Antiques

ROCKING RENAULT

Richard Bromell ASFAV, Charterhouse Auctioneers

1977 Renault 4 £7,000-£9,000 being sold by Charterhouse on 6th July

As I have rambled on here before I am a complete petrol-head despite running an electric car. One of my responsibilities at Charterhouse is being head honcho of the classic and vintage car and motorcycle departments. There is nothing more I like than to visit clients to help and advise on their precious vehicles, hearing about their travels and adventures they have had with them or hearing about the trials and tribulations they have had restoring their motors along with the time and effort it took to find that last missing piece of trim.

Many of the purchases made at our vehicle auctions are driven by nostalgia. It was the car or bike you had when you were younger or could not afford, one your mum, dad, uncle or aunt owned which brought back memories or even one you crashed. Entered into our next classic car auction at Haynes International Motor Museum on 6th July is a car which has brought some memories flooding back.

For many years, my dad was a fan of Renault cars. My first memory of the family car was in the late 1960s with a Renault 8. This was a somewhat strange car even to me back then with its engine in the boot. Dad then progressed to a Renault 16 in about 1971. A much larger car, dad liked the idea of the bench seat to keep all the kids under control. Sadly this was written off in an accident by Skipper’s pub on Horsecastles in the mid-70s (not his fault I must add!) and was replaced by another hatchback – a VW Golf.

He kept the Golf for a few years but Renault brought out a new model – the 18 – and he was tempted back. Not a great family car for us as it was a four-door saloon. Fine for the kids but Leo the Springer Spaniel bounced around wet and muddy on the cloth upholstery, so dad bought another Renault just to take the dog out on walkies, a hatchback Renault 4.

This Renault 4 was easily spotted in and around Sherborne due to its bright yellow paintwork and was affectionately known as the Yellow Peril, and it is a Renault 4 in the classic car auction which has brought back happy memories for me.

The 4 was a good seller for Renault with some 8 million sold. Despite this, they are rarely seen on the roads today, probably due to being attacked by tinworm (or rust). The Renault 4 we have in the auction is from 1977, painted in metallic bronze with a tan interior and has travelled just 45,000 miles in 45 years.

Estimated at £7,000-£9,000 I’m not too sure Mrs B will want me to buy this to carry my Spaniel around in though!