New to Renault 4

[quatrelle87]

Am on the brink of buying my first Renault 4. It’s a 4 TL, 1988. Has a full CT (MOT), has been serviced and has a new set of tyres. Priced at 1500 euros. From the description and the photos I’ve seen it looks solid. Obviously I need to look at it in the flesh, but the only obvious rust from the photos appears to be just above the rear left side wing.
I’ve done my research, have read up on what to look out for, and hope to view the car this week. It’s for sale at a local classic car dealer not far from me in France, so I’ll be able to see it up on a ramp and get a good look at the chassis, etc.
Fingers crossed all goes well and I’ll soon be the owner of a bright orange Renault 4!

 

[benchseat]

Interesting that R4s are now considered classic even in France. The places to look at are the four corners of the chassis, base and sidemembers immediately behind/in front of the respective wheels. Also the points where the rear suspension is attached to the chassis.

If you buy the car it would be as well to pour Waxoyl into the chassis sidemembers and rear crossmember (undo a bolt holding down the bodywork and pour through the hole) to reduce the chance of further corrosion (admittedly the weather/road salt situation is better in France than in the UK but my brother lives very near you and he says the weather has been terrible).

 

[montenegro]

looks like an ex departmental vehicle so was prob well serviced ! good luck

 

[Cornish4]

4Ls have been classed as classic cars for sometime in France, you only have to look in the 4L Magazine to see that the French are very proud of the Quatrelle, and many of them have been restored to a very high standard. Our forum member Snoppy74 is a good example. This TL looks good, great colour, and I hope you find it so, so very good luck with your prospective purchase, and welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of 4L ownership. Regards Brian.

 

[quatrelle87]

Thanks for all your advice. Hope to able to report some good news soon.
The car is an ex DDE vehicle, so, as pointed out, should have a good service history and would have been well maintained.
Very useful tips throughout the forum - a great place to search for help and advice.

 

[quatrelle87]

Missed it by one day! Sold!! The hunt continues. Although, the same garage has a R4 F4, 1987. Might take a look at that. More news soon.

 

[quatrelle87]

Went to see this 1987 F4 today. Has stood in a garage for 14 years, since it finished it's job for the Mairie (Town Hall) in a nearby village. Bodywork in good condition, chassis solid and floor pretty good (never been welded - just one small patch to sort out). Engine runs, but needs recommissioning.

As the F4 hasn't had the work done yet, therefore not ready to drive, the garage owner let me take the orange R4 out for a drive that he sold to someone else last weekend - great fun.

Looking forward to hearing more from the garage soon on how work on the F4 goes ... before I make my final decision about buying it.