1985 Renault 4 GTL Super original condition, RHD, MOT Aug17, 2cv 2cv6 in Herts!

Hello ebayers and welcome to my reserve auction for my fabulous Renault 4 GTL. which as you can see from the pictures has been partially de-GTL'd though only so far that everything done is fully reversible.   I have owned the car since 2011 and bought it because it retained so much of it's originality and it was an identical spec to my first one.   I remember going to see it trying to talk myself out of buying it on the obvious expectation that it would be a total rotbox (most UK ones are. they were not all that well rust proofed from new and are full of rust traps in the chassis design.   They are now also old) and was so surprised when it wasn't that it was pretty much a done deal.   Sometimes a car just needs buying. doesn't it?  

Anyway. it is late model GTL with the mighty 1108cc 'big block' engine. and is one of the very few remaining right hand drive (RHD) ones sold brand new from Liningtons Renault in Portsmouth.   Having Googled it. I think Liningtons are still in Portsmouth. but no longer sell Renaults.   The car retains around 95% of it's original paint. a good solid original chassis and after a period of storage and recommisioning was Mot'd on the 8th August so comes with nearly a years Mot.   I am currently driving it about on sunny. dry days and it has proven to be fully functional and reliable.    The car has driven 118. 00 miles over 31 years with it's five owners including me.   I have two sets of keys. the original handbook. original service stamp book. rust treatment guarantee card and Linigtons tax disc holder in the original wallet. plus a sheaf of bills. old Mot's and tax discs.   The car also has the original Liningtons rear numberplate and sticker in the back window.   The car will also come with a spares pack (detailed below) including the Gtl parts taken off.  

To give you some more detail about the car. shortly after buying the car it was a bit scruffy but sound and was a standard GTL.   About 4 weeks later the head gasket blew and I had to make a decision whether to bin it or put it right.   Having let my first one go when the chassis was found to be rotten but feeling like I never did the car justice. I decided to put this one right.   My local garage changed the head gasket for me but in the meantime the MOT ran out.   At this point I then gave it to my local bodyshop who replaced the rusty dented front wings (the only new paint on the panels.   The paint match is ok rather than brilliant). completed some minor repairs to the front inner wing tops - common rot spot. and welded various repairs into the chassis.   In terms of condition the chassis has had around 8 or 9 repairs put into it. mostly in the usual chassis rot areas on the underside faces.   That said. I would say that the chassis is now very solid. and is not a total patch work quilt of repairs that some of the chassis can get like that have been used through the Winter.   I would say that you should get several more years out of it before it needs extensive work or the body needs to come off and do it properly.   If you limit the cars use to dry summer months then it will last pretty much indefinitely.   As part of the cars recommisioning I have pumped the chassis full of cavity wax and fully undersealed the underside. which was bone dry having been dry stored for four years prior to me doing it.

The bodyshop also did two repairs inside the body where the C panels meet the rear inner wings.   These were solid and functional rather than especially pretty. and were sealed in then over painted.   You can just about see one in the picture of the rear seat.   They are the same both sides.    The body condition is pretty unique considering it is 31 years old.   With the exception of the front wings and bottom of the A panels all of the paint is original.   The photos make it look exceptionally sharp but whoever said the camera never lies had never seen digital photography!  The car is actually well patinated. with scratches. dents. rust pinspots and areas where the paint has worn with the primer ghosting through. or in a couple of areas right back to the actual steel such as on the leading edge of the bonnet. and in the offside rain gutter.   In my opinion this really suits it's utilitarian nature and I love it like this.   The bonnet and both nearside doors have quite a few larger impression dents that have not broken the paint but have left creases in the metal that won't pop back invisibly.   The shine in the paint is noticeably better on the vertical surfaces and the paint thinnest on the roof and bonnet.   Although I am selling the car. my next step with it would have been to have the body lacquered to protect the paint and keep it in it's current condition.   In my opinion. just repainting this car would be a travesty! That said. it is worth the buyer realising that continuing to keep it looking like this will involve a degree of maintenance unless the lacquering is completed.

The car has been partially de-GTL'd with a set of the rare and ultra desirable Fergat steel wheels that were powder coated silver before I bought them. which I over painted with the black inserts.   These have the chrome centre caps and a set of decent Camac tyres with circa 6mm tread.   There are five of them though the spare doesn't have a centre cap and the tyre holds air but is old (I keep it in the spare carrier under the car in a plastic bag to keep it clean).   I have also put a late sixties alloy grille and correct mesh panel / period badge on the front to go with the yellow head lamp bulbs and French pressed number plates as I love the retro French look. both for this car and my 2cv's (original number plates in the spares pack).   The car also has chromed bumpers (though I think they are stainless steel?. ) front and rear. a sixties period rear badge. chromed door handles. boot handle. chrome wing mirrors. wiper arms. new inserts in the front and rear windscreen and new gutter edging trim.   For the interior. the car is completely standard. although I bought it a set of new upholstery from Der Franzose and the covers are excellent. really lifting the interior.   The seat foam had partially disintegrated so I made various repairs to rebuild the foam.   The seats are now nice and comfy once more.   The rubber front floormat has a split in it but is still serviceable.   One of the rear inner wing rubber covers also has a split but these are unavailable new now.   The front doorcards have speaker meshes on them but no speakers behind them.   There is an aerial on the front windscreen panel but this is not connected up.   There is a radio console moulding in the spares pack if you want to put a radio in the car.  

