62 La Renault 04/2017 renaultclassiccarclub.com Club Officials Honorary President Gary Creighton 01507 327784 Chairman Mark Pocklington 01507 604371 Vice Chairman Tony Nappin 01329 285160 Club Secretary Tony Topliss 01476 573212 Treasurer Fred Parker 01825 712916 Membership Secretary Fred Parker 01825 712916 La Renault Editor Fred Parker 01825 712916 Registrars & Coordinators 4CV / 750 Robin Redrup 01480 434984 R4 / R6 / Estafette Derek Flavell 07816 586642 R5 Tony Topliss 01476 573212 R5 Turbo / Turbo 2 James Oneill 07715 824815 R8 / R10 Nigel Patten 01276 25426 R16 Paul Draper 01962 793375 R15 / R17 David Kelly 01978 843253 R18 / Fuego Richard Birchenough 01270 764912 Alpine 110 Phil Gardner 01446 710682 Dauphine Malcolm Rogers 01933 357556 Floride / Caravelle Malcolm Rogers 01933 357556 Competition Secretary Nigel Patten 01276 25426 Spares Coordinator Robin Redrup 01480 434984 National Events Len Kiff 01992 420305 Wales Dave Wheeler 02920 309815 Ireland Seamus McElvanna 07751 057707 North West David Austin 07850 656663 Peter Bell 01606 44586 Yorkshire Derek Sparks 01845 597942 Lincoln & Yorkshire Duncan Topliss 01476 563753 East & East Anglia Len Kiff 01992 420305 South East Tony Nappin 01329 285160 2 Editor's Ramblings! [email protected] elcome to Spring! Memo- On the home front, the project to con- ries of the winter are rapidly vert my 10 to automatic is progressing W receding and it is time to but I doubt that it will be ready in time dust off the old Renaults and get them for either Popham or Basingstoke (see up and running for the summer. events). The season starter, Retromobile, was The 5 was bought via eBay back in the even bigger this year and, as it turned summer. Advertised as having covered out, I made the mistake of going on a 125,000 miles it had actually only cov- Saturday. Usually I go during the week ered 12,500 and had a file of old MOTs but since last September I have had to and receipts to prove it. The bodywork drop off and collect my daughter each was in a bit of a state but the engine weekday for her school bus so I had to and gearbox worked really well. While go at the weekend and took eldest son, the 10 has to change from first to sec- Benjamin, with me. I have never seen it ond to third to eventually get to 60 so busy, it was absolutely packed. There mph, the 5 will easily accelerate to 55 in is a walkway between two halls to get to first gear. The changes from the auto the Artcurial auction and it was so box were really smooth and when I crowded it took 10 minutes to cover changed the fluid, after driving home what is a half minute walk. from Hertfordshire, it was as new. 3 Readers’ Rides Tony Nappin arque loyalty is customary its market share in the USA and a visit within the classic scene but by MD Pierre Dryfus and Director of M one reader, Tony Nappin, Research Fernand Picard was arranged really only rides the Gallic glamour in 1956 to ascertain what the French from the brothers Renault. manufacturer should create to satisfy the American market. Renault dealers Floride – Chic French Fancy pushed the idea of a similar concept to There can be no denying that Renault’s the VW approach, requiring an attrac- Dauphine based sportster was ‘tres tive sportster that offered style over belle’ uncluttered Italian styling from power, was easy to drive and fuel effi- Ghia’s Pietro Frua. Chausson produced cient. Over dinner at the Florida Gover- the sculptured panels that were assem- nor’s residence, the Renault executives bled by coachbuilders Brissoneau & arrived at a plan to utilise the Dauphine Lotz. underpinnings (as VW used the Bee- tle’s) in order to reduce production The model was required to break costs. Project 1092 was created and through the American desire for home whilst the name Floride was used to grown talent whilst fending off the recognise the models location of con- European challenge from the likes of ception, the car would actually be VW and its popular Karmann Ghia. The named Caravelle in America. Renault brand was looking to increase 4 By Grant Ford Courtesy: Classic Car Buyer The Paris Motor Show of 1958 featured side air scoops on the previous model Renault’s new concept and enjoyed as the cooling radiator was moved to huge interest with 8,000 orders prior to the rear. Whilst the Caravelle version production. The New York Show in- remained a 2+2 coupe, the Floride S duced similar fascination with a further was essentially a soft top convertible 13,000 pre-production orders taken, with a fold down very occasional rear these alone required