Renault 14 Madness

[Dick Longbridge]

I found this here: http://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2014_12_07_archive.html

I don't think he was fond of them. Interesting line about it being compared to a pear. 

 

"The Renault 14 was released in 1976, and became available in the UK in 1977. Unfortunately whilst the 14 was technically innovative, with a very large amount of internal space, due to it being fitted with a transverse engine powering the front wheels, in the same way as the original Mini, the Renault 14 was a substantially larger car, more in the mould of a Ford Escort; in fact Ford launched a new, front wheel drive version of the Escort only a year later as a direct response to the innovation that the Renault 14 brought. Things got off to a bad start when the Renault 14 was launched, with a disastrous advertising campaign that compared the 14 to the shape of a pear. A preview at the Pompidou Centre in Paris as a bare body shell did little to win it customers. The car would later gain a reputation for premature body corrosion which saw the 14 being dubbed as the "rotten pear" by the motoring press. In France, "La poire"' (literally "the pear", but also slang for "gullible") still refers to the 14. However, the best-selling Renault 5 also had a reputation for premature body corrosion, but a far more effective advertising campaign for the Renault 5 helped boost its sales and resulted in it being a commercial success. The Renault 14 (click here for a photo view) also had a reputation for being difficult to start in damp conditions, due to easy water ingress into the ignition coil, which was poorly placed and not well sealed against damp. The placement of the temperature gauge on the transmission tunnel behind the gear-lever, rather than on the instrument panel where it was directly in the driver's field of view, led to incidents of engine damage if the engine overheated and the driver failed to notice. It also had a nasty habit of jumping out of reverse gear unless the driver physically held the gear stick in place when reversing. Bearing in mind many driving schools in the UK used Renault 14’s in the early 1980’s this did not endear it to either instructors or pupils, despite it being easy to manoeuvre, and having both good all - round visibility and very comfortable seats. I must admit that despite being a classic car enthusiast, I have never seen a restored and running Renault 14; the model was never a massive hit, and with somewhat fragile mechanics, perilously dodgy electrics and very poor rust protection, they don't offer much reward for even the most ardent collector."

 

Edit: The same blog included this photo. Looks like it only ran out of MOT a couple of years ago and is SORNDED. 

Do you know of it? 

 

 

This is a chuckle as well. To me, to you. 

 

[theorganist]

Yes I think that is based in Scotland. I am sure there is a thread about it on here.

[theorganist]

Well I am not sure he is right about fragile mechanicals or electrics. He says they were not a big hit but they were decent sellers. Interesting blog, I hadnt realised they were popular with driving schools.

[Dick Longbridge]

Yes I think that is based in Scotland. I am sure there is a thread about it on here.

Can't find it. 

Turns out there's a build thread for it elsewhere, though. One previous owner from new, very genuine car and had a full resto a couple of years ago. Shame the fabrication work looks a bit shitty, but car's a gem, regardless. Very much not for sale, I'd imagine. 

 

http://renault14.dynamicforum.net/t1088-restoration-of-an-original-1981-renault-14-ts

[Shep Shepherd]

http://autoshite.com/topic/8174-edinburgh-on-a-monkey-the-story-of-buying-a-shite-car

 

[Dick Longbridge]

Finally found it! What a gem. 

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/12698-my-4th-frenchie-is/

[Braddon81]

There used be loads of Renault 14s knocking around in the UK. In common with most everyday cars though back in period the average life span for one was about a decade, so early cars were starting to shuffle away towards the end of the 80s and later cars the early 90s.

Due to the use of the Douvrin Xw engine I think in Renault terms it was always the orphan of the range. Very comfortable too. Whilst at Uni in 92 my mate picked up a late Y plate TL for 100 quid which served him well for 3years. In common with a lot of cars of its ilk it arrived with a minor fanfare and then quietly died a slow forgotten death. Ironically whilst the 14 slowly slipped away.. Peugeot were launching the technically very similar 205 to great acclaim.

[adw1977]

I found this here: http://arthurpewtysmaggotsandwich.blogspot.com/2014_12_07_archive.html

I don't think he was fond of them. Interesting line about it being compared to a pear. 

 

"The Renault 14 was released in 1976, and became available in the UK in 1977. ...   Ford launched a new, front wheel drive version of the Escort only a year later as a direct response to the innovation that the Renault 14 brought."

 

This sounds like bollocks to me.  The front wheel drive Escort was launched in 1980.  And no manufacturer can get a model to market in only one year as a response to a competitor's innovation.

[sco14]

The only reason the Renault 14 TS is out of MOT is a combination of circumstances and requiring a new solex carb. The carb has been sourced new when I was looking for a phase 1 Peugeot 205 door mirror as the early 205 XS used the same engine. Just not got round to fitting the carb yet.

[sco14]

I should add the V5 states 0 previous owners, still registered to the original owner.

[Split_Pin]

Ha I just bumped your original thread! Great to know its still very much with us. It would be great to see it at Scotoshite which meets in Armadale on the last Wednesday of every month.

[kirton]

I know the 14 has got a lot of bad press in this thread but we ran ours (bought from a colleague at about 7k miles)for a good number of years with no problems and nothing special in the way of maintenance bills.  With the gearbox in the sump the oil got chewed up and got noticeably thinned so I changed it every 3k miles - dead easy job.  Stood up well to 5 up in the Chippenham to central M4/M32 (thrash) commute .  I'd have another one (pref TS flavour) like all my cars apart from the Metropolitan.

[Asimo]

Tell us about the Metropolitan please! (Deserves a thread of it's own)

[Skizzer]

This sounds like bollocks to me.  The front wheel drive Escort was launched in 1980.  And no manufacturer can get a model to market in only one year as a response to a competitor's innovation.

