Renault 14 Madness

[Guest MattJY]

How much have you got for the actual car? Bloody hard thing to value what with them being so scarce.

I million dollars!

 

Or as little as possible. Speaking to one of the guys on her a good TS/82 went for £600 18 months ago.

 

I will most probably have to buy a French parts car/€500 and a £2k paint job so it’s all on condition and Spec.

 

I feel I will have to take what’s available as an 82 TS 1.4 in Champagne with beige interior is going to be a bit of an ask but will pay more the closer the spec and the level of rust/cutting required.

[panhard65]

You could always try to track my old one down. It is in Essex I think with a Renault owners club member. It is a 1980 TS in beige.

[sierraman]

Are these a bit of a bastard to weld up then?

[Parky]

They do get rather frilly as were not made out of the greatest steel to start with. In the mid eighties I remember these limping around with tailgate glass held in with gaffer tape and six inches of wob around the door bottoms so any that have survived another 30 years will be extremely lucky

[Guest MattJY]

You could always try to track my old one down. It is in Essex I think with a Renault owners club member. It is a 1980 TS in beige.

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Thanks but only after a RHD.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

....six inches of wob around the door bottoms so any that have survived another 30 years will be extremely lucky

The wob may be in better condition than the rest of the car.

[mat_the_cat]

I can't help, but completely understand the desire to have a RHD version. I'm lucky enough to still own my first car, but if I had to track own a replica, sitting in the 'passenger' seat just wouldn't be the same - despite not having any real objection to sitting on the wrong side of the car for practical reasons.

 

Clutch cable was mentioned, but they can be made up so would suggest are the least of your concerns! All doable from an engineering point of view though.

[mk2_craig]

God I want this. It'll be thousands of euros though.

 

 

https://m.facebook.com/238261049591/photos/a.10154756549789592.1073741827.238261049591/10156592762709592/?type=3&refid=8&_ft_=qid.6580999057627222803%3Amf_story_key.-6851088784384983295%3Atop_level_post_id.10156592762709592%3Apage_id.238261049591%3Asrc.22%3Aphoto_id.10156592762709592%3Apage_insights.%7B%22238261049591%22%3A%7B%22role%22%3A1%2C%22page_id%22%3A238261049591%2C%22post_context%22%3A%7B%22story_fbid%22%3A10156592762709592%2C%22publish_time%22%3A1532257157%2C%22story_name%22%3A%22EntPhotoUploadBatchNodeBasedEdgeStory%22%2C%22object_fbtype%22%3A22%7D%2C%22actor_id%22%3A238261049591%2C%22psn%22%3A%22EntPhotoUploadBatchNodeBasedEdgeStory%22%2C%22sl%22%3A5%2C%22dm%22%3A%7B%22isShare%22%3A0%2C%22originalPostOwnerID%22%3A0%7D%2C%22targets%22%3A%5B%7B%22page_id%22%3A238261049591%2C%22actor_id%22%3A238261049591%2C%22role%22%3A1%2C%22post_id%22%3A10156592762709592%2C%22share_id%22%3A0%7D%5D%7D%7D&__tn__=-R

[Guest MattJY]

Well, still nothing RHD has popped up despite me doing a lot of prodding. 

 

Entering year 3 of the search now...

[mk2_craig]

Stand out from the hordes of Renner 14s on UK roads, by buying this Brittany-based example and importing it onto an A REGISTRATION.

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/vi/1465736948.htm/

 

Actually that one is probably quicker for me to get to than most of the UK mainland.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Well, still nothing RHD has popped up despite me doing a lot of prodding. 

 

Entering year 3 of the search now...

 

 

Could you not tolerate a lefty just while you wait for a RHD car to surface?

[theorganist]

Ah another R14 fanatic. I imparted a tatty LHD one 8 years ago. I neglected to waxoil it and after two years the suspension was about to come apart. Next time I will know better. I found being LHD no problem, as said it added to the charm.

 

I have been waiting for a UK one to show up too but there are so few left it could be a long wait. I would have had that Blue one in Scotland. I was going to try and find out who owned it but then I read that it had gone. Such a shame I suspect they thought no one would want it so scrapped it.

 

Once I have the Maxi on the road I may turn my attention to R14 ownership again, maybe another trip to France next year.

[mk2_craig]

How about a 14 GTS for a thousand euros? Think I read somewhere you only got this trim level in Spain, should be good on the rust front at least

 

 

https://m.facebook.com/groups/30761414207?view=permalink&id=10156800424084208

[theorganist]

Yes I think that is correct the GTS wa only for the Spanish market. There was a 14LS which I have never seen but featured on some price lists and apparently an 14L although I haven't seen any evidence of!

 

There was a 14TS driven by an elderly Scottish gentleman around Stourbridge until the early 2000's. I suspect sadly he has passed on now, he used to drink in the pub I worked at but he hasn't been seen for years. I wonder what happened to his car. It was a V reg with quite bubbly front wings, I suspect it was scrapped without anyone bothering to see if it was of interest. 