Renault to in- seat and an optional hardtop design by crease production from the planned 30 Ghia. The UK buyer of a Floride S fin- cars per day to 200. The Dauphine ished in Kilimanjaro White, with hard- based Floride would be built until 1962 top included, would have paid £1231 by which time the all new Renault 8 12s.9d including tax in 1962. had arrived, offering a similar rear en- gine driving experience but with more African Adventure power and improved handling, this This rather stunning Floride was origi- would become the base for the new nally purchased by a very generous coupe Caravelle and the Floride (S) or husband for his wife whilst the pair va- Speciale. cationed in France. Having spotted Introduced at Geneva in March 1962, several ladies negotiating the streets of the ‘S’ featured the 956cc Sierra engine Paris, roof down and looking glamor- from the Renault 8 and ‘filled-in’ the ous, the couple decided the Floride was 5 Readers’ Rides Tony Nappin for them. There followed a trip to the club magazine and then into the hands factory at Billancourt where the order of restorer and Floride expert Malcolm was placed. The car would have to be Rogers. He confirmed everything was delivered to the husband’s work ad- seized up, the carpets had rotted and dress in Nigeria. the paint offered a totally flat appear- ance, but the low mileage at 9k and The Floride was driven to Liverpool and rarity of the model in RHD made up for loaded onto a cargo vessel for the any problems. Every fluid had turned to 4,500 mile, 19-day trip to Lagos. It re- a foul smelling gunge and the oil in the mained in Africa for four years and cov- sump had become a two-inch layer of ered 9,000 miles before the lady re- tar that required a paint scraper to turned to the UK after the sudden spoon it out. The engine internals death of her husband. Re-registered though showed little signs of wear and the ‘Speciale’ was used sparingly in the Malcolm promised himself a no expense short term before remaining garaged spared restoration, that is what the for the next 38 years. Floride received and why it still looks The garage in London where the Ren- superb 15 years later. ault had been stored was due for Parts came via the impressive talents demolition in 2001 and an advert found of the Renault Classic Car Club, not an its way into the marques classic car easy task when the car was stripped to 6 By Grant Ford Courtesy: Classic Car Buyer the shell and anything replaced had to kindled my enthusiasm to find one, so I be genuine. Three years later the origi- contacted the Renault Classic Car Club’ nal engine, gearbox and drive train he explained. were all refitted, new carpets were the only requirement on the interior. Even Once in-touch with Malcolm Rogers the the door cards and seating had sur- pair had spent a couple of hours talking vived, just requiring many hours of old Renaults, especially Florides and gentle cleaning before returning to Caravelles; Malcolm agreed to pass on their original locations. Once completed any prospects that came his way. A few it was generally accepted as one of the days later Tony received another call best examples available, not just in the from Malcolm with the suggestion that UK but across the globe. his Floride S could be available for sale. ‘I couldn’t believe how good it was Right Place, Right Time when I first set eyes on her, pristine to look at and a pleasure to drive’ thus Tony Nappin had already looked at one the Floride headed south to Portsmouth Floride, via an eBay advert but it wasn’t eight years ago, at that time having the right car; ‘I was looking to re- travelled 14,200 miles under its own create my mid-sixties experience in power. Tony considers himself very for- 2008 I suppose and although the first tunate to have got the chance, thrilled one required too much work, it re- with his umpteenth Renault ‘it was just 7 Readers’ Rides Tony Nappin a case of the right phone call, at the There aren’t many better places to be right moment, for the right car’. than behind the wrap-around screen of the Floride on a summer’s day, roof Tony has become part of the Renault down and enjoying the country lanes. Classic Car Club taking over as Vice The rear mounted 4 cylinder engine Chairman and the Floride is a regular humming away behind you with just on the show circuit across the south, 51bhp on tap, this Renault was never usually winning any trophies on offer. designed for the traffic light GP but for Speciale Test Drive the enjoyment of driving, and it deliv- ers that in abundance.