Remember the Renault 5 Gordini?
Discussion
I had a fantastic little blue Gordini then a less reliable but slightly quicker Gordini turbo.
I got to drive the Turbo 2 (fat arches, rear engine) recently and that was pretty special too.
The latest Clio Cup and Clio V6 are similar in spirit but "they don't make em like they used to"
(probably just as well!!)
I got to drive the Turbo 2 (fat arches, rear engine) recently and that was pretty special too.
The latest Clio Cup and Clio V6 are similar in spirit but "they don't make em like they used to"
(probably just as well!!)
The 5G was lots of fun, The turbo wasn't so much fun (torque steer), but could be maid more reliable with an intercooler and the same or lower boost.
Very Good ones do turn up occasionally an cost around £ 1,500. Engine parts are available but trim is in short supply. Although the engines themselves are becoming more difficult to pick up as they are bought to fit in A110 Alpines.
Very Good ones do turn up occasionally an cost around £ 1,500. Engine parts are available but trim is in short supply. Although the engines themselves are becoming more difficult to pick up as they are bought to fit in A110 Alpines.
Ah but the Renault 10 Gordini (and the R8 before it)was the more peculiar looking beast. And the R12 seemed to be exciting in it's time.
Way back in what must have been '74 or '75 I was at Le Mans doing some promotional stuff and had some contact with a guy who had some influence in the higher echelons of the sport at the time and had borrowed an R12 Gordini for the weekend to commute between the track and his country house about 50 Kms away.
There was a significant amount of entertaining going on and the end of day 1 he got into the R12 and drove home shall we say - happy.
Day 2 continued in the same vein but more so. Off he went rather rapidly at the end of the day.
Day 3 and things were really warming up entertainment wise. I don't think R12's were supposed to be capable of what he achieved when he left.
Race day he stayed for the duration. No idea about the style of leaving when it finished - we were too busy partying and packing up!
Happy days.
Way back in what must have been '74 or '75 I was at Le Mans doing some promotional stuff and had some contact with a guy who had some influence in the higher echelons of the sport at the time and had borrowed an R12 Gordini for the weekend to commute between the track and his country house about 50 Kms away.
There was a significant amount of entertaining going on and the end of day 1 he got into the R12 and drove home shall we say - happy.
Day 2 continued in the same vein but more so. Off he went rather rapidly at the end of the day.
Day 3 and things were really warming up entertainment wise. I don't think R12's were supposed to be capable of what he achieved when he left.
Race day he stayed for the duration. No idea about the style of leaving when it finished - we were too busy partying and packing up!
Happy days.
longq said:
Ah but the Renault 10 Gordini (and the R8 before it)was the more peculiar looking beast. And the R12 seemed to be exciting in it's time.
Actually they didn't make a 10 Gordini, although a few were made privately out of accident damage 8Gs and standard 10s.
The 8G was very impressive and won an amazing number of european rallies. But here it was overshadowd by the Lotus cortina and Mini Coopers.
8Gs are now getting expensive.
12Gs are rare here as they were all private imports (all LHD). They certainly went well but suffered real understeer.
In France during the early 60s, Renault ran the one make race championship the 'coup gordini' (I think). Initially for the 1100 cc 8G then in 66(ish) with the 1300cc version. every Franch racingdriver took part.
It also went to a few other countries (can't remember which) and notable names like Jody Schecter took part.
In the early 70s the 12G took over, but They only ever lapped faster than the 8g at 1 very fast french circuit (so I've been told).
Amedee Gordini (of the Grand Prix team) was involved in the Dauphine Gordini and the 8Gordini but had no involvement with the 12 or 5 versions (the 5 Gordini was called the 5 Alpine in the rest of europe, due to Chrysler having the rights to the name Alpine inj the UK (which is odd as Rolls Royce had used the name long before them!)).
Sorry if I've bored any/everyone!!
>> Edited by Alpineandy on Wednesday 23 February 14:18
Alpineandy said:
Ah but the Renault 10 Gordini (and the R8 before it)was the more peculiar looking beast. And the R12 seemed to be exciting in it's time.
Actually they didn't make a 10 Gordini, although a few were made privately out of accident damage 8Gs and standard 10s.
.... and lots of other interesting history
I'll take your word about the R10 version. Sure I saw a few around but th idea of unofficial lash ups or 'made to look like' conversions could account for them.
I had a normal R12 as a company car for about a year. Interesting drive and I quite enjoyed what you could do with it. Did a tour of Scotland one year and driving around a very wet Edinburgh one evening looking for somewhere to stay (middle of the Festival, a fact that had passed us by when we decided to stop there for the night) there was an almight crack from somewhere that made us all jump. Don't know what had caused it but the heated rear screen had shattered.
Managed to find a dealer with one in stock and got it changed the next morning.
Later I had R4's and 6's as company drivers (Training course for re-fitting the gearchange mechanism was compulsory) and then a really sweet R14 for a while. Cracking little car.
Also an R18 which could also motor if you set your mind to it.
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