Shite at the Vicarage: Renault 8

[The Vicar]

Some long overdue work on the Alto. New tires, fan belt and a service:

And another stupid purchase last night:

[hairnet]

starsky stroipe stat so

[hairnet]

or amgs and gangsta tints innit

[The Vicar]

It cleans up nicely 

[martc]

On 16/01/2026 at 21:44, The Vicar said:

I seem to have made a name for myself around the convents and nunneries of Dublin as the person to call when there is an old car to dispose of, and here’s a recent consequence of that 58,000 miles and apart from an unfortunate scuff on the passenger door, in very very nice condition. It’s led a very easy life. With a few hours spent on the paintwork it would come up really nicely. 

I’m not quite sure if it’s a keeper for me but I can never in good conscience turn these thing down when the only other likely outcome was for it to be scrapped. It’s out of test but has only done 90 miles in the meantime, so I will send it through another one anyway. 

 

On 25/02/2026 at 08:00, The Vicar said:

Got a full ticket on it last month'

And sold recently it to a sensible young chap locally. Like I mentioned, it was never really something that I was going to keep, I just did my big to keep it on the road for another little while.

One careful owner, only ever driven to and from church on a Sunday.....

[The Vicar]

55 minutes ago, martc said:

One careful owner, only ever driven to and from church on a Sunday.....

"Full main dealer service history, including a 28 clutch replacements in its lifetime..."

[The Vicar]

So, after a long wait (3 months!) I finally have a logbook for the Alto. When I bought it the seller didn’t have it to hand, but having bought from him before (the Domino), I trusted that he’d forward it to me as promised. It took me until February to realise that he was only giving me the runaround, so I decided to apply for a replacement logbook myself.

The process isn’t as easy as in the UK. I had to have the car inspected by a recognised motor vehicle mechanic and some forms witnessed and stamped at a police station and by a solicitor etc. It does help that I have a brother a car dealer and a sister a solicitor! But still, lots of faffing around. Anyway, paperwork posted away last Friday and my new logbook arrived in the post today. This is a very quick turnaround, in the past I’ve waited more than a month for a new logbook to be issued. I do like to cross my Ts and dot my Is when I do these things though. Very happy. 

I really ought to be knighted (canonized?) for my services to shite cars!

I was quite surprised to discover that the car is a UK import; previously J912EGC. Who was importing a 6 y/o Suzuki Alto from England back in 1998? I’m guessing at about 5/6 years old these were already worth very little.

[Westbay]

Someone returning from UNI ? perhaps/maybe ...

[hairnet]

retiree

the grandparents did exactly the same thing with a fiesta

[The Vicar]

17 hours ago, hairnet said:

retiree

the grandparents did exactly the same thing with a fiesta

Funny…a comment on a motoring group on Fb said that it was owned by a priest in Co. Carlow! You might be right, an Irish priest retired from the UK and brought it back with him 

[The Vicar]

I'm doing some window shopping again...I think sooner or later I'm going to bite the bullet. On other occasions I've always talked myself out of it..

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/austin-7-ruby/41798856

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/austin-other-1946-original/41803313

This would be perfect, but its too expensive:

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/austin-seven/41462176

[The Vicar]

🤔 

It would be a big project..

[IronStar]

It’s so very odd to me to see 5 door Alto badged as Alto, not Suzuki Maruti 800. I don’t think we ever got Alto, but for some reason, Maruti decided that Yugoslavia/Serbia is a good place to export their stuff. I almost bought one that still had plastic covers on door cards and seats for €NOTMUCH. By the time I decided to risk the wrath of Mrs Star, it had sold.

How are they to drive?

[High Jetter]

3 hours ago, The Vicar said:

🤔

It would be a big project..

Ask @adey, our expert on these.

[The Vicar]

19 hours ago, IronStar said:

It’s so very odd to me to see 5 door Alto badged as Alto, not Suzuki Maruti 800. I don’t think we ever got Alto, but for some reason, Maruti decided that Yugoslavia/Serbia is a good place to export their stuff. I almost bought one that still had plastic covers on door cards and seats for €NOTMUCH. By the time I decided to risk the wrath of Mrs Star, it had sold.

How are they to drive?

They were quite common in Ireland back in the day, I think they were the cheapest new car you could buy for a brief period. No 3 door available in Ireland and the only option was manual or automatic gearbox. My 89 GL had no passenger mirror but my 90 example did.

I genuinely think they’re a great little car to drive. Great visibility, nice and light, reasonable pep. I’d much prefer if my current example was manual, the auto box isn’t great, but what can you expect? I found my Domino to be a bit uncomfortable but I have no issues with the Alto. They just buzz along. 

[The Vicar]

I’ve taken on a big project here, but I’m optimistic (for now). There’s rot, it’ll need a bonnet and maybe a wing (or do I keep the wing the way it is? #patina), it hasn’t ran in about 30 years etc etc, but it’s all there and quite solid in the right places. It was cheap! This will be a long one, but I’ll do my best to update when I can

 

[666jjp]

@adey

[junkyarddog]

Interesting project.

Must be the only Irish one left.😅

[High Jetter]

I've always liked the look of the R8 & R10 - as well as the Flouride - -and have an idea they were pretty advanced for the period. I'm sure the fact that you're used to praying will help though! 🤣

[tooSavvy]

Having wrestled RE/RWD a *bit, myself....

Looks like you have the Full Meccano, so bang away at it....

I'm 'IN' 👍

🚙💨

[Westbay]

You are replacing the bonnet so, do it properly and replace the wing !      😇

[The Vicar]

46 minutes ago, Westbay said:

You are replacing the bonnet so, do it properly and replace the wing !      😇

Yes, that will most likely be the route I take. The issue is finding a bonnet and wing for a Renault 8 in Ireland! The main priority for now though is getting the engine freed and the structural welding underway. 

I suppose France will be my best bet for parts. After the last few years in Italy I'll have to brush up on my French soon..

[Volksy]

Spain may also be a good supply of second hand parts, they were built locally by FASA and were very popular. 

[tooSavvy]

Ooooh 😋

https://ebay.us/m/YZhHGk

👍

🚙💨

[hairnet]

https://apricots-lilac-t52g.squarespace.com/r8-r10?category=Exterior

[Westbay]

20 hours ago, tooSavvy said:

Ooooh 😋

https://ebay.us/m/YZhHGk

👍

🚙💨

Bonnet and wing even the right colour !

[The Vicar]

8 minutes ago, Westbay said:

Bonnet and wing even the right colour !

I’ll send a message..but an account with 0 feedback is always a bit of a red flag for me!

[The Vicar]

On 30/03/2026 at 19:58, junkyarddog said:

Interesting project.

Must be the only Irish one left.😅

I did a bit of trawling on the usual fb groups and found these three, which seem to be the only other known Irish examples left:

The red one turned up a few years ago, I’d love to know what happened to it since 

[mcmolloy1]

35 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

I did a bit of trawling on the usual fb groups and found these three, which seem to be the only other known Irish examples left:

The red one turned up a few years ago, I’d love to know what happened to it since 

Was the red one sold by the same guy who sold you the blue one? Looks like the same place. That guy buys and sells a lot of old Renault stuff 

[The Vicar]

59 minutes ago, mcmolloy1 said:

Was the red one sold by the same guy who sold you the blue one? Looks like the same place. That guy buys and sells a lot of old Renault stuff 

I've just realised that it did indeed belong to the same guy. Interestingly on a '76 plate