Ray No Wheat: 1963 Renault R8
The Renault R8 (later simply called the 8) was a rear-engine rear-drive small people carrier produced in France from 1962 through 1973. It shared its architecture and many components with the Dauphine (the successor to the 4CV), but featured radical boxy styling penned by Philippe Charbonneaux. You won’t see one on the road anytime soon, but they make for an interesting inexpensive classic. Find this 1963 Renault R8 offered for $1200 in Rio Rancho, NM via craigslist. Tip from John.
Tipper John writes :
I really need to get a social life…why am I looking for forgotten
French cars on New Years Eve. Self pity aside, I’m sure I’d have tons
of new friends once I told everyone I had a rare, rear-engined European
car…I just couldn’t let them see it.
I can only imagine that his TV was quietly playing When Harry Met Sally in the background as he tried look for sellers who posted with alternate spellings for Renault. Renault. Renot. You’re the worst kind; you’re high maintenance but you think you’re low maintenance.
This R8 is powered by a 1.1 liter inline-4 cylinder engine that put out
43 horsepower and 55 ft-lbs of torque when it left the factory. This one will need some work before it is back to its original glory.
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See a better deal for a car on blocks? tips@dailyturismo.com
may i point out that in certain locales (UK, Neptune, etc.) a "people carrier" refers to a specific type of vehicle, namely a minivan or mini-minivan (like a Mazda M5) that can't easily or wouldn't typically be reconfigurable for cargo-only
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The body style reminds me of an NSU Prinz 4. An old lady in my neighborhood used to have an NSU Prinz with the two stroke engine. We would ride our bikes over and watch when she would start it up to listen to the ring ding ding of the engine and watch the West German car produce a large blue smoke screen as the car tore off down the street at 20 kmh. Good times..
"Ray no wheat" – you guys crack me up! Thanks for a morning laugh.
R-8s are good fun, and have the potential to be warmed up to Gordini levels. If this thing is not (too) rusted, and if it "ran when parked" then I think this is a great project for a winter rebuild. Of course, the tow trip from the Great White North to NM promises to be epic.
My girlfriend fell asleep, I swear! Seems so bland after the Pepto Bismol CX.
If it were cheaper, it might make for a decent lemons racer. Some sort of cycle engine thats actually LESS reliable than the stock one.
Drivers door looks like someone hit the eject button think this car would drive me crazy to keep it running I don't have that much jam anymore……rofl
The 1100 (1.1L) engine didn't come out til 1964. If stock, this has the 956 (1.0L) engine. My 1965 had the 1100 with a whopping 49hp.
Just needs the GT45 turbo off that 540i.