Anyone remember when Renault was in the USA
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6th Gear
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Anyone remember when Renault was in the USA
I just seen a Renault R-16.going down the road. I don't remember when Renault was over here, but I do remember riding in a R-16 several and I do mean several years ago. I wonder where they get spare parts?
As I recall, the car had a soft kinda ride. I think most French cars are known for thier ride quality over bumpy roads.
I really couldn't tell what kind of condition it was in, all I know is it was still running and going down the road with their fog and regular lights on.
As I recall, the car had a soft kinda ride. I think most French cars are known for thier ride quality over bumpy roads.
I really couldn't tell what kind of condition it was in, all I know is it was still running and going down the road with their fog and regular lights on.
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6th Gear
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Just did a google and learned that the R16 was in the USA in 1966. Don't think Renault really took off over here. But the R16 was a four door with a hatch that seems to have been one of the first cars of its type to feature the hatch back.
Former Vendor
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From: NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
they were actually here till the late 80's my dad collects renaults he loves them. i personally have an r5 turbo. they are great cars, the le cars and r5's anyway. the new one's i hear are doing great hopefully they will start bringing them back how they did the alfa's
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6th Gear
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Also there is an old Citroen running around Okla City. Another French car with strange looks but rides good over rough roads.
Well duh.....Okla City is well known for our crappy roads, now I know why the Citroen is here
Well duh.....Okla City is well known for our crappy roads, now I know why the Citroen is here
Coordinator :: Tar Heel MINI Motoring Club
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From: Highlands, NC
I learned to drive in a Renault in jr. high drivers ed in Ft. Lauderdale in the late 50's. The drivers ed instructor got upset when we picked up the front end (the engine was in the back). He hollered at us to drop that and that is exactly what we did. You can imagine his horror when rather than set it down lightly, we justed droped it from a height of about 4 ft.
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6th Gear
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Renault was a minor player in the US market throughout the 1960s and up until the 1980s when Renault and AMC (marriage made in heaven/hell?) produced the gawdoffal Fuego (Spanish for fire, which is what a lot of them eventually did- early turbo technology). Peugeot and Citroen were also here as was Simca and Facel Vega (the latter being one helluva ride when powered with a Chrysler wedge or Hemi). Truth be told, I'm sorry that the French and Italian makes are no longer well represented here. Citroen in particular made technically sophisticated and interesting vehicles (except for the 2CV) for our market and still does for Europe. Fiat, Alfa and Lancia ought to be in the US market too. The loss of so many interesting vehicles due to governmental regulations and marketing ineptitude makes me sad.
5th Gear
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From: Orlando, Fla.
Originally Posted by MGCMAN
Citroen in particular made technically sophisticated and interesting vehicles (except for the 2CV) for our market and still does for Europe.
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Any one remember these:
A cousin had one of these in the mid '90s that he rebuild. the thing was a beast. Rear engine, rear whell drive, about 300+ whp in stage 3 and probably lighter than our minis. Too bad it had to go...
A cousin had one of these in the mid '90s that he rebuild. the thing was a beast. Rear engine, rear whell drive, about 300+ whp in stage 3 and probably lighter than our minis. Too bad it had to go...
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6th Gear
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Yep, sure were lots of cars over here at one time or another that are now gone The wife had a Fiat 124 Convertable that was a very nice ride.
Also a good friend of mine back in high school had a Navy Blue Peugeot station wagon. And if I remember right, it was a four speed on the column.'
I had mentioned in another thread that my Dad bought the first Volvo that was brought into Okla back in the early 60's. I got it after about 90,000 miles or so and put another 50,000 on it before I sold it. The little car was built like a tank.
The wife had a Fiat 124 Convertable that was a very nice ride.Also a good friend of mine back in high school had a Navy Blue Peugeot station wagon. And if I remember right, it was a four speed on the column.'
I had mentioned in another thread that my Dad bought the first Volvo that was brought into Okla back in the early 60's. I got it after about 90,000 miles or so and put another 50,000 on it before I sold it. The little car was built like a tank.
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From: As far away from Florida as I can get.
