Classic Renault run from Welwyn Garden City to Hitchin. (Herts UK) In a 1971 Renault 10 1300. It was brought from Ireland 3 years ago with only 13800 miles on the clock and has since been restored to "as new" condition.
I had a R-8 (shorter front end) while in college in the United States in the late 1960’s. I bought it for $550 and it had 68k miles on it. I lived in Corvallis Oregon. I took it all over, even to Vancouver BC, Canada. I was reliable, always started and took me where I wanted to go. Averaged 30mpg too. Loved that car.
Oh! To just have a simple, basic car such as this! No bells, whistles, gadgets, or annoying computer voices! Living in Florida air conditioning would be nice, but I could learn to live without it.
I owned a 1970 R10 in the early 80s. It was an 1100cc version with push button automatic transmission. It used a ferromagnetic clutch coupler system with a big box of relays mounted in the front trunk. And it had a reversible servo motor on the transmission which was utilized to shift gears on essentially a 3-speed manual gearbox (but automatic to the user). It even throttled down automatically on shift. It was like a manual embedded computer system before the age of semiconductor electronics, and used primitive sensor tech in an inexpensive economy car. It was a cool car for its time. Renault did a lot of interesting innovation with this low cost vehicle. There were some quirks for sure but the engine was rock solid.
I learned to drive on the R-8 and R-10. They were were easy to drive, had excellent handling and were among the most comfortable cars I have ever driven, with extremely comfortable seats. The seat backs on the R-10 could be lowered horizontal so that one could use them as a bed to sleep on. Of course, they were both rear-engined so one had to become accustomed to the handling peculiarities of per-engine cars, which include susceptibility to crosswinds and a tendency to oversteer. However, I never experienced any handling problems with these Renault's. In snow they preformed brilliantly, never getting stuck in snow.
Taken to school about 1975 1976 in one of these,remember it vividly for the rear engine and warmed up much quicker than my Dads Cortina..even remember those sounds.
My first car in Australia. A 1970 model, 1108cc, rego UZR 035. Great car- even drove it from Perth to Melbourne and return (about 8000kms) and averaged 37 miles per gallon at an average speed of 58 miles per hour, if memory serves. That was in 1980.
I had two Renault R10s and an R8S; I did my motor trade apprenticeship at a Renault dealers so knew the product well; the R8S had a blown engine so I put an R10 engine in it; one of the R10's was one of the very troublesome electric automatics so I converted it to a manual; I also had two Dauphines; ALL those rear engined models were lethal in the wet and ice and snow if you weren;t very careful, the Dauphines particularly so with their very "snatchy" drum brakes, but I had some fun in them...and not driving "fun"!
I love this car, this was my first car when I was 20 during the 70', mine was light blue like a Gauloise cigarette pack. This grey one is wonderful, it seems to be restored near perfection, the engine is so clean and has a great sound when running in the motorway. You are very lucky !!!
My Grandad gave me his Renault 10. Really advanced car for that time. Coil springs and disc brakes all round. Mine was identical to one in video, but 1100cc. Top whack 80+ and averaged 42mpg. A Rolls Royce compared to my mums mk1 Escort (which only made 33mpg)
c'était la voiture de ma jeunesse que j'adoreé beaucoup et c'était une voiture qui ne connait pas de panne sauf les pièces d'usure qu'il faut changer bien sur.
It was a lengthened Renault 8, with the same middle section and longer tail and front. I have a brother who had one, I remember installing him a radio.
My very first car,Arsenault r8 slconi in south africA.wondwrful .emerges of driving in the orange Freestate,,born in lively kroonstad and the Maruti mountains place of our farm in bethlehem.,OH! How I long for thar time
I travelled a hundred miles sitting in the back seat of a Renault 10. I was surprised how much noise came from the engine, much more noise than a front engined car.
5:25. I noticed that the direction signal lever is on the right side. Apparently, Renault used the same set up regardless as to which side the steering wheel was on as U.S. spec cars had the lever on the right as well.
I remember looking at and sitting in these at the Portland International Auto Show back around 1970. I loved all the distinctive French cars. They are always brightened my mood with their emphasis on comfort, their unorthodox features and their quirky styling. They made everything built in the US staid and boring except for the muscle cars.
Thank you so much for my vicarious ride through the countryside in one of my favorite cars. It is on my wish list when for when I get to heaven. I used to visit the dealership almost daily when I was a kid, hoping to own one someday, and by the time I was old enough to drive they stopped bringing them into the US. Used ones are impossible to find over here. Like yours, I would probably have to go across the pond to get one nowadays. By the way, what are all the clacking/clicking sounds when driving away? Purpose of the wrap around the header pipe and exhaust manifold? And the speedometer, is it graduated in kph, I imagine? Enjoy and kudos to you for keeping one of these legends alive.
Clicking sounds are likely the self-cancelling indicator mechanism… You can hear things like that cos it’s so quiet in the cabin!! If it had a clock you’d hear that ticking!! Speedo is standard for UK and is in mph Purpose of exhaust wrap is to reduce engine compartment temperatures due to Ethanol in modern fuels (usually around 5%) causing hotter running temperatures. Have to use unleaded 97RON minimum. Many thanks for kind comments. Much appreciated.
A true rarity in the uk, never heard of the Renault 10 until now, that engine sounds familiar, I,m sure it was fitted to a few Renaults of the time including the Renault 12.
Same block used in many of the Renaults including I think the 5. Found if you put a sack of sand in the front it helped to keep the front wheels on the road in a cross wind .😀
I have a pair of new lamps (rear lamp windows) oem SEIMA made in France. They are bought in 1969 from the store and I keep them in the original packaging
Remember my dad having a 66 r10..some years back now i was a kid .not sure if the fuel tank fill was in a good place .filling up next to a hot engine .other than that what i can remember it was a nice car.
Cars of this era are nostalgic and fun to recall, but given the advancements in convenience, comfort and power I'd find it hard to go back. My Clarity is so big, heavy, comfortable and gets 2x the mileage that these car managed. AC, AT, power everything and truly quiet interiors make me proud of the industry and how it has advanced.
Gearbox was in front of rear axle facing forward .the gearshift was connected by rod to the front of the gearbox. Very simple but effective great for selecting reverse for a young guy with a girlfriend (I had to put that in ) . I had an R8 which was the same mechanically.. They were really fun to drive.
the r10 is just a r8"longer" ^^ when i was younger in the 80s with a friends we play to know how cars running our street just with a noise of the engine ^^ IMPOSSIBLE today !!!
french touch ! how english buy renault ?😊 i born in 1975 and always dive by renault vroum vroum , click click , crick