Renault Goelette / 2067

[Matt-A24]

Hi there,

I'm out to find a bit of info on the old 4wd Goelette's. I've not been able to turn up much, mostly thanks to the language barrier, so I thought I'd try my luck here.

So, does anyone here know much about the 4wd Goelettes? Or even drive one?

I'd love to know about any common faults, parts shortages, rust traps, etc? What sort of consumption and cruising speed they manage? Is there a scene in France that keeps the spares in circulation? What are they like to drive? What's the 4wd like?

If you're curious, I'm interested in Goelettes because I'm after a bigish van that's tax exempt and has 4wd, and there are very few vehicles that sit in that space. I currently drive old Bedford CFs which I love to bits. It's a bigish van that's tax exempt, but of course not 4wd.

Work sometimes demands that 4wd, and If I can find something that suits, I'm even willing to hang up my imperial spanners and sit on the wrong side of the cab

Many thanks for any info you might be able to provide,

Matt

 

[Tomcat]

There is a 1963 Goelette Ambulance on ebay at the moment.
Item number 291564269444
Maybe of interest?
Regards
Tom

 

[Matt-A24]

Hi Tomcat,

I did look at that one, but for obvious reasons of relative scarcity, it looks like you spend a bit less if you buy in France.

It also seems that if one is buying something that ancient, it may as well be 3 years older and benefit from the MOT exemption.

But by the looks of it, nobody in these parts into their Goelettes?

Matt

 

[pepper]

I like the look of them and missed the chance a few years ago to buy one which had a Transit Di engine in it.
However I suspect it would have sounded awful as the Di engine is the noisiest motor I've ever known.

 

[R2087]

Hello there, I left a post on an old thread last year : see here: http://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/threads/renault-goelette-truck-4x4-ex-army.2267/
I am part of the only forum/group in France specialised in that family of vehicules (R2067 and R2087) but even if a few of us speaks English, we do everything in French :-)
you can find us here : www.r2087.com but mostly on the forum on http://www.r2087.com/forum/index.php
We have scans of technical documentations, tutorials, advices, adresses of suppliers and also a lot of jokes in the middle. True, this is not easy for non French speakers. We have members in Belgium and Germany.

There a quite a lot being sold on the French market but one has to be careful as some are just worth for spare parts. One of us just sold an ambulance to one of your countryman and it will be driven to UK next month so this is possible. On the forum, we have a quick judgment call of all units on sale (bad deal, good deal) as we are detecting all ads (best site is leboncoin.fr rather than eBay)

to answer your some of your questions :

to buy a R2067 or R2087, you must pay more attention to the body than to the mechanical part as mechanical issues can almost always be resolved. This is especially true for the ambulance version. They are more difficult to find than torpedo version (at least in good condition)
they are still plenty of parts either old, renovated or remanufactured, we do initiate from time to time operations of remanufacturing for our members (however not mandatorily limited to them) whether body or mechanical parts when it is entirely missing. The engine has been widely used in different models (Fregate, 1000kg, etc..) so there is plenty of things still around so this rarely needed (last example: the wooden steps of the cabin..).
However there are a very few cases where parts are impossible to find unless taking apart a wreck, the issue is more to get suppliers to sell to UK addresses than anything else.

Performances : they can easily do 50/55 km/h (35mph) average speeed on normal roads, they can reach 75/80km/h (50mph) of cruising speed, consumption will be between 13 and 20 l /100km (I let you do the conversion on mpg:-)) but this depends of the engine you will have (2l or 2.2l) and the carburetor on the engine that you will have, you are in 4x2 or 4x4, the type of driving you do, etc... Personnally, I do 14.5 liter on normal roads, 17l in town.

Driving them is fun but not for faint-hearted (no power steering), just be prepared for the noise and the roughness of the suspension especially on torpedo and when unladen !!, 4x4 is very good (not to be used too much on surfaced roads however as you might brake semi-axles)

Last, a unit in good (running) condition in France is worth no more than 3000 euros, in mint condition 4000. Depending on how much you want to work on it. I would stay away of anything below 1500 euros unless you are ready for a major renovation work. Below 1000 is mostly for spare parts.

see our last annual gathering video where you will see some 4x4 action :

Hope this helps
let me know if I can help further

 

[R2087]

I have looked at the one in the ad, looks quite "clean", you might find one cheaper in France but remember that the trip back will cost you a bunch just in gas...and for the channel crossing
what the guy says in the ad on the vehicule seems spot-on. The brake issue might not be serious however I would check it before doing anything.
The first thing is that the ambulance in good condition (ie similar to that one) is rare even in France so it can take a while before finding one that would suit you.

 

[Tomcat]

R2087
Thank you for your posts. Very informative.
If I was a lot younger I think I would have gone for the ebay Ambulance.
Sadly old age is here to stay so I look on.
Regards

 

[Matt-A24]

Hi R2087,

Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions! I've learnt more from your post than from the rest of the internet so far.

3000 EUR to 4000 EUR is around my budget for a new van, so hopefully I can get a nice one. Are these prices the same for the ambulance and truck versions? I'm also interested in a truck Goelette as I can build my own box on the back.

