The Bloke's New Le Ride. (pics)

[2strokebloke]

Going to start the new year with a new old car. It's not technically mine yet because I'm not bringing it home until after christmas, but here's the pictures and descriptions anyway.

So a few years ago, I spotted a crusty old Renault down a sidestreet - three years later, it was still parked in the same spot and I just had to talk to the owner about it.

Turns out he's the original owner, since 1978. The cars been un-run since the year 2000, he was planning to sell it but didn't get around to it yet. On his first attempt to start it, gas poured right through the lines and onto the ground instead of into the carb. Regardless, it started anyway on three year old fuel. I told him that if he'd fix the problem and get a new battery for it, I'd buy it. A few weeks later I came back for a testdrive.

Did I mention that during the three years it sat outside it was never washed? Looks like a Zombie Car.
Anyway after some stalling trying to get the engine warmed up on three year old gas, it made it's way out of the driveway. A broken rearview mirror led to this near collision...

Driving a 70's vintage Renault is something else. For one thing, it's loud and it's smelly. The Le Car didn't get a converter until '80, so with the choke still partway closed, it smelled like a lawnmower running rich.

Also, le car has a very soft "big buick" marshmellow suspension, super-comfort in a motorized shoe-box! Also lots of body roll, nearly capsized going around a tight corner. Indeed it was quite an experiece, I kept turning the brights on when all I wanted to do was signal a turn - further, the horn isn't actuated by a button on the steering wheel - but a lever(!) on the right side of the steering column!

Has these killer graphics on the doors, to add speed and power, but also to remind you what kind of car you're getting into.
Also, there's this cool hood-scoop force feeding air to the Le Cars massive turbo-charged V-12 engine's induction system.

Just kidding, it feeds air to the heater. However, the cool thing about the engine is that it's mounted completely behind the front axels - like the American made Cord sportscars of the 1930s.
Anyway, I can't explain why I loved it enough to buy it really, other than that I enjoy cheap thrills

[chicago_guy]

Sounds like its going to be a fun car once you get all the kinks and shit straightened out.

[blindside.AMG]

It's, um, nice.

[2strokebloke]

But it's so fun to drive! Not sportscar fun, but like Zamboni or tractor fun. I like a vehicle with a manual choke.

[YellowMaranello]

lol, Le Car. Awesome.

[freakray]

Nothing wrong with a bit of French nostalgia.
Wonder how many 5's made it to these shores....

[Toksin]

Hehehe

I like it.

So many silly things you can do with it. FWD or RWD?

[2strokebloke]

FWD, but the engine is mounted behind the front axel (mid engined?) It's going to be my beater/comuting car.

[TheNotoriousMogg]

I would hella drive that....off a cliff

[Ace$nyper]

that is pimp. does it have vtec or a hemi? needs 24"s

[2strokebloke]

Uh oh, is somebody's honda feeling inadequate? May I remind you that in 1978, Renault's Le Car was rated higher than the Honda (civic), Subaru (DL) and Datsun (310) ?

[raysoh8]

that is a very nice car! well not nice in terms of looks or performance, nice as in fun! ou cant imagine how much fun it is to drive around in a shoebox!

[Toksin]

Probably light as hell...plus it's got that somewhat-grotesque-yet-undeniably-cool factor.

[2strokebloke]

Originally Posted by Toksin

Probably light as hell...plus it's got that somewhat grotesque-yet-undeniable cool factor.

1815lbs. It has no converter, and it's now exempt from emissions testing (25 years old!) I think I'm going to fiddle with the carburetion and the exhaust and try to get 70hp out of it. It'd be a pretty good sleeper then.

[Sean]

Take her down the the races and beat all the wannabe's

Nice Le Car. I havn't seen one of those in ages...