Renault 14 arrives at last!

1,950 · July 15, 2010

Some of you may remember a few months ago I stated my desire to import a Renault 14 from France! Well finally it has happended, but not in quite the way I intended, which was to travel out there, pick one up and drive it back.

Towards the end of May I (and a friend) flew out from Birmingham airport on a cheap flybe flight for Paris.

Here is a picture of my 1100 at the airport carpark at five in the morning!

We landed at Paris CDG airport and took a bus across to Paris Orly airport which is only twenty minutes from where the vendor (Laurent) lived.

It was actually his fathers car who had owned it since new and was still being maintained by a small Renault main dealer.

As the car had been unused for 10 months Laurent had took the car to the Renault dealer to check all was okay (as he was worried about the old petrol). The garage had it up a running, unfortunately when we went to collect it, it would not start! The garage thought it was a faulty Condensor but could not get one on a Saturday, so I decided to go home without it.

So we had a unexpected afternoon in Paris and then came home via Eurostar.

However me being me decided I still wanted the car so arranged for the garage to get it running and I would get someone to collect it (via Shiply's).

To cut a long story short the transport company's mechanic (an ex Renault mechanic) got it running by changing the Rotor arm.

Anyway I finally had it dropped of at my house today, here are some pics of it in the rain.

Any sane person would probably have given up but unfortunately such was my desire to own a Renault 14 and the fact I had already gone to quite a lot of trouble I decided to go through with it.

I have only driven it round the block so far but the engine starts instantly and sounds a sweet as a nut, it has done 142,000 kms. There is a knocking from the exhaust at the rear and there is a large hole in the rear left hand light lens, currently covered with masking tape.

The car has been very badly touched up, there are bits of white paint on the window rubber and frames, and blobs of it on the paintwork. It does seem basically solid however, it is booked in for an initial MOT on Wednesday! So I have the weekend to sort the exhaust and put in a replacement set of RHD headlights.

By the way if by any miracle someone has a spare LH rear light lens for a 14 (unlikely I know) that they would be willing to sell me I would be very grateful.

Link to Flickr if you have a weird desire to see large photo's.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48758436@N05/

2.4k · July 15, 2010

Well done that man! That is a beautiful and rare thing over here!

24,463 · July 15, 2010

Top marks!!! I wish I had the nerve to do that.

12,190 · July 15, 2010

I've a feeling Nigel Bickle and Regie Ritmo (where has he got to?) broke up a 14 recently so you might be in luck.

32,505 · July 15, 2010

Regie Ritmo (where has he got to?)

He's been quiet on facebook lately as well.

Top work Organ man, I salute your madness!

1,950 · July 15, 2010

Thanks all, I have to say it was after a lot of encouragement and good advice from you lot that I did it. It was only the second time I had been abroad! I just wish I had got to drive it back.

Top work Organ man, I salute your madness! Very Happy

Cheers LOL, runs in the family tbh.

1.8k · July 15, 2010

What a great Autoshite-style adventure. Top marks sir.

July 15, 2010

Owning an early ADO16 and a Renault 14, that's surely the best ever way to turn yourself into some kind of superhero clunge-magnet?

I bet you'll need to fight the laydeez off with a shitey stick when you're out in the 14.

4.1k · July 15, 2010

TrÃƒÂ¨s belle, et trÃƒÂ¨s brave!

1,950 · July 15, 2010

Owning an early ADO16 and a Renault 14, that's surely the best ever way to turn yourself into some kind of superhero clunge-magnet?

I'm doing my best!

I bet you'll need to fight the laydeez off with a shitey stick when you're out in the 14. Very Happy

I do hope so, just need a red beret and a string of onions!!

What a great Autoshite-style adventure. Top marks sir.

Thanks. Would definately do it again!!

1,068 · July 15, 2010

There's a fellow on here that bought all the NOS from AC Williams for R14s.....

Is there anything more than the rear lamp you are looking for?

Give me a list and I will check with him.

5k · July 15, 2010

wow awesome purchase

47,376 · July 16, 2010

Unbelievable story, I cant believe a rotor arm ended up costing you thie price of shipping a car from France!!!! Impressive dedication nonetheless

4,379 · July 16, 2010

Nice. I've not forgotten -been a bit busy of late.

I'll try and get up there this weekend-I think the spares are in the boot of mine,currently next in line for migg'ing.

Seems like a lot of aggro -and expense for a rotor arm..Hope he dropped the price, commensurately?

4,444 · July 16, 2010

Excellent! I had been wondering how you'd got on so am delighted to see you got it. Full set of Autoshite points for you

1,950 · July 16, 2010

Unbelievable story, I cant believe a rotor arm ended up costing you thie price of shipping a car from France!!!! Impressive dedication nonetheless

I know, unfortunately I am not the most practicle of persons, otherwise could have probably got to the bottom of the problem myself.

Dedication or madness, not too sure tbh. I suppose that is why we are all here really, I could easily have spent a couple of grand on a Fiesta diesel or something similar and had an easier but less interesting motoring experience.