I currently drive a '73 Bedford CF. I cruise at about 70-90 km/h and get about 14l/100km so the goelette isn't so different. No power steering too.

I can read and write a little French, so I'll join your forum and say hello. Does anyone ever sell their truck on the forum?

Many many thanks for your help!

Matt

 

[R2087]

You're welcome

Prices are roughly the same for both, it is then a matter of conditions
Some of our members have built boxes on the back of their "Torpedo" so yes this could be also a good option



forum members selling : yes it could happen,
we have an ad section (petites annonces), there are some vehicles at this time although they may not be from regular members

Please join (go in second section then post in "presentations")
if you use the same id than here, I will recognize you, mine is Voltigeur, I will help you around

 

[R2087]

R2087
Thank you for your posts. Very informative.
If I was a lot younger I think I would have gone for the ebay Ambulance.
Sadly old age is here to stay so I look on.
Regards

you're welcome Tomcat
I can understand, it is a nice vehicle but it is a rough one, probably the van that is the closest to a truck, oops, lorry :-)

 

[R2087]

here is my Torpedo in action, both from outside and inside

By the way, I am a former Renault employee but still a great fan and participated to the launch of the Master and Trafic ranges in the UK back in 1981

 

[R2087]

the one that was brought back recently from France is now for sale

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C680 ... yI.twitter

 

[Michael Goelette]

the one that was brought back recently from France is now for sale

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C680 ... yI.twitter

Ha R2087...that's only about 25 miles from me.

 

[Michael Goelette]

Renault Gentlemen....not sure if l'm in the right section here...l know some things about technology, so that makes me dangerous but l'm real good at digging holes.
Pictures of axle oil problem asked for by R2087.
Is the plug shown the oil level plug.
Cannot see a drain plug
l assume the tube at the top is a breather...the front axle seems to have a slotted screw.

 

[R2087]

I am not coming on this forum that often, sorry for my late reply
go on my good friend John's blog, hopefully with Google translation you can manage as it is in French (vidange = drain, ponts = axles)


http://r2087.blog4ever.com/transmissions-vidange-ponts

by the way, there is a lot of other tutorials that might interest you on that blog

 

[Michael Goelette]

I am not coming on this forum that often, sorry for my late reply
go on my good friend John's blog, hopefully with Google translation you can manage as it is in French (vidange = drain, ponts = axles)


http://r2087.blog4ever.com/transmissions-vidange-ponts

by the way, there is a lot of other tutorials that might interest you on that blog

Merci R2087...understood and will give it a try..

 

[Michael Goelette]

Bonjour R2087
At first the computer could translate...but not anymore...probably down to me.
Not to worry, have achieved change of oils...but a bad leak from the front seal of the transfer box has been discovered...need to get a seal.
Le Hulk starts instantly now and runs smooth. Greased all the nipples except 2 rear ball joints on the steering....just cannot get any grease through.
Handbrake cables greased up and operate smoothly....unseized the clevis pins also along with the large lever assembly for the transfer box.
Installed a 24 Volt alternator from a DAF but having a spot of trouble with wiring....ammeter not registering and warning light not extinguishing...mmmh.
Funnily l discovered the coil is 12 Volt and the feed runs from just one battery(rear one).
More to do before confident for longer journeys.
l'd better dismantle the front housing of the transfer box tomorrow morning.
Regards Michael

 

[John Kessler]

TORPEDO GUYS>>>
Just got the 2067 Torpedo on the road, though without turn sig pots. Located in Florida. Some say it is the only one in USA. True? Brought it in from France last Dec. Painful and expensive. 45078 km Countless small and large projects done.
Ideas on the wheelwells in the bed...wheel travel cannot possibly enter the wells. How about removing them? I plan to do so. They are badly dented and useless except for sitting.
Found original tag numbers under layers of paint. Corresponds to research for 1950s Gendarmerie. I have made all markings (self-adhesive) and will apply them Last Thing.
Also need to know what spotlight was used on Gendarmerie vehicles. I am assembling a correct uniform for Algeria 1956.
Also what is small bracket drivers side on corner bottom of cast windshield frame?
Also why 2 tapped holes in drivers side upper hinge?
John Kessler
Ft. Lauderdale

 

[R2087]

I'm back, sorry I did not think to come back here for a long time
To Michael : saw your ad on our R2087 forum, I will try to help you find the seals you are looking for
To John Kessler : if you could provide pictures of the parts you have questions about (wheelwells and last two points), it would be helpful, not sure of what you meant, if you also come back on the R2087 forum, we could maybe help there

 

[Rustyoldjcb]

I'm back, sorry I did not think to come back here for a long time
To Michael : saw your ad on our R2087 forum, I will try to help you find the seals you are looking for
To John Kessler : if you could provide pictures of the parts you have questions about (wheelwells and last two points), it would be helpful, not sure of what you meant, if you also come back on the R2087 forum, we could maybe help there

Hi,
I have been watching this on Facebook. Is it a Goelette? It has a seized engine so may well need a replacement. Not a lot of spare parts seem to exist in the UK. Are replacement engines available in France?

Thanks!!!