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Which French cars would 'wash their face' in the UK?

egg

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egg Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

egg

Posted
Posted

With recent international car capers going on in mind....

 

In reviewing Leboncoin, I wonder what cars, if imported back to Blighty would you be certain* to get your money back on?

 

By 'getting your money back' - I mean covering the purchase price, I don't necessarily mean covering the full cost of collection capers (which would vary hugely anyway depending if said car was in Calais, Irun, Brest or Menton). And disregarding MOT and DVLA costs.

 

So something you could have fun with for six months without financial ruin.

 

Here are my guesses.  More experienced importers or marque enthusiasts may be able to correct my musings.

 

I'm generally thinking of useable cars up to about €3000 in condition 1-2. I'm sure there's actual money to be made on the real exotica!

 

My list (euro price in brackets)

 

Peugeot 204 sedan (2-2.5) - maybe 304 as well, but seem a bit rarer at this price

Renault Fuego (up to 2)

Citroen GSA (up to 2.5)

Fast Fords from the 80s - XR2, XR3(i) possibly some sporting Sierra variants (2-2.5)

MK1 Fiestas (up to 2)

MK2 Fiestas (up to 1)

Ford Taunus P6 (2-2.5)

 

Thoughts?

panhard65 Rank: Renault 16

panhard65

Posted
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The Peugeot probably not. The rest maybe if bought for the right money. You do find the Brits are not fans of LHD but there is a bit of a market for selling to Brits moving abroard. There again if you are only spending a couple of thousand euro anything 70's should be a reasonable bet if it looks good. Before I bought the 7 I searched ebay for any classics under 2 grand and it was either boring 70's BL tat or projects for anything remotely interesting. I am off out to Le Mans in 2 weeks so will be on a bike hunt again. It has been getting harder and harder now to find stuff sensibly priced that they will actually sell to me.

  • egg, HMC and holbeck
  • Like 3
Parky Rank: Isuzu Florian

Parky

Posted
Posted

Surely a Renault Estafette or Citroen H Van - some artisan coffee place or cheese maker would pay strong money for one of those.

 

Otherwise Renault 4 or 2cv commercials for similar reasons

 

Car wise - mark 1 Renault 5. Still fairly prevalent in France, almost non existent here

 

Par example, this is six cent euro pour vous monsieur:

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1438807924.htm/?ca=12_s

post-3538-0-51952900-1527457086_thumb.jpeg

  • Dick Cheeseburger, chaseracer, egg and 1 other
  • Like 4
nigel bickle Rank: Renault 16

nigel bickle

Posted
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Mk1 Twingos.

 

To 750 euros, pref an early one.(93). C T less ( mot equivalent) ideal cos they will be better or cheaper, & they'll all fail a UK Mot on n/ s rear inner sill rust.

 

Done it twice.

  • egg, Mr Lobster and UltraWomble
  • Like 3
egg Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

egg

Posted
  • Author
Posted

The Peugeot probably not.

 

Shame, cos that's probably my favourite on the list! I see that there wouldn't be a ready market outside this place though.

 

Surely a Renault Estafette or Citroen H Van - some artisan coffee place or cheese maker would pay strong money for one of those.

 

Otherwise Renault 4 or 2cv commercials for similar reasons

 

Car wise - mark 1 Renault 5. Still fairly prevalent in France, almost non existent here

 

I'm not a massive fan of commerciales, and I think the French have started to cotton on about hipsters, the 4 vans/Arcadienes in particular aren't cheap.

 

I think Alex_G did do ok with his 5 (apart from the engine re-build!)

 

Mk1 Twingos.

 

To 750 euros, pref an early one.(93). C T less ( mot equivalent) ideal cos they will be better or cheaper, & they'll all fail a UK Mot on n/ s rear inner sill rust.

 

Done it twice.

 

Maybe a contender.  Not one I'd considered as a bit new. Bit like a French Nissan Figaro in the 'cute' stakes (therefore possible to re-sell!)

dozeydustman Rank: Talbot Matra Rancho

dozeydustman

Posted
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204 worth less over here, 304 on par from quick google searches on prices for here and Yerup. Not sure how well the XL engine series is catered for over here either. The 304 S commands a premium, especially in coupe or convertible form, if you can get a roadworthy one for a couple of grand, maybe 3, you'd make profit flipping it with a quick spiv up.

 

Not commenting on 80's Fords, not my bag at all apart from Sierra Cosworths. Why go abroad and have a Sunday roast dinner?

 

Citroen GS(A) probably worth importing, probably make £4-500 profit on a decent one.

 

I can't remember the last time I saw a Fuego. It'll turn heads, you might make a couple of quid on one, though lots of unobtanium unique parts for these.

 

How are the Simca Aronde/1301/1501 and R16 valued over there?

Brodders Rank: Citroen Ami

Brodders

Posted
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80s Fords are a safe bet, although you have missed out the Mk2 Granada, which would be a personal preference of mine.

 

A Rover SD1 could be worth a look. Not huge money over here, but very cheap over in France (although rather rare and probably fucked).

 

However French stuff mostly won't see much of a return over here, which is a shame as I have a strong desire for a Renault 18 for some reason.

  • UltraWomble, dozeydustman and egg
  • Like 3
Ghosty Rank: Talbot Tagora

Ghosty

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I was also going to say Twingo. 

 

The weirder the better really.

dozeydustman Rank: Talbot Matra Rancho

dozeydustman

Posted
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However French stuff mostly won't see much of a return over here, which is a shame as I have a strong desire for a Renault 18 for some reason.

 

 

I have a real affinity for old French cars, from the late 1990's all of them became crap. R18 not my cuppa, prefer the R8 or R11 myself, or something with a suitcase engine, or something with ridiculously rattly tappets.

  • Brodders and egg
  • Like 2
egg Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

egg

Posted
  • Author
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Anyway, this might happen this summer. There could be a small window in June-July when I'm not sorting out my autistic daughters education, will be unemployed, will have a smoll inheritance, and we're still in the EU. August is pointless because France is mostly very shut and very hot.

 

And September will be too late re: school and job.

  • catsinthewelder
  • Like 1
egg Rank: Matra Rancho towing a Tagora

egg

Posted
  • Author
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I just don't get the appeal of these awful to drive cars.

 

Neither do the French - hence their relative affordability!

  • Dick Cheeseburger and Timewaster
  • Like 2
Spottedlaurel Rank: Lancia Gamma

Spottedlaurel

Posted
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You got me wondering as to whether there was any Japanese stuff there which fits the criteria. I know it's not very common out there, but that unknown quantity might make it good value/difficult to sell? People seem to ask surprisingly high prices for pretty much anything RWD here, so maybe there's something under the radar in France?

 

A brief search of Leboncoin hasn't revealed anything too obvious yet. At the cheap end of the scale there's a Quintet with rusty arches that I believe has sat since 2010 for €500. Anything decent is rather more, like a 1986 Prelude for €4500 or a '92 Camry at €2800.

 

None of those are RWD of course. There's a Datsun 280C at €3500, but it's had a dink on one corner and being a diesel would probably limit its appeal here. That being said, if tatty examples of these could be found for three-figure sums I bet they'd sell here to banger racers (same would apply to Granadas).

 

Even with something as saleable as a 3dr Starlet MrBo11ox struggled some years ago.

Formula Autos Rank: Citroen Ami

Formula Autos

Posted
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Anything Ford or VAG that we didn't get over here, such as 2 door Granadas and Jettas would "wash their face" as the OP put it. The scenesters would love them.

 

Rarity trumping the LHD issue in such an instance.

 

For extra ££££££ don't forget to add a pineapple topping to any Jetta.

  • warren t claim, egg and adw1977
  • Like 3
lesapandre Rank: Talbot Tagora

lesapandre

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I find selling cars such a big pain - find something useful and hang on to it. Visa? C15? Both are pretty practical. Buying to sell and guessing the market is difficult. The HY vans are pricey even in France now or they are terminally rusted. Cheaper are the Peugeot J7 and J9 - a bit like the British Commer vans. These are just 'catching on' with the coffee sellers. 

Spottedlaurel Rank: Lancia Gamma

Spottedlaurel

Posted
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That looks pretty good, those 626 coupes are rather attractive IMO. I guess it's the high kilometres and minor biff on the front corner that've brought the price down? About 168,000 miles, the interior has worn remarkably well for that.

UltraWomble Rank: Talbot Tagora

UltraWomble

Posted
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Assuming you could get one cheap enough & there were not terrorist incidents to stop you

And assuming you could find the one nutter in the UK who would pay top coin for a left hooker

 

Then.....

 

VM-Renault-25-Baccara.jpg

  • egg, Laseraligningfoofooflanges and ProgRocker
  • Like 3
Parky Rank: Isuzu Florian

Parky

Posted
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How does Old School Ford tax work in France?

 

Just wondering if a Mk2 Escort can be found cheaply, in LHD form there will always be a buyer from the Rally community, especially if it’s a two door. I remember Pete M bought his Mk2 very cheaply (from Czech Republic as I recall)

 

This is a four door at 2500 Eurobins

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1383565863.htm/?ca=12_s

 

Photos are crap but it’s an easy collection!

post-3538-0-73145300-1527508962_thumb.png

Parky Rank: Isuzu Florian

Parky

Posted
Posted

If nothing else Triplerich will probably have it off you for his next project!

 

If the front wings on that are OK, there’s your money back instantly

  • Junkman and egg
  • Like 2

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