Renault 8

[sng45]

I love this...........

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1964-RENAULT- ... Sw-QBXPdrW

I bought the original magazine and thought it was cool then ........... quite fancy adding it to the eclectic selection of cars I have at the moment,( had been debating a Ferrari 360 Spider until I saw this, not much difference !) I seem to recall Jamie had one some time ago - if you're reading this Jamie, how do they drive ?

It's a long way from Yorkshire to London to go and find out !

Thanks

Steve

[Lightweight_911]

They're an acquired taste but I love 'em - have owned several (from a lowly early 956cc-engined car up to a stripped-out lightweight 1100 Gordini) but the last one (the Gordini) was 25yrs ago ...

Biggest problem is rust - but that one looks in great condition - & the build quality is in a different league to German cars but I'm a great fan of French cars ...

Here's Jamie's thread on his R8S:

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=26419&p=204656&hil ... lt#p204656

[sng45]

Thanks very much for posting that Andy ( I'd seen it before but wouldn't have been able to find it !) some interesting reading and comments in a number of the replies about the size of the panel gaps - I've got an Alfa SZ Zagato which has panel gaps so big it makes the Renault look like a swiss watch !

I dug out the "Retro cars" magazine this afternoon and the report about driving the Renault makes it sound fun - as in the 356 Registry "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow" !

[964RS]

the eclectic selection of cars I have at the moment

Which is Steve? Always interested in your cars, it's usually a cool mix

[sng45]

the eclectic selection of cars I have at the moment

Which is Steve? Always interested in your cars, it's usually a cool mix

Hi Jason

Hope you're well - at the moment I've got the following

Abarth 595 Competizione ( everyday car, Koni suspension, Sabelt seats, Monza exhaust )
Porsche 996 Turbo X50 (450bhp) and Aero-Kit
Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera ( no rear spoiler)
Porsche 981 Boxster S - manual with switchable exhaust)
Porsche 356b "Outlaw" ( see DC Customs thread on "Restorations" , should be finished soon )
Alfa Zagato SZ "Monstro" ( with 24v engine - rather than standard 12v)
Datsun 240Z - "Hot rod" spec - triple webers / straight through exhaust/ wide arches etc etc
Fiat 500 - 1971- being restored to "Abarth" spec by DC Customs with engine by Middle Barton Garage

hopefully a "resto-mod" ( or whatever you call them) BMW 2002 with "M-Power" engine on it's way...... ???? ( maybe to be joined by the Renault 8 ???)

been out for a blat in the 240Z this afternoon - fantastic !

recently sold my Integrale EVO 2 and Ferrari 328 GTS and VW Type 3 Squareback ( built for my friend Brian Burrows by T3D and won the "Volksworld" show in 2005 ) - should have kept all of them !

Oh and my greatest passion, a collection of 49 classic road bikes ( mainly 1970's & 1980's pro teams ) including original Molteni - TI Raleigh - Castorama and Bianchi team bikes .

Apologies but you did ask !

How about you - do you still have your orange RSR replica ? - I love than car !

Steve

[964RS]

That's still a cool mix of cars Steve, like it!

When you get bored of the 240Z give me a shout - really liked that car when you posted you were buying it. It's right up my street so mail me if you ever sell it, looks great!

Sad to see your VW T3 go, that was a cool car too, great build.

The RSR is going great still but I'm going to get the bodywork redone on it, have it totally repainted and then it's going up for sale.

Had it 10 years now and it's time for a change, too many other things I keep seeing that I want to try. I've always admired your attitude of buy what you like, try it, sell it, buy something else you like and repeat....it's time I started doing the same before it's too late!

Hope you are keeping well mate

[sng45]

[quote="964RS"]That's still a cool mix of cars Steve, like it!

When you get bored of the 240Z give me a shout - really liked that car when you posted you were buying it. It's right up my street so mail me if you ever sell it, looks great!

- I'm really keen on the 240Z at the moment - I've had it in the UK for almost a year but only used it in the last month or so as I've imported a lot of tuning bits ( suspension etc ) from the USA and it's been having those fitted by my local mechanic, who prepares and races his car in the Seat / VW race series, and he's been fitting it in between race car preparation.