Nice. I've not forgotten -been a bit busy of late

Thanks Nigel I realise that you have had a lot of crap to put up with over the last few weeks.

I did get a bit knocked off the price, probably not enough to make up for the extra expence.

Thanks again to everyone for their encouraging words.

Pete.

7,216 · July 16, 2010

As I'm such a hardcore Renner perv*, I've registered my appreciation of your 14 on the RCCC forum.

*not really - I just think the RCCC forum needs the traffic - poor old thing.

17,925 · July 16, 2010

This 100% meets my approval. good job for persevering!

17,925 · July 16, 2010

Also, Renault 14 - best door mirrors ever? or am I alone in that thinking?

1.3k · July 16, 2010

I think it's very commendable that you went to all the trouble for a car that most would dismiss as utter shite. I TOTALLY get where you're coming from. I often browse ebay france and get all moist looking at lovely Renault 6's , 12's 16s etc.

nice one!!

7,216 · July 16, 2010

Also, Renault 14 - best door mirrors ever? or am I alone in that thinking?

You are not alone

1,950 · July 16, 2010

not really - I just think the RCCC forum needs the traffic - poor old thing

Agree about the RCCC it does seem quiet, I recognise a couple of the names from here.

Definately agree about the door mirrors, I think the whole car is well designed, shame they rusted so badly. One of my neighbours couldn't believe the car was a 70's design. My other neighbour looked at it in shock!!

Might try for a Renault 6 next year, if I get bored of the Austin!

Pete.

July 16, 2010

Nice one! Not seen one of those in years.

My Parents bought a brand new W reg one in white with red interior just after I was born so my earliest motoring memories are of that car. It went to the scrappy (rust) when my grandad stopped driving and my Dad inherited his BMW 2002tii. Those were the days

July 16, 2010

When my dad collected his secondhand R 12 estate from the dealer, the saleman who did the deal filled his P reg bronze 14 TL demonstrator up with petrol at the same tme he put fuel in our car for us.

My first car was a Renault 14 TS. . .it was an utter pile of shit. . .

and I loved it

OVT 433 W was a gold TS, with bits of orange thrown in. It went like stink and washed my feet in the wet when I braked hard (because all the water in the rear footwells sloshed through into the front)

When I passed my test (in that car) my Dad told me I could finally have a Renault 18, but decided that even the 1.4 was too big (even though it was less powerful than the 14 TS) so I had CBF 482 Y - a 14 GTL in bordeaux red. In the space of four months, the gearbox died, the electrics very nearly caused it to go up in flames, the replacement clutch failed and it ate about six or seven exhaust downpipes - that's when I got the car I always wanted - a V reg 18TL.

The 14 was so terrible that it was actually good, and I'd have another one tomorrow - great to see you persevered with getting this home. What a great place leboncoin is - it's like an automotive, legal porn site for the French

July 17, 2010

My second car was a 1981 14GTL in sea green metallic and I loved it. I only had it about 6 months when 1 day coming out of Dublin the temperature light came on but it did not appear to be getting hot so as it was pouring rain I decided to keep going for home which was about 85 miles, my thinking being that if the fan had failed then at least if I kept driving then the air going through the front would keep it cool. It did and I made it home but when I went out the next morning there was a pond of rusty water underneath it. I filled it up and started it, only to find the water bubbling up between the cylinders. I had cracked the aluminium block. I drove it to the nearest scrappy and we did a deal for a Fuego GTS that he had taken in and put a gearbox in. So at 19 years old I had the car of my dreams.A gold Fuego GTS with faded bonnet paint but is was mine!!!!

1,950 · July 17, 2010

What a great place leboncoin is - it's like an automotive, legal porn site for the French

Absolutely, I am going to learn French properly for next time, most understandably didn't reply to my messages.

A gold Fuego GTS

I remember my dad always saying he would like a Fuego, he really lusted after them!!

Have left it at the local Kwik-fit to check the tracking and see if they can fix the exhaust mount. Was surprised how quiet the car is, although it is making a funny grinding noise from the front NS, so will get the wheel off when I get it home and see if I can see what the problem is.

1,950 · July 17, 2010

Well just had a bit of a shock!

There are some large holes in the sill on both sides, not spotted by me but spotted by Kwikfit whilst on a ramp!

Does anyone know where to get new sills for one of these, if indeed it is possible?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48758436@N05/

Also the brakes are binding very badly.

4,379 · July 17, 2010

Hmmm.To be expected really. ''They all do that,Sir''.

Check the rear suspension- the trailing arm attachments REALLY inside CAREFULLY before you get the rear of the sill repaired - as it all has to come off to mend the rust trap-that killed the majority!

If those are indeed OK, it doesnt look anything a competent welder couldnt sort in a day.

Brakes are probably because its been standing. Take the calipers off and lever the pistons in and out a bit- lubricating with brake fluid. That'll sort it, most times.

Jobbing mechanic can do that fairly easily; say 1-2hours a side.

If thats all thats wrong -you got off lightlly.