1976 Renault

R12 Wagon

4 - Cyl.

Manual

9631783

Gasoline

Here is this weeks offering in my Renault reduction sale - You will not find another one like this, period. As with my other auctions, I am posting the basics right now, and will add pictures and descriptions that I would want to see before bidding. By the end of the auction, we will both have a very accurate idea of condition and value. Here's what I know so far, from getting it plated and insured as my daily driver for about a week - I believe the odometer mileage is correct at 47K. The car has been equipped with the legendary 807 all aluminum crossflow hemi head Gordini bad boy, which will rip your arms from their sockets with but a twitch of the gas pedal. OK, that was an exaggeration, but it is a strong runner, with no smoke, noises, or drama. These motors are more commonly found in the R17 Gordini, and certain Lotus models too. Included in the auction are several special parts, which I will be installing during the inspection process, as well as performing the adjustments I already know are necessary - Konis all around, run the valves(ticking, loose clearance), bleed the brakes(low pedal, but solid), and find out where the exhaust is contacting the body(noisy). The luggage rack and lights are not bolted on or wired, but they are included regardless of whether I find the time to make mounting brackets to hold the lights. Right now the rack is held down by well weathered straps and clips to the rain gutter. All glass is good. Rust and body damage are truly minimal. Interior is complete and useable, but needs attention to upholstery and weatherstripping. It may well turn out that you can drive this car back to France, but all I know so far is that it's a dependable around town car which draws double takes from a very few observers. Much more to follow, Please ask for the pictures you need, and Thanks for Looking! Dan LarsonOn Apr-27-11 at 17:10:41 PDT, seller added the following information: 4/27/11 You may be asking "Why doesn't he do all the inspection and photography before listing the car for sale?". Two reasons: One, no matter how much I describe, there's always something that requires another look...and Two, I would probably just keep them all. This one is no exception - as I look for problems or issues to report, I keep finding reasons why this car would be a prime restoration candidate, on top of already being an economical classic driver. Todays report will focus on the body, since you guys are already bidding without seeing the right side of the car. What if it were all caved in or rusty? Well, the motor alone is worth the current bid, so, good answer. Still, you will be happy to see that the entire body is in good condition, wearing its original coat of paint, very thin and chalky. Just the way I like them. Pictures 5-10 are outdoor shots from all angles. Pictures 11-14 show the very worst the car has to offer. Minor dings on LF and LR corners; the left rear has a cracked lens (pair of brand new lenses included in the auction, though) and a small area of amateur bodywork defined by a halo of mismatched white, visible in the picture. The front has a ding over the eyebrow, apparently never treated. The rust report is cheerfully minimal - two small holes on the drivers side rockers. Seams and welds are solid throughout the body structure, no other rust through anywhere, and no sign of rust in any critical body areas like door jambs or pillars. Likewise, no sign of previous bodywork or collision damage. The car body is overall straight, sound, and not rusty. I will have the rest of the info I promised in plenty of time for you to make an educated decision. The back seat, extra NOS front bumper, and other R12 specific spares are high up on a pallet rack, and I will show more of the interior when the seats are all in. Didn't get to the shocks,brakes, and valve adjustment yet, but I am still using the car as my daily driver, and only expect it to keep getting better. Please stay tuned, and Thanks for your Patience! DanOn Apr-28-11 at 19:21:31 PDT, seller added the following information: 4/28/11 ERROR! I have made an ERROR! Not a terrible one, but it makes me look stupid. The ENGINE IS AN 843, NOT AN 807! A more knowledgeable Ebayer wrote to say that the engine in this car was very similar in appearance to an 1800cc unit in his later model Sportwagon. The fact that larger Renault engines existed was news to me - I consider 1600ccs to be a Big Block, an Elephant Motor, something whose power threatens the Earths very crust. So, imagine my surprise when I looked up the valve lash specs, and found that what I assumed to be an 807 is actually an 843, and that it displaces 1647ccs, well above my personal limit. No wonder it kept buckling the asphalt... Anyway, though this larger displacement is not designated 807, it is still a direct interchange with all the little hemis found in certain special R12, R15, R16, and R17 models. Though I had always thought it to be a swap, the underhood stickers say the engine is original