Quatrelle: More French madness

[inaglasshouse]

Bravo!

[Darren65]

......To me, they're more of a real car than a 2CV......

[Darren65]

Does look wonderful Keith, congrats

[KS]

Does look wonderful Keith, congrats

Much more of a real car than a 2cv!

[Lightweight_911]

.


.

[Darren65]

I have actually always been drawn to the R4 and think they're great little cars.....a look back at some recent holidays they do seem to be the holiday snap of choice! (along with the Piaggio Ape) .....

.....Greece, the Canaries, Croatia.....they're bloody everywhere! ......











Cheers,

[one-two]

R4 Parisienne Art Car seen at Retromobile

[one-two]

Hey Keith, you know the 4 is short wheelbase on one side and long wheelbase on the other, right? Not even Porsche thought of that

[KS]

Hey Keith, you know the 4 is short wheelbase on one side and long wheelbase on the other, right? Not even Porsche thought of that

Yes - clever use of torsion bars to allow for a completely flat floor for better use of interior space. But I suspect there are quite a few old Porsches running around with a different wheelbase on each side!

[KS]

Just a little update...

So, here we are, over three months later. I'd asked Fabien to give the car to his local garage to check it over and carry out any work that needed doing. The rear shock absorbers were replaced, along with a ball-joint or two, the gear linkage was rebushed, wheels blasted and repainted and four new tyres fitted. I was getting ready to travel from Cornwall to Toulouse to collect it (train to Bristol, fly to Toulouse - leave home at about 7.00am and be in Toulouse about 6.30pm. Easy!) but then a little thing called 'lockdown' intervened before the car was quite ready...

So, here we are. The car is now all done and sitting in Fabien's storage alongside something which will appeal to Darren... By the time it's OK (and safe) for me to travel to France, I'd have long forgotten the expense of buying it and having it fixed that it will seem like a free car! Man maths at its best.

My biggest concern is that I won't be able to collect it until after the UK has severed its ties to the EU at the end of the year, in which case I'll be stuffed with import duty and VAT...

[hot66]

as hauliers can travel .. have you looked into getting it shipped home ?

[KS]

I had considered it but assume it will be very costly – especially compared to the value of a £3500 car. I will make enquiries, though.

[Bruce M]

Can it be registered now and take the plates with you?

[KS]

No, as it will need an MOT (1987) to get it registered. If I collect, will insure in France and drive back on the French registration, which is still current.

First quote: £1600. I estimate the cost of train/flight/fuel/ferry to be sub-£600, so quite a difference. French insurance quote is cheap: well under £100 fully comp.

[Mike]

I estimate the cost of train/flight/fuel/ferry to be sub-£600....

Hope you're right there Keith, but I've got a horrible feeling ferry and tunnel charges are going to be outragous once we're allowed to use then again! Along with many I'm sure I'm just waiting for the day we're allowed to go to France, just to jump in the car and drive, but with people not wanting to or able to fly I think it's going to be madness, both in terms of costs and queues!