I did about sixty miles in it today and it drives really really well - great car - 70 mph feels like 150 ! If I should decide to sell I'll drop you a line. I'd be interested in details and price of your RSR when you get round to selling ( especially of you fancy a p/x with an immaculate 996 Turbo !), I really want another early 911 hot rod - really into this at the moment

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche- ... 3-6lt.html

a re-worked later car - but I think it's 20% import tax to bring to the UK which is a bit off putting !


Steve

[964RS]

Well unless you want it the same orange as it is now you should probably speak to me before it gets painted!

The above car sounds cool but back dates never seem to sell well unless you are called Singer.

Not sure on the 996 Turbo. Cool cars and I used one as my daily for a while but a bit like all modern water cooled stuff at the moment I don't really 'get' some of the ridiculous prices being asked and fear that if things come crashing down these will be the first to be hit and be hit hard.

Happy to chat though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jamie]

Jamie, how do they drive ?

In short, not good. Mine was fun for a few years, but became annoying. It really made me appreciate how far ahead of the handling, build and ride game Porsche were compared to 'normal' cars of the 60s.

The only fun thing about it was that you could drive it like a criminal and never exceed the speed limit. 50mph on a country lane was insanity.

I know the old-school-feel is all part of the charm, but the construction is desperately flimsy, the ride is either wobbly or crashy, depending on your setup. The brake caliper brackets are terribly weak, so the pedal feel is never good, even after spending thousands on tricked-out aftermarket calipers.

Putting it on wide wheels, like the one in the link, ruins the fun unless you have 120hp (which this single-Weber, non-crossflow engine won't have. More like half that). If you leave the car on it's original 4in steels, you can skid around roundabouts at 20mph.

Getting parts for these cars is theoretically easy, since there are many suppliers, the best probably being Mecaparts. Unfortunately, on account of being French, they are slow to reply to queries, ever slower to send stuff out, and will treat your bank card like it's a fairground ride. When I had my car, you had to email an English-speaking intermediary who added his cut to the deal. I brushed-up on my French and they just about tolerated my efforts, depending how they felt at the time.

On the upside, it's a fantastic looking thing, but you really want the 8S / Gordini four-light front end with the bigger outer headlamps, not the standard piggy-eyed one.

Except mine, I never saw one which wasn't rusty. The steel is so thin you can practically see daylight through it anyway. In fact, Renault won an industry award for making the panels so thin - no-one else had managed it till then. And I don't think anyone has since.

Let someone else own it and enjoy your existing collection of much cooler stuff.

Solved this for you?

[sng45]

Jamie, how do they drive ?

In short, not good. Mine was fun for a few years, but became annoying. It really made me appreciate how far ahead of the handling, build and ride game Porsche were compared to 'normal' cars of the 60s.

The only fun thing about it was that you could drive it like a criminal and never exceed the speed limit. 50mph on a country lane was insanity.

I know the old-school-feel is all part of the charm, but the construction is desperately flimsy, the ride is either wobbly or crashy, depending on your setup. The brake caliper brackets are terribly weak, so the pedal feel is never good, even after spending thousands on tricked-out aftermarket calipers.

Putting it on wide wheels, like the one in the link, ruins the fun unless you have 120hp (which this single-Weber, non-crossflow engine won't have. More like half that). If you leave the car on it's original 4in steels, you can skid around roundabouts at 20mph.

Getting parts for these cars is theoretically easy, since there are many suppliers, the best probably being Mecaparts. Unfortunately, on account of being French, they are slow to reply to queries, ever slower to send stuff out, and will treat your bank card like it's a fairground ride. When I had my car, you had to email an English-speaking intermediary who added his cut to the deal. I brushed-up on my French and they just about tolerated my efforts, depending how they felt at the time.

On the upside, it's a fantastic looking thing, but you really want the 8S / Gordini four-light front end with the bigger outer headlamps, not the standard piggy-eyed one.

Except mine, I never saw one which wasn't rusty. The steel is so thin you can practically see daylight through it anyway. In fact, Renault won an industry award for making the panels so thin - no-one else had managed it till then. And I don't think anyone has since.

Let someone else own it and enjoy your existing collection of much cooler stuff.

Solved this for you?

Certainly have - and saved me thirteen grand ! I owe you a beer

Thanks for that

Steve