to the car. The same engine is listed as original equipment in 1976-1978 Alpine A110 cars, and popular, if not original, in Lotus Europas. Believe it or not, I got most of todays education from Wikipedia. Google or Yahoo search "Renault 843 engine", and a wealth of information comes up, including the lineage of the crossflow hemi applications dating back to the 1960's. If you have placed a bid based on my engine mis-identification, and really need an 807, I have two of those engines. Kindly cancel your existing bid, and we'll work it out. If you're bidding on the car as a clean original driver with unusual options, well, your engine just got bigger. Just for the sake of clarity, I am not representing this car as a Gordini (I don't think they made a Gordini wagon); more like a last generation R12 with Gordini engine, wheels, and a few modifications consistent with its odd Euro-Sport character. Think of it as a factory bottle cap Super Stocker, only from France. Use it to trailer your Alpine A110 to the track, and have a fresh,beating motor available for between race thrashes. Or, maybe just use it as the daily driver that no one else has; you can always do the fun stuff when it's ready for freshening. All the other things I promised are forthcoming. Brakes are bled and work great. The rear Konis are on, but I didn't get to the fronts yet. The back seat is reunited with the car, and will be bolted in after the floors are photographed. I am gathering the extra parts (formed hoses, electrical spares, NOS front bumper,and more). The engine bay has been Gunked and sprayed, and I hope to correct a small oil leak when adjusting the valves tomorrow. To recap, I made an engine assumption using knowledge I only thought I had; net result is, you get a bigger motor, and the show goes on. Feel free to share your thoughts on my methodology - best entry will be posted. Thanks for Your Patience! Dan On Apr-30-11 at 23:06:05 PDT, seller added the following information: 4/30/11 Saturday Night Final Report - like doing the homework you couldn't get to during the week. New pictures start with the engine bay after pressure wash. Carb is a Weber 32 DABA (I think that's what it says). Note that there is ample space for two 40 DCOEs, with stacks. Next picture is a dent in front of the LF wheel - nothing serious, open access from behind. Next pic shows weatherstrip difficulty - though there is extra new material with the parts, it's hardly enough to redo the shrunken corners. The car is loud and drafty right now. Next pic is back floor, followed by back seat in place. Next is an underside shot, illustrating two problems; One,gearlube weeping from axle and shifter seals, and Two, a length of flex pipe, sure to cause difficulty if subject to state emissions inspection. I am including a solid useable full length stock exhaust system which will address all but the lack of a catalytic converter - It's still on there, just no good except for scrap redemption. Another problem discovered after securing the Mickey Mouse exhaust was the source of a clunking sound coming from the right rear - the rubber pivot bushings on the suspension arms are coming apart, allowing metal contact where there should be none. Thank You, Victor. No damage yet, but should be repaired - probably easier to turn your own poly as to find stock replacements. Pictures of the bushings are available, and look to be a very straightforward job - I didn't encounter a single nut or bolt on this car that was stuck, and that includes shock and seat bolts. If you are from a rust climate, you will call your friends over to watch you back out 35 year old fasteners without so much as a shot of oil. The final three pictures (using the max 24) are of extra parts included with the car in this auction. The roof rack previously shown is still included, just not mounted. Leaves you with the option of where and how to use the Dietz 510 lights,too, maybe on the bumper. I did not get as far as installing the front Konis and new taillight lenses, but the time was still spent in the interest of science; I drained and flushed the crankcase, adjusted valve lash, and refilled with 10-40 and new factory Renault oil filter. Still leaks a little every time you park, though, so that will require your attention too. Many more pictures are available, but you will have to send an email address, as the Ebay listing is full. I appreciate all the questions and advice I have received from fellow Ebayers, especially since this is a model I'm not very familiar with. I hope I have given you everything you need to know, including drawbacks. By way of opinion, I think you could drive this car quite a distance by keeping the various fluid levels up, but it would be wiser to put it on jackstands for a week (I did - the jacking points and entire underside of the car are rock solid) and deal with the relatively minor problems all at once. It's already a "jump in, turn the key and drive" car, but your choice is between easy restoration or descent into beaterdom. Thanks for Looking! Dan