2k: Some Assy Required: 1967 Renault Caravelle Convertible

If the Dauphine was Renault’s answer to the Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle, and the R8/R10 the answer to the Type 3, then the Caravelle is the french equivalent of the Karmann-Ghia. Like the Volkswagen offerings, the Renault product was powered by small rear mounted 4-cylinder engines, but the similarities stop there.  Find this 1967 Renault Caravelle Convertible with removable hardtop offered for $2200 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Fueltruck.

Renault chose the name Floride (for the US State of Florida) for worldwide sales, but for some reason when selling in the US they used the name Caravelle. Perhaps it was a fear of being associated with the known mind control agent known as Fluoride or Floride Calhoun, wife and first cousin of Vice President and slavery advocate James C. Calhoun.

Behind the rear axle is a 1.1 liter watercooled inline-4 borrowed from the R8 that puts out 55 horsepower.  With a zero to 60 mph time of 17 seconds and a top speed of 89 mph, the Caravelle will keep up with modern traffic if you keep it floored.

The danger of “flooring” this particular example is that your foot might touch the ground because there is some rust in the floorboards.  Budget for rust repair before getting the CFO’s permission to buy this one.

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