Originally Posted by kenchan
yah, i was in jr. high school (or maybe high school) when Renault had the Alliance or some pos.
anyone remember the Sterling?
anyone remember the Sterling?
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6th Gear
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Originally Posted by COOPERation
With an F1 driver and constructor championship in hand, I wouldn't mind visiting a Renault dealership...
...proud former owner of an orange 1978 Renault R5.
...proud former owner of an orange 1978 Renault R5.
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From: As far away from Florida as I can get.
Originally Posted by D.J.
Is that car on an indoor track? The car just looks AGRESSIVE and I like it
6th Gear
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From: Piqua, OH
I was in PA a few months ago and was talking to a guy while my brother-in-law was purchasing an antique car from his brother. This guy had a Renault Gordini and had autocrossed it in the 60s.... His garage was littered with autocross trophies, but he and his brother now specialize only in restoring and selling vintage Studebakers. He did say his Gordini was the nicest and fastest car he had ever owned of that size, and that it could even outpace a lot of American iron.
2nd Gear
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From: San Rafael, CA
One of my all time favorite cars is the Renault Alpine A110. Just love the way the car looks.
As for old marquees that are no longer available here, Opel used to be in the States as well. My brother used to have an Opel Manta in the 70's.
As for old marquees that are no longer available here, Opel used to be in the States as well. My brother used to have an Opel Manta in the 70's.
3rd Gear
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From: Ft Walton Beach,Fl
I used to have a Renault Encore I think ti was back in 91 I think it was. Little 4 dr hatch that I had got hit in. The little car held up pretty well. I got hit in the front drivers side, that propelled me into a guardrail. Had 4 headlight as I remember. I had one left that worked after the accident. It was hunting squirrels up in the trees! I still drove it to the Hospital in town where the ambulance took my GF at the time. She was ok, just a little shaken. I traded that car and some cash for a 78 Caprice Classic 2 dr. Talk about a change! I loved that Caprice!
Also had my experience with the old Fiat X19 Bertone. Was orange with a Targa top. Ran good! One winter the cooling lines that ran under the car froze and broke. It being mid engine the cooling lines ran under the car up front to the radiator. The were enclosed in sheetmetal that was spotwelded to the underbelly of the car. I didnt feel like fixing it at the time and gave up on it. If you have one Fiat you had to have another as a spare for parts! That was in the late 80's I believe. Fun times back then!
Also had my experience with the old Fiat X19 Bertone. Was orange with a Targa top. Ran good! One winter the cooling lines that ran under the car froze and broke. It being mid engine the cooling lines ran under the car up front to the radiator. The were enclosed in sheetmetal that was spotwelded to the underbelly of the car. I didnt feel like fixing it at the time and gave up on it. If you have one Fiat you had to have another as a spare for parts! That was in the late 80's I believe. Fun times back then!
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Originally Posted by D.J.
Is that car on an indoor track? The car just looks AGRESSIVE and I like it
Engine : Renault V4Y, V6, 24V, 3498cc
Performance : 330 bhp at 8,250rpm
Torque : 390 Nm at 4,500rpm
Gearbox : Sadev 6-speed gearbox + reverse gear
Suspension : Superimposed double wishbone suspension
330 bhp, V6...yeah, I'd hit it...
6th Gear
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Originally Posted by goaljnky
Any one remember these:
A cousin had one of these in the mid '90s that he rebuild. the thing was a beast. Rear engine, rear whell drive, about 300+ whp in stage 3 and probably lighter than our minis. Too bad it had to go...
A cousin had one of these in the mid '90s that he rebuild. the thing was a beast. Rear engine, rear whell drive, about 300+ whp in stage 3 and probably lighter than our minis. Too bad it had to go...
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From: USA
Originally Posted by SpiderX
I'm sorry I don't, what is it?
The Renault 5 Turbo became one of Renault’s most celebrated rally winners when, in the hands of Jean Ragnotti, it won the Monte Carlo in 1981 – only the car’s fourth event. The victory was very much against the odds for the four-wheel-drive opposition, particularly the Audis, had been expected to excel in the icy conditions. The 1.4-litre, mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive, five-speed 5 Turbo was actually the culmination of a four-year project, codenamed ‘822’, to produce a successor to the 8 Gordinis and Alpine A110s.
