Posts Tagged ‘renault’

Quattre Quattre – 1975 Renault 6 Sinpar AWD

March 26, 2014

Renault had a rather hard time in the United States, after having a hit (and subsequent failure) with the Dauphine. Their reputation stuck with them, and even now, they only have a limited enthusiast following in North America. In part this can be blamed on them bringing only the most mainstream versions of their products here, when the rest of the world got things like the R5 Turbo, various Alpines, and other vehicles that would have engendered some enthusiasm. That’s disregarding some neat cars like the GTA and R17 Gordini, but these sold in such limited numbers (and in the case of Renault’s coupes, had polarizing designs) they couldn’t have much of an impact on American enthusiasts. However, Renault (as in the case of all French manufacturers) sold some truly unusual, innovative cars, but that cannot be said for their R6. Built from 1968 to 1980, and derived from the R4 as the Citroen Dyane was from the 2CV, they took a reasonably interesting car and turned it into a dowdy box. You can find this 1975 Renault 6 Sinpar AWD for sale for €3000 (about $4100 today) in Menden, Germany.

1975 Renault 6 Sinpar AWD left front

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1980s Sport Coupes – 1988 Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo vs. 1987 Renault GTA

March 4, 2014

Quick! Think of an affordable 1980s sports coupe! Scirocco…. Impulse…. Celica…. 200SX…. Corolla GT-S…. Camaro…. Sunbird…. wait, what? Back in the 1980s, when everything was getting a turbo – heck, Buick put a turbo in their Regal, for god’s sakes – Pontiac turbocharged their Sunbird. Blowing out GM Brazil’s 1.8-liter four to two liters and hanging a turbo off the side brought a total of 165hp and probably a good time with torque steer. To put that in context, at the same time, Audi’s 2.2-liter I5 turbo was putting out 162hp, and Saab’s 2-liter I4 turbo was making 160hp, both to motivate ostensibly heavier cars. You can find this 1988 Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo for sale for C$1600 in east Vancouver, BC.

1988 Pontiac Sunbird GT Turbo right front

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Le Box – 1970 Renault 10

January 2, 2014

These days, nobody has the guts to do a basic, you-could-design-it-with-a-ruler car. Every car, even the lowliest Kia, has to have flame surfacing or retro touches, thanks to Chris “Bungle” Bangle and Freeman Thomas, designer of the old New Beetle and the Audi TT. But back in the mid-1960s, Renault brought out the very modern, very simply boxy R10. With its long front and rear overhangs, and narrow doors inherited from the R8, it was no thing of beauty, but it does stick out today for being an oddball that once held its own against the retro-before-it-was-cool VW Beetle. Check out this 1970 Renault R10 for sale in central Washington state for $3100.

1970 Renault 10 left side

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