matt b Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Sounds like a Volvo ? It's got Bosch K-jet ignition, it's rear wheel drive, it has a 5 speed slush box.....but it's a mid engine car, it's a 2 seater and it's a ....Renault! Some have already seen it on here, I'll take a few minutes and make a thread about it. I'll update it as I have time to work on the car and bring it back to life. Quick history: 2 owner car, spent the last 20 years in California (was in France prior to that time). Hadn't run in a while after the owner stopped being able to maintain it. No rust, no sign of any body work, very few mods on it. there it is coming off the truck a few weeks ago. The car was mostly dirty and the paint was oxidized. It took a lot of effort, but I knew it had potential: Quick pics in the driveway after rolling it off the truck: Dirty interior: Removed the engine cover to show the belly of the beast: Threw on the TRX wheels and Michelin metric tires on the front: Rears are 285 wide, still running Gotti wheels due to some wheel lock issues (may have finally found an option) The stupid wheel locks that have seized onto the studs after being on the car for 15 years: Paint cleaned up well. Took over a week and some aggressive 3M products, but it's coming along: Plans are to make the car as close to what it was coming off the factory floor in Dieppe, France. I'd like to show it and ideally, I'd like to keep it as a way of promoting my company. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikS Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Very cool Matt, congratulations. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt b Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Some more "after pics" showing what I've done over the past few days: Re dyed all the grills, that wasn't fun. Waiting on fresh upholstery: Here is what a 285 wide tire looks like. The 2 yr old wants to keep it, as does the 5 yr old: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 That's Awesome!!! Very cool - looks like a Rally R5? Look forward to more pics of the progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oreo931 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Awesome Looking forward to updates. I also like how it arrived in the same carrier as the Ferrari :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colbert Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Very nice one, this is pretty rare, even in France. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack8745 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 great find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt b Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Pulled the engine heat shields off and found some not so good stuff: Cracked exhaust manifold where someone added an O2 sensor. Fortunately, found this for a song: Dyed the leather on the steering wheel, sanded and repainted the spokes: Engine heat shield off for polishing: Heat shield cleaning up well: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt b Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Thanks guys. It had Maseratis and Ferraris on the truck with it, not too shabby. But I used a high end carrier, so not too surprised. This has been a dream car of mine forever. When a client passed on it, I decided to buy it. Hussein, these were made into production so that Renault could qualify for some series of European rallying. In the US, only 20-250 were imported, almost all being Turbo 2's (the 'lesser' ones). I have found a few, in various altered states, but this was the only original one I have found. Next week: bumpers (dye them back to grey), some interior work (re-install relays and clean up dash wiring) and then I'll start on the mechanicals. All K-jet stuff will be overhauled (new lines, injectors, filters, etc...). My goal is to have it ready by the end of my son's school year later this month. I promised I'd take him to school in it at least once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyb5 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Awesome project! That rear view is borderline crazy, those tires look so wide for the car. I'm curious, what do you do for work that you'd use this as a way to promote your company? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt b Posted May 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Awesome project! That rear view is borderline crazy, those tires look so wide for the car. I'm curious, what do you do for work that you'd use this as a way to promote your company? I import cars into the US (TKI's S60 Challenge car was one of my imports) and export cars from the US to Western Europe. I do a lot of Renault and Citroen stuff since I am French. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVL WAGN Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Sooooo much win Matt. I too will one day own my dream car as well. An Escort Cosworth RS LUX. Just like this one....yummy 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emiel Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 A Renault without rust...that's a good start. Great project, good luck with it Matt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjam83 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I saw one of those in a car museum in Germany and completely fell in love with it. Congrats. Did you find it on BAT? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dublin14 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) NICE!! What a rare find!! I grew up in Europe(Ireland) and have alot of family in France. Been to France about 8-9 times over the yrs and have had the pleasure of seeing some of those Turbos done right up. Congrats on a sexy rare car! Ive been importing cars from the US to Canada for customers, but have yet to try anything from Europe like some E36 REAL M3s ect. Again nice find. http://www.youtube.c...feature=related http://www.youtube.c...feature=related Edited May 5, 2011 by dublin14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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