Buying a Renault 4 in Portugal

[malcolm]

I read an article recently where a Portugese guy restored an early 1970s Renault 4. All he had to do was repaint the car - it didn't seem to need any other work. It's got me thinking it could be a good idea to pop over there to buy one of their nice sunny climate rust free cars (with a bench front seat of course).

I've been looking on the internet for adverts for Portugese Renault 4s but I can't seem to find any. How are the cars advertised? Do they only appear in classified advertisements in the local newspapers?

I gather there is some interest in Renault 4s over there. Is there an enthusiast that can help me?

:clementi:

 

[tasheido]

Not an expert but Portuguese

Hi Clementine well here in portugal people usually put a paper on the car window with someting like 'for sale' and a phone number, probably you guys over there do the same. Also we have a free ad paper with a good auto section some 4L's show up there. And we also have a online auction site pretty much like ebay.

the free ad paper has an online version here's the URL already pointing to the renault's (sorry the ads are in portuguese but i think you'll figure out the details)

http://www.ocasiao.pt/conteudos/index.cfm?accao=ListarRegistos&Cate_ID=248&Pagina=3

the auction site is this one

http://www.miau.pt/motores/categorias/categoria.jsp?prop1=10001&prop2=10671

you'll defenetelly have trouble withe the language, but if you need any help send me a mail i'll translate it for you.

 

[malcolm]

Thanks for the links tasheido.

Looks like the prices are slightly lower than in the UK, and the cars are generally newer (and presumably less rusty). There was a 1992 Savanne on the free ad website with a 5 speed gearbox (according to Google's translation).

Importing the cars wouldn't be too difficult, but I suppose a trip to Portugal would have to be thought of as a holiday as the trip would probably cost as much as the car.

 

[tasheido]

Usually the late models don't have severe rust problems. Mine was a service car, like many 4L's in Portugal. It had a rust problem under the trim but was fixed. I also agree that the prices are lower since there are more 4L's available, they are not yet considered a rarity like the beetles and the 2CV or even the mini.

Some things i would consider if i planned on buing.

1- The insurance Problem (caught with no insurance..biiig problem)
2- The car registration (i have no idea how that would be since you are not Portuguese and i dont know how foreign buys are taken care of)

Here the police check if the registration name and address matches the drivers licence and the insurance. if not, a good explanation is in order or else you're in for a ticket

3- Will she be in good condition to make the trip back?

Besides that it would be a fun adventure! driving all the way back to England.

Oh and the translation was correct. the white savanne is in setubal wich is a 30 minute drive from here actually. 5 speed gearbox ( i wonder if he considers reverse as an extra speed ) has 4 seatbelts, portuguese MOT, Laureate tyre mounts 145/70/13 and he might throw in some aluminium tyre mounts ATS 135x13 that's what the ad said.