Hello
This is my first posting to this forum. I am a long-term Renault owner, having stripped and repaired more than one Renault over the years but alas I don't have the time any more to keep this old fellow in good condition. I can see from this forum that there a many people who, like us, find these old cars charming.
"Olliver" ("Ollie" for short) is a boy, first-registered in January 1973 which makes him 36 years old. Unfortunately, when the rules for "classic" cars were changed so that only cars "manufactured" before 1st January 1973 are eligible, we were unable to prove that Ollie was manufactured before January as the registration certificate states first date of registration as 18th January 1973. Renault claimed to have "lost" any documentation from Billancourt which might prove date of manufacture (although it is obvious he rolled out of the factory some time in 1972). Perhaps his new owner might be more successful in pursuing this question and obtaining the discount on Road Tax?
New owner? Might that be you? Perhaps you are interested in some more details about his history. We purchased him in 1991 from his third (or fourth, we're not quite sure and neither was he) owner who only had him a few months before deciding that Renault 4s were not for him. At that time Ollie had only done about 33,000 miles. Apparently, the first owner drove him very little and left him in a garage for more than ten years which explains why it took him 18 years to do those first 33,000. We drove him all over Kent and a lot of England until his engine blew a head gasket at 98,000 miles (in 1994). We had him completely overhauled including a new engine and a number of new body panels and now, 12 years later, he has done another 50,000 miles which means that his engine has at least another 50,000 to go. His body has had a lot of work and he just passed an MOT inspection. I have a huge bundle of papers showing every repair and service he has had since 1991.
There is a bit of rust in the body panels but nothing which can't be dealt with by an enthusiast. The chassis is sound (big welding job in 2007) although there is a bit of rust in the (incredibly clean) engine compartment. Anyone who has had a Renault this old (and I have had several) will know that fighting rust is the primary task in keeping it on the road. We keep Ollie in a closed garage and have barely driven him more than 100 miles per year for the last five years.
Now, sadly, we have to admit to having no time to keep this going and would love to see our old friend go to a new home with someone who has the time and interest to look after him in the manner to which he has become accustomed. I have posted a set of images of Olliver at
http://www.john.robinson.dsl.pipex.com/olliver/
From my reading of this forum, a car this old in this condition should be worth somewhere between £1,250 and £2,000 (unless his exceptional age carries a premium for someone -- or maybe that means he is worth somewhat less because of the effort to maintain him). I would be very happy to exchange e-mails with you if you think you are interested in giving the old fellow a new home. Or perhaps there can be a discussion on this thread about what such a vehicle might be worth. We are not looking to profit, just agree a reasonable price for transfer to somewhere dry and comfortable. The MOT lasts a year and current Road Tax is good until end of May 2009 so he can be driven away.
You can e-mail me directly at
ollie@johnrobinson.org.uk
or post to this forum.
Thanks for looking.
This is my first posting to this forum. I am a long-term Renault owner, having stripped and repaired more than one Renault over the years but alas I don't have the time any more to keep this old fellow in good condition. I can see from this forum that there a many people who, like us, find these old cars charming.
"Olliver" ("Ollie" for short) is a boy, first-registered in January 1973 which makes him 36 years old. Unfortunately, when the rules for "classic" cars were changed so that only cars "manufactured" before 1st January 1973 are eligible, we were unable to prove that Ollie was manufactured before January as the registration certificate states first date of registration as 18th January 1973. Renault claimed to have "lost" any documentation from Billancourt which might prove date of manufacture (although it is obvious he rolled out of the factory some time in 1972). Perhaps his new owner might be more successful in pursuing this question and obtaining the discount on Road Tax?
New owner? Might that be you? Perhaps you are interested in some more details about his history. We purchased him in 1991 from his third (or fourth, we're not quite sure and neither was he) owner who only had him a few months before deciding that Renault 4s were not for him. At that time Ollie had only done about 33,000 miles. Apparently, the first owner drove him very little and left him in a garage for more than ten years which explains why it took him 18 years to do those first 33,000. We drove him all over Kent and a lot of England until his engine blew a head gasket at 98,000 miles (in 1994). We had him completely overhauled including a new engine and a number of new body panels and now, 12 years later, he has done another 50,000 miles which means that his engine has at least another 50,000 to go. His body has had a lot of work and he just passed an MOT inspection. I have a huge bundle of papers showing every repair and service he has had since 1991.
There is a bit of rust in the body panels but nothing which can't be dealt with by an enthusiast. The chassis is sound (big welding job in 2007) although there is a bit of rust in the (incredibly clean) engine compartment. Anyone who has had a Renault this old (and I have had several) will know that fighting rust is the primary task in keeping it on the road. We keep Ollie in a closed garage and have barely driven him more than 100 miles per year for the last five years.
Now, sadly, we have to admit to having no time to keep this going and would love to see our old friend go to a new home with someone who has the time and interest to look after him in the manner to which he has become accustomed. I have posted a set of images of Olliver at
http://www.john.robinson.dsl.pipex.com/olliver/
From my reading of this forum, a car this old in this condition should be worth somewhere between £1,250 and £2,000 (unless his exceptional age carries a premium for someone -- or maybe that means he is worth somewhat less because of the effort to maintain him). I would be very happy to exchange e-mails with you if you think you are interested in giving the old fellow a new home. Or perhaps there can be a discussion on this thread about what such a vehicle might be worth. We are not looking to profit, just agree a reasonable price for transfer to somewhere dry and comfortable. The MOT lasts a year and current Road Tax is good until end of May 2009 so he can be driven away.
You can e-mail me directly at
ollie@johnrobinson.org.uk
or post to this forum.
Thanks for looking.
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