It took me 4 years to persuade Lesley to consider buying a house in France, she capitulated 6 months before the Brexit vote and by which time we were were the proud owners of a Midi-Pyrenees property and a rapidly emptying Credit Agricole bank account. Doom and gloom aside, a happy coincidence was a French plated, LHD 1984 Renault 4 GTL hiding in the barn and which I had anticipated being removed prior to the Acte de Vente. I know very little about these motors except I love the retro boxy styling and the column change. Bit of research suggests that the english counterparts rot sepctacularly and so far I can't find any rust, even in the hidden parts behind the rear suspension. The interior, however is quite tatty and the bodywork looks like it hasn't seen a polishing cloth since the day it left the dealers showroom. On the plus side it's 154,000 K/M motor started with a revived battery, it ticks over and selects all its gears although the brakes, which I think are all drum, require a hefty boot to inflict any degradation of the forward momentum. As far as the CT is concerned, it needs at least 4 new tyres, an offiside driveshaft gaitor and I suspect the ash tray at least partially emptied. Is the gaitor a relatively easy task? I do work on my cars (2.2 DCi Xtrail) but I'm more used to stripping and rebuilding motorcycles and the surprisingly English Haynes manual I found in the boot suggests the use of special tools to access said gaitor. A few photos of the 'babe magnet' attached.
- Thread starter Fentible
- Start date
Paul Narramore
pre-moderated
- Messages
- 840
- Location
- Aylesford, Kent
Oh hold on Fentible, how many questions are you asking?
Beret - there is an excellent website devoted to the French or Catalan beret, important as there now remains one solitary manufacturer in France. It gives advice as to how to wear it (pulled forward or sideways) and how to buy the correct size. Black is essential and colours are for tourists. It also seems the average Frenchman just doesn't get our humour when referring to the beret.
Onions - any market.
Stripey tee shirt - lots of shops in St.Malo, popular with the T word.
Driveshaft gaiter - I refer your Honour to the appropriate section in Haynes.
Bon sour, mon ami.
Beret - there is an excellent website devoted to the French or Catalan beret, important as there now remains one solitary manufacturer in France. It gives advice as to how to wear it (pulled forward or sideways) and how to buy the correct size. Black is essential and colours are for tourists. It also seems the average Frenchman just doesn't get our humour when referring to the beret.
Onions - any market.
Stripey tee shirt - lots of shops in St.Malo, popular with the T word.
Driveshaft gaiter - I refer your Honour to the appropriate section in Haynes.
Bon sour, mon ami.
reidalpine
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 1,696
Welcome to the forum-we're all a serious bunch on here........
Doesn't berets grow on beret-trees near you Fentible?? If they do you just cut the little stalk (at top) off hang it to dry and next thursday
you can pick up some garlic to hang from interiour-mirror and you're as french as they come..
Oh-and What on earth do you mean by "retro boxy styling" I think what you mean to say is is sleek/sexy with a slippery slopey derriere-No?
-Reid.
Doesn't berets grow on beret-trees near you Fentible?? If they do you just cut the little stalk (at top) off hang it to dry and next thursday
you can pick up some garlic to hang from interiour-mirror and you're as french as they come..
Oh-and What on earth do you mean by "retro boxy styling" I think what you mean to say is is sleek/sexy with a slippery slopey derriere-No?
-Reid.
reidalpine
Enthusiast
- Messages
- 1,696
Oh -just an afterthought. if next time back in Blighty if you make a nuisance of yourself outside the local waterhole
and gets to spend some time in one of HM-lock-ups I think they supply a stripey T-shirt for free..... -Reid.
and gets to spend some time in one of HM-lock-ups I think they supply a stripey T-shirt for free..... -Reid.
Paul, thank you for the tips.................Jaunty angle is my preferred wearing style. Reidalpine, never considered a freshly cut beret, advice duly noted as is the Renault's styling description. Having spent almost 40 years in HM service (correct side of bars) unfortunately stripey shirts are no longer available.
Looking forward to getting down and intimate with my 4
Looking forward to getting down and intimate with my 4