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Here is some additional info on that car:
The description seems slightly different than what I remember. I do know that the car my cousin had was way more than 120bhp as it was a 5.0 second car. But he also spend a lot of money updrading it to race condition.
The best thing about the car as I recall it, is the fact that very few people new what it was. Most thought it was a LeCar with crap bolted on to it. I've seen plenty of Mustang, Corvette and Porsche drivers just sit there in their cars bewildered and dumbfounded after getting smoked by a "LeCar on steroids" Plus the sound in that thing was unbelievable, since the engine was right in the back seat.
Renault 5 Turbo II
In 1982 the Turbo II replaced the Turbo I. It was manuafctured until 1986, a total of 3183 were made. In 1985 Renault introduced the GT Turbo. This was to become the phase I model.
Renault 5 GT Turbo Phase I
Weighing in at 860kg the phase I R5GTT had an awesome power to weight ratio having 115bhp on tap. An air cooled Garret T2 turbocharger was used with a modified Renault 8 Gordini 1394cc engine (compression reduced resulting by increasing capacity to 1397cc). The body styling was more subtle than the awesome turbo I and II and the power was deliverd from the front of the car to the front wheels.
This model was produced until 1988 when an improved phase II model was launched.
Renault 5 GT Turbo Phase II
Major changes included the use of water cooled turbocharger which enabled the turbo life to be extended dramatically. The chassis was also changed along with the bodywork. New bumpers, radiator grille, arches and side skirts.
The coefficient of drag was reduced from 0.36 to 0.35. There was also a new alternator and ignition control unit (RE209 from RE208) enabling 500rpm more. The power was hiked from 115bhp to 120bhp.
In 1989 the phase II received a new interior and in 1991 the metallic blue Raider model was launched. This was a special edition with differeant interior and wheels.
In 1991 the Renault 5 GT Turbo was dicontinued the replacement in the form of the Clio 16v and the Clio Williams.
In 1982 the Turbo II replaced the Turbo I. It was manuafctured until 1986, a total of 3183 were made. In 1985 Renault introduced the GT Turbo. This was to become the phase I model.
Renault 5 GT Turbo Phase I
Weighing in at 860kg the phase I R5GTT had an awesome power to weight ratio having 115bhp on tap. An air cooled Garret T2 turbocharger was used with a modified Renault 8 Gordini 1394cc engine (compression reduced resulting by increasing capacity to 1397cc). The body styling was more subtle than the awesome turbo I and II and the power was deliverd from the front of the car to the front wheels.
This model was produced until 1988 when an improved phase II model was launched.
Renault 5 GT Turbo Phase II
Major changes included the use of water cooled turbocharger which enabled the turbo life to be extended dramatically. The chassis was also changed along with the bodywork. New bumpers, radiator grille, arches and side skirts.
The coefficient of drag was reduced from 0.36 to 0.35. There was also a new alternator and ignition control unit (RE209 from RE208) enabling 500rpm more. The power was hiked from 115bhp to 120bhp.
In 1989 the phase II received a new interior and in 1991 the metallic blue Raider model was launched. This was a special edition with differeant interior and wheels.
In 1991 the Renault 5 GT Turbo was dicontinued the replacement in the form of the Clio 16v and the Clio Williams.
I do know that the car my cousin had was way more than 120bhp as it was a 5.0 second car. But he also spend a lot of money updrading it to race condition. The best thing about the car as I recall it, is the fact that very few people new what it was. Most thought it was a LeCar with crap bolted on to it. I've seen plenty of Mustang, Corvette and Porsche drivers just sit there in their cars bewildered and dumbfounded after getting smoked by a "LeCar on steroids"
Plus the sound in that thing was unbelievable, since the engine was right in the back seat.
6th Gear
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From: Prescott, AZ, USA
VW GTI W12
I find the similarity to the R5 Turbo interesting.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=101469
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=101469