French folly

[Rocket88]

For some unfathomable reason I’ve bought this…

[Matty]

Simca?

[comfortablynumb]

That is amazing!

Well bought 👍 

Edit - and I'm not even a fan of French cars 😁

Edited May 30, 2025 by comfortablynumb
Additional

[Dyslexic Viking]

Renault? Either way that's fantastic, well bought.

[Rocket88]

1959 Renault Fregate…. 2 litre efi Pinto with Badermatic

[N Dentressangle]

12 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

1959 Renault Fregate…. 2 litre efi Pinto with Badermatic

Blimey - bet that shifts well!

[Rocket88]

At the moment, stopping is more of an issue… all brake components in their way to Past Parts for total refurb…. Although master and slave cylinders ok, all wheel cylinders were borked…

[Rocket88]

16 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

At the moment, stopping is more of an issue… all brake components in their way to Past Parts for total refurb…. Although master and slave cylinders ok, all wheel cylinders were borked…

Not the end of the world… 

[Westbay]

More pics ...please

[Rocket88]

14 minutes ago, Westbay said:

More pics ...please

Shortly…..😁

[bangernomics]

Have you already frisbee’d that shite off the roof?

Handsome beast otherwise.

[bangernomics]

Have you already frisbee’d that shite off the roof?

Handsome beast otherwise.

[yes oui si]

1 hour ago, Rocket88 said:

1959 Renault Fregate…. 2 litre efi Pinto with Badermatic

Sounds like a great combo for an interesting usable classic. Lovely wee thing, that. Estate is Domaine rather than Fregate, non? 

[Rocket88]

7 minutes ago, yes oui si said:

Sounds like a great combo for an interesting usable classic. Lovely wee thing, that. Estate is Domaine rather than Fregate, non? 

Registered as a Fregate…though my knowledge of 50s French voitures is less than Encyclopaedic. Interesting that it was originally a “ transfluide”

[yes oui si]

If it's the one I think it is, there's a build thread on rods N sods. 

[Rocket88]

I’ll try and find that

[carlo]

What a fascinating and rare car, they were a bit of a flop for Renault weren't they?  And I have some dim recollection that the auto box on these was a bit unusual?

[lesapandre]

I think the powertrain is modern?

Great buy. Many left in France. 

[lesapandre]

Well described on Wikipedia. I did not know these were first intended to be rear engined.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Frégate

They don't make massive money in France - parts should be about on LeBonCoin.

[N Dentressangle]

2 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

At the moment, stopping is more of an issue… all brake components in their way to Past Parts for total refurb…. Although master and slave cylinders ok, all wheel cylinders were borked…

2l Pinto with drum brakes all round, eh?

[Rocket88]

1 hour ago, N Dentressangle said:

2l Pinto with drum brakes all round, eh?

Yup, but the drums are mahoosive….

[Rocket88]

1 hour ago, lesapandre said:

Well described on Wikipedia. I did not know these were first intended to be rear engined.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Frégate

They don't make massive money in France - parts should be about on LeBonCoin.

Last rear wheel drive car that Renault made….

[DSdriver]

21 minutes ago, Rocket88 said:

Last rear wheel drive car that Renault made….

...was a Dauphine? Floride? Caravelle?

[Rocket88]

Front engine with rear wheel drive I meant

[panhard65]

Shame it has lost it's original mechanics but the transfluide was not the best 'box in the world. This is actually a Manoir as it is the later version of the Domaine. The Fregate estates were never badged as Fregate's. The wheel cylinders should be really straight forward as they are just Girling cylinders and use imperial seals 1 inch I think. I probably have some kicking around here somewhere suitable for reconditioning. As has been said there are loads in France for not a lot of money. I imported 3 Domaine's over the years along with a couple of Fregate's, They are worth even less over here though.

[Rocket88]

An EBay result!

[lesapandre]

That's very rare indeed in English. 

[hairnet]

14 hours ago, comfortablynumb said:

That is amazing!

Well bought 👍 

Edit - and I'm not even a fan of French cars 😁

why fkin not

 

[hairnet]

13 hours ago, Rocket88 said:

1959 Renault Fregate…. 2 litre efi Pinto with Badermatic

blimey sacre bleu etc

where a pinto goes will a v6 or sbc

could they not find replacements even in france?

[Dan302]

My gym is just around the corner, whenever I see an interesting vehicle there I always assume it's yours!