The Car: 1983 Renault R5 LeCar
The Renault 5, aka “Le Car,” was a popular hatchback in Europe during the 1970s and 1980s. Because, you know, Europeans love nothing more than cramped spaces, awkward designs and walking to their destination. The 5 was known for its tendency to break down at the slightest hint of trouble, and its unique styling that makes it look like a rejected concept car from a rejected designer with a rejected name. Find this 1983 Renault R5 LeCar offered for $11,999 in Murrieta, CA via craigslist.
This 1983 Renault 5 LE is in decent condition, which is surprising given how flimsy the car was built. The exterior is painted in a classic gold color that’s in decent shape, and the interior is reasonably clean, with original Renault cloth seats and door panels that haven’t yet completely disintegrated. The car is powered by a 1.4L inline-four engine that provides a decent amount of power, assuming it starts.
From the seller:
1983 Renault le car
fuel: gas
odometer: 22000
title status: clean
transmission: automatic
1983 Renault le car
One owner car (has original title)
22k miles all original
Runs and drives excellent
0 rust anywhere
Body is super straight
Clean ORIGINAL title in hand
Tags up to date
$11,999
Might be interested in trades no bikes
See a better way to drive “the car”? tips@dailyturismo.com
I bought a LeCar for $100 at a junk yard auction. The thing I found most interesting was it is a longitudinally mounted engine in a front wheel drive car. The firewall bulges into the passenger compartment and working on the back of the engine is a total nightmare. I was never able to un seize the engine in mine and the scrap yard gave me .10 less than the cost to rent a trailer to get it to said scrap yard.
My Name Is Earl, arguably one of the best TV shows ever, paired its cars with its characters in a thoughtful and sympathetic way.
The sad and lovelorn Kenny drove a Le Car, somehow the perfect ride for him.
A friend of mine had a R5 in New York City in the early 80s. The thing was amazing. You could drive it over bumps and holes at speeds that would literally tear the wheels off of other cars.
As I recall it has a swing arm rear suspension just like a motorcycle.
This one is probably as nice as they get these days, but that that’s Citroen pricing.
Listing deleted. I’m going to go out on a limb and say it was due to ridicule rather than to having reached a deal.
In about 1970, a friend bought a LeCar mainly because no one else was driving one. That right there should have been a red flag. From the very day he bought it it was one sad disaster after another. Only through strength of character and complete lack of imagination, he managed to hang on to it for two years, after which it was mercifully hauled off.
Wonder Boys Le Car sequence:
https://youtu.be/q5rs99ZpXCM
James Bond & Renault 5:
https://youtu.be/fRHhxxc1KEg
That R5 turbo is a little out of my range, with or without the driver. Would leap at the opportunity to have the car, the driver is probably too high of maintenance for me.