Agreed. At least 80% of that blog post is made-up internet pub bore bollocks.

[mk2_craig]

Aye. I thought it was a little wide of the mark as well. Ford had bigger fish to fry than see off a French rival that didn't quite make it past a million sales, at a time when the benchmark in Europe (and I suppose the US too) had a VW badge on the grille.

[theorganist]

Agreed. At least 80% of that blog post is made-up internet pub bore bollocks.

 

Agreed, it almost sounds like a rant. I have never heard stories about the dodgy reverse gear before or the dodgy electrics and those engines were known to be good mechanically as far as I know. The only bit he gets right is the bit about rust protection, but anyone into cars of this period knows that the R14 had a reputation for rust.

[doubleyeller]

Going back to the original subject, has anybody managed to locate a viable RHD 14 for this guy yet?

[theorganist]

Going back to the original subject, has anybody managed to locate a viable RHD 14 for this guy yet?

 

Well they are not exactly easy to find, I have been waiting for one since 2012 (2010 really but I settled for a LHD one). The only one that turned up was a very rotten GTL which got used for parts.and the one in Scotland which got scrapped.

[Guest MattJY]

If I can find a pear conditioned pair that will be good enough to cobble the parts in the froggy R14 and voila...RHD R14.

 

Actually, its the dash that is the only worry bit. I can make the scuttle and bulkhead mods, transpose the steering, brakes and washer bottle and apparently the rack out a Pug 309 is usable.

 

God knows where the wiper gear will come from, probably a R18 or Pug 309/205 or similar.

 

If I could just get the dash, I would buy the LHD car and make a start. 

[Guest MattJY]

Also, could anyone be more specific about the rear/suspention rust issues. I am fully aware of the sills and front end stuff, just never experienced the rear end suspension and mounts issues and why its such a pig to repair. 

[dollywobbler]

Funnily enough, I've just had someone ask me if I knew anyone who would be interested in 14 front wings - five of them! Am trying to obtain more details.

[panhard65]

Also, could anyone be more specific about the rear/suspention rust issues. I am fully aware of the sills and front end stuff, just never experienced the rear end suspension and mounts issues and why its such a pig to repair. 

The rear axle is mounted to 2 bits of box section which come out of the wheel well. This bit is a terrible mud trap and rots. The real problem is the axle mounting that bolts to it. It has a rubber bush inside that will melt if you go near it with a welder and is unobtainable. The dash is the easy part of converting it the whole bulkhead is different not just the internal and external skins. The heater inlet goes through 2 panels and channels through the bulkhead. I would of saved the dash from the one I scrapped if it had been even remotely viable to do. It is similar to a Renault 18 dash which would be easier to find in rhd. You really need to see one stripped down to realise how difficult it will be to convert. If it must be RHD then just restore it don't bother with a lefthand drive and try converting it. I will go through a few old computers and see if I can find pictures of one with the dash out.

[Guest MattJY]

Appreciate it Panhard if you could.

[Guest MattJY]

Ohh, interested in what other bits he has. There is s new wing in France for €25

[Guest MattJY]

The rear axle is mounted to 2 bits of box section which come out of the wheel well. This bit is a terrible mud trap and rots. The real problem is the axle mounting that bolts to it. It has a rubber bush inside that will melt if you go near it with a welder and is unobtainable. The dash is the easy part of converting it the whole bulkhead is different not just the internal and external skins. The heater inlet goes through 2 panels and channels through the bulkhead. I would of saved the dash from the one I scrapped if it had been even remotely viable to do. It is similar to a Renault 18 dash which would be easier to find in rhd. You really need to see one stripped down to realise how difficult it will be to convert. If it must be RHD then just restore it don't bother with a lefthand drive and try converting it. I will go through a few old computers and see if I can find pictures of one with the dash out.

 

Ok, so any repair will require re busing. I am sure I can have some poly bushes made on a lathe. Is it the same layout as the Pugs? Maybe there are already poly bushes in existence. 

 

Is it these:

 

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/original-imperium-9442841.html

[Datsuncog]

The last Renault 14 I personally spotted on UK roads was a fairly shabby-looking gold example, leaving a car park outside Annan in early 1996.

 

I think I may even have taken a photo of it - even then it dimly occurred to me that I might not see another one.

 

I'll have a look for the pic, though I doubt there's very much to see in terms of a numberplate (owing to dusk/flash combo).

 

Found the pic:

 

 

Yes, it's as abysmal as feared. But the plate is just about visible - URM489Y.

 

 

Seems that it lived on for another few years after this photo was taken - although who knows, maybe it's still in a lock-up somewhere around Dumfries?

[Guest MattJY]

Here is an image of the rear suspension, are we taking about the outboard (left) or inboard (right) mounting?

[Guest MattJY]

Found the pic:

 

20180820_011921.jpg

 

Yes, it's as abysmal as feared. But the plate is just about visible - URM489Y.

 

DVLA - Renault 14, URM489Y.jpg

 

Seems that it lived on for another few years after this photo was taken - although who knows, maybe it's still in a lock-up somewhere around Dumfries?

 

1999, she did well. Ironically it looks like a TS in the same colour spec as my old one, oh if it was still around, that would make my life easier

[Dick Longbridge]

This thread reminds me of Mr Mann and his bizarre requests.

 

http://dai.ly/x4n10h

[mk2_craig]

Its weird isn't it, how such a flawed and fragile old car can create an itch that so many people would like to scratch, 35 years after it was last built.

 

How then to actually value one, should a roadworthy example become available?