque on the dash confers the status of A COLLECTOR ITEM on the car, to quote the seller. Too bad there aren’t that many Renault Le Car collectors out there… that said, this example, in Corona, CA seems to have attracted quite a bit of attention, with 44 (!) bids currently bringing it up to $2750. Don’t get me wrong, I like these cars, but if it significantly passes $3000, I’ll eat my shorts.
Rusty But Trusty 