Mechanically and electrically. the car was recommisioned to put it back on the road.   It has been stored by me from 2011 to this year. but generally got out and started / ran around once a year or so.   The car has had a service with new oil. oil filter. air filter. spark plugs and HT leads. new battery connections. plus minor trim bits such as a new bonnet release mechanism. rubber guides for the bonnet in the aperture.   The car comes with the original GTL wheels which are rust faced but serviceable (and have the centre caps) but the tyres are scrap as the car was stored on them. with at least one tyre going flat over time.   She was always a great starter and this remains true today. restarting after storage with a charged battery and can of fuel.   The car passed it's Mot with only a couple of advisories. and since then everything on it works just fine.  

The two exceptions are that the reverse lights do not come on when reverse is selected (not an Mot failure) which does not really bother me. and the car has a temperature warning light that is overly sensitive (again. quite common on R4's due to the position of the temperature sensor.   R5's had an upgrade where they moved the sensor into the water pump housing which a few R4's have been modified to emulate as it manages the water temperature reading better.   What this means is that if you drive the car in a spirited manner then the lamp can flicker.   If you drive it in a spirited manner on a really hot day then it will come on fully. then flicker when you back off a bit.   In theory. the lamp should come on to tell you the car is getting hot. but the standard Renault owners joke is that it comes on to tell you. you have just blown your engine after the event!  As the car has only just had the head gasket done in mileage terms. I have just lived with it as it is patently obvious when driving it that it is not suffering imminent engine failure.   A new sensor may stop it but they are a common issue on R4's and the new sensors can be Mickey Mouse quality!  This is the kind of info you get from the excellent online Renault 4 Forum. of which I'm a member and would recommend joining to get future advice on where to get spares and looking after it etc.

That said. the surprising thing about the Renault is just how well it drives.   The steering is positive with good feel. and stirring the dash mounted gear lever about is great.   It's like driving while holding a mug of tea!  Third back into second is done elbow up or elbow down. elbow down being preferred if you have a passenger or there may be a elbow / face interaction! The brakes are pretty strong and pull the car up nice and straight. and it's got a decent ride similar to the 2cv with long travel and ultra soft damping that makes things like cattle grids barely noticeable.   The car is also practical too with a full mini estate body and fully folding back seat that converts it into a little van. easily capable of getting something like a washing machine in.   Perfect then for fitting in the accompanying spares pack!

Getting onto the spares. I have amassed a few bits that I will put in with the car.   The list of bits (from memory. there may be one or two other odds and sods too):

The de GTL'd bits. so plastic front grille. grey/beige door handles (two damaged). grey boot handle. grey front love handles and original front / rear bumpersSecond pair of rusty bumpers front and rear and full set of bumper ironsOne plastic wing mirror and original blanking plate for passenger door.   Original rear boot lid badgex5 original GTL wheels with duff tyresOriginal grey interior trim (damaged drivers seat cover) set and set of grey door cardsDismantled beige backseat with all fittings. back seat cover and set of beige doorcardsRadio console moulding. and one front door pocketx2 Front trim piece to put numberplate on front bumperSome spare wheelnut covers. a pair of new pedal rubbers (unless I fit them before sale)

So if this car is so great. why am I selling it?  Firstly. I love this car. it is quirky. fun to drive. overwhelmingly French and as someone who gets excited by cars that retain original features like factory paint it should be top of my keep list.   I am trying to thin my car collection down to manageable levels given that I 'd like to buy a property and my budget generally doesn't stretch much past one allocated parking space!  Therefore much as I like the little Renault. I like my equally original and patinated 2cv more.   That said. I really want this car to go to a good home. and ideally that means you have the ability to store it under cover year round. some mechanical aptitude to keep it in good fettle and are prepared to use it only sparingly in poor weather / winter which will help it keep going.   After all. she is an old lady and deserves some looking after!

Anyway. I think it represents an unusual opportunity to purchase an original desirable RHD GTL model that is in immediately usable condition. with decent paperwork history and has a great nicely cared for original patina that is pretty much irreplaceable.   I have put on the car what I believe to be a reasonable reserve. given that so few decent RHD R4's come up for sale it is actually hard to accurately value them.   In terms of ebay practicalities. the car is based in the village of Kimpton. near St Albans in Hertfordshire.   I expect the winning bidder to pay cash on collection which works for everyone. with contact made post auction by call to my mobile (07765 713967) or emailing me through ebay within 24 hours of auction end. and collection / payment made within 7 days of auction end.   Any questions or if you'd like to view then call on the number above. or ask seller a question.   Thanks. for reading the ad and best of luck! 

 

Also published at eBay.co.uk

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