[Junkman]

https://suchen.mobile.de/fahrzeuge/details.html?id=261708961&damageUnrepaired=NO_DAMAGE_UNREPAIRED&isSearchRequest=true&makeModelVariant1.makeId=20700&makeModelVariant1.modelId=21&pageNumber=1&scopeId=C&fnai=prev&searchId=ebd2eb1d-c433-de8f-7733-0bc86e508779

 

 

 

 

+ You would be dealing with someone one can actually deal with.

 

+ You could drive it home without any kind of fuss regarding legalities.

 

+ You will not find a better one for 1,782.46 quid.

 

 

- You will just have to accept that it's LHD. That's still better than no R14 at all.

[theorganist]

I found driving a LHD car on UK roads wasn't a problem and my 14 didn't have any glass in the right had door mirror, just some foil so that was useless. The only problem I had was at car park barriers although if I got close enough and I was on my own I could just about reach. I pulled up a police road block once where the road was closed and the police officer come to what he thought was the drivers side to speak to me, he smiled when he realised he had come to the wrong side of the car, as I tried to lean over to wind the window down and he had started to walk to the other side.

 

That is a thought for next year, I never really thought to look for one that isn't in France. I am still not clear on the laws of driving it home, I am sure I read somewhere that you cannot drive an imported vehicle on UK roads till it was registered.

 

I presume it is as easy importing from Germany than France?

[Guest MattJY]

Thanks for the replies and yes, I get the LHD comments. Going to wait or a RHD one....the search is half the fun. 

 

It would appear that the way to do this is find the address of people with one and go knock no their door and offer a grand for the heap.

 

Any help with how to do that appreciated. I have a guy in Devon/Somerset being financially incentivised to find the 2 he sees on occasion. 

[doubleyeller]

Thanks for the replies and yes, I get the LHD comments. Going to wait or a RHD one....the search is half the fun. 

 

 

 

It would appear that the way to do this is find the address of people with one and go knock no their door and offer a grand for the heap.

 

Any help with how to do that appreciated. I have a guy in Devon/Somerset being financially incentivised to find the 2 he sees on occasion.

 

I haven't seen either in the last few weeks. I would have thought there were half a dozen at least still in everyday use? Not sure if anyone has ever succesfully bought anything off him, and he was mega abusive to me for trying to buy a set of wheels recently, but if you don't mind being flayed alive over a Monaquatre, you could try Bickle?

[dozeydustman]

When converting to RHD you could use the LHD rack and flip it over. The output spline to the steering column would be in the wrong place, but since you would be drilling a new hole it would hardly matter.

I had considered this when fitting a steering rack to my fiat 500. LHD Fiat 126 racks are much easier to obtain. However, in my case the output spline was far too low so I had to find a RHD one anyway.

 

 

But then the car would go the opposite way to what you steer

 

The SE6/6a/6b/8 Reliant scimitars fitted with PAS used the steering rack from a LHD Landcrab mounted upside down. I don't think it's that an uncommon practice on Heinz 57 cars.

[Lacquer Peel]

Buy an LHD R14 and drive it using a virtual reality headset but in mirror image so it appears to be RHD.

[Asimo]

While you are looking, worth grabbing something appropriate** but LHD for spares surely?

 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1470811524.htm/

 

Got to be easier to unstich repair panels from a lhd shell than make new ones.

 

** beige / brown

[theorganist]

While you are looking, worth grabbing something appropriate** but LHD for spares surely?

 

image.jpeg https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1470811524.htm/

 

Got to be easier to unstich repair panels from a lhd shell than make new ones.

 

** beige / brown

That looks a lot tidier than the one I bought back from France!

 

The only 14's I know about are Mr. Bickles, Regie Ritmo's early one, the one Panhard imported and the TS in Scotland, plus the TS I used to see around Stourbridge up to the early 2000's. The ones I saw appear out of the blue were the X reg one in the north of Scotland which inexplicably got scrapped fairly soon after the photo's appeared, a shame as I would have had that in a heartbeat, it looked like it might have been quite decent too. The was also a very late 14GTL on a Y plate which I believe was quite rough and was bought for spares by Mr Panhard IIRC. I did consider the Y reg one but I was in two minds as it looked like a weldathon and by the time I made my mind up it was too late.

 

I have had saved searches for one on ebay and Trovit for the last six years and none others have come up, I would love to know of any around. I have placed a wanted ad in Car and Classic in case anyone finds one in a barn which will probably prove to be a futile exercise. So, I suspect it will have to be France again.

[theorganist]

While you are looking, worth grabbing something appropriate** but LHD for spares surely?

 

image.jpeg https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1470811524.htm/

 

Got to be easier to unstich repair panels from a lhd shell than make new ones.

 

** beige / brown

 

That one is near Nantes and is a trader with 150 old cars apparently. I have just liked their Facebook page. Wonder if a trader over there would be easier to deal with than a private seller!

[panhard65]

That looks a lot tidier than the one I bought back from France!

 

The only 14's I know about are Mr. Bickles, Regie Ritmo's early one, the one Panhard imported and the TS in Scotland, plus the TS I used to see around Stourbridge up to the early 2000's. The ones I saw appear out of the blue were the X reg one in the north of Scotland which inexplicably got scrapped fairly soon after the photo's appeared, a shame as I would have had that in a heartbeat, it looked like it might have been quite decent too. The was also a very late 14GTL on a Y plate which I believe was quite rough and was bought for spares by Mr Panhard IIRC. I did consider the Y reg one but I was in two minds as it looked like a weldathon and by the time I made my mind up it was too late.

 

I have had saved searches for one on ebay and Trovit for the last six years and none others have come up, I would love to know of any around. I have placed a wanted ad in Car and Classic in case anyone finds one in a barn which will probably prove to be a futile exercise. So, I suspect it will have to be France again.

The GTL was totally rotten and not viable at all. The rear axle mounts go and as they have a rubber bush inside they can't be welded and replacements are no longer available. I haven't seen one on the road for years and haven't heard of any in Somerset / Dorset. There are a couple of Renault collectors down here but pretty sure no 14's. There is a guy in the Blackdown hills with a few 12's though that I stumble across every now and again.

[panhard65]

That one is near Nantes and is a trader with 150 old cars apparently. I have just liked their Facebook page. Wonder if a trader over there would be easier to deal with than a private seller!

Traders should be easier to deal with, if you do speak to him I would be interested in the 25 turbo or the small boot 104 Peugeot

[theorganist]

The GTL was totally rotten and not viable at all. The rear axle mounts go and as they have a rubber bush inside they can't be welded and replacements are no longer available. I haven't seen one on the road for years and haven't heard of any in Somerset / Dorset. There are a couple of Renault collectors down here but pretty sure no 14's. There is a guy in the Blackdown hills with a few 12's though that I stumble across every now and again.

No I didn't think it would have been viable I wondered about buying it and getting it checked out and then buying one for spares but I didn't really have the cash at the time, IIRC the seller wasn't that helpful when I asked him a couple of questions. I think that is what killed mine off, I could have kicked myself for not getting it treated when it arrived as it wasn't too bad, needed some welding. But for its third MOT with me I was told the amount of welding needed would have cost £1,000, I got a second quote and that was the same. I sold it to someone who was a car welder but he said the suspension almost collapsed when they went to work on it. The last I saw of it was it going round a banger track. It is a shame as it still drove very well, the engine was so smooth, it had several new parts including new shock absorbers. I still have a few bits of it, including some light lenses and the RHD headlights which I have kept as I am determined to have another.

[theorganist]

Traders should be easier to deal with, if you do speak to him I would be interested in the 25 turbo or the small boot 104 Peugeot

That's what I wondered. I may fire an email off, although it is too early really for me at the moment but might make contact and test the waters. I could ask about those too, hopefully he won't just think we are some mad British who are not serious!

[doubleyeller]

I'm still positive on my 4 or so sightings of 2 examples in the Yeovil area over the last 10 years. Couldn't really confuse the rotten pear with anything else. Having said that I have been back here for the last 8 weeks or so, been doing a driving job, and though I have seen a few R12s, neither of the R14s has reappeared.

 

I think you will just have to accept that the remaining examples belong to giffers, aggressive hoarders and those who live off the national grid somewhere in the Somerset levels or Blackdown hills and have a yearly big day out to Yeovil. Sorry old chum, love your idea, but unlike the Strada chaser on here, I think your chances are zero.

 

Having said that, who was it who rescued the very high spec one from a farm a year or two back? Wasn't it called the R14 "Regency", a ltd edition? Totally hopeless case though, probably cheaper to get a fabricator to build a new one from scratch...

[theorganist]

One may well turn up sooner or later we have had two (well three but two were found together) since 2010. If you want one I would seriously look at importing one, it really isn't that much hassle once you have found someone who will sell you one (apart from when the car won't start due to a £4 rotor arm and you have to get it shipped back as Renault couldn't get hold of one in France). There are several on Leboncoin some under 1,000 euro's and I stress the LHD issue isn't an issue. I wanted one for years and thought I would never get the chance, then after reading of some of the exploits on here of people importing from France (something I hadn't thought viable or really considered) I knew I had to do it, I loved mine, it bought a smile to my face and amusement to others, it was tatty inside and out but I did lots of miles in it and it never let me down. If you want one which you obviously do just do it. You can purchase one and get it shipped for around £1,500 if you don't want to drive it back.

[Dave_Q]

There was definitely a thread a few years back where some hero pulled one out of a field, think there was more field on the inside than the outside and it more or less collapsed as they pulled it out.

 

He did reckon he would fix it.

 

Got to say this is sounding a tad "Hendrys Escort", I appreciate wanting the car you had before but surely it's better to get 90% there in a LHD one rather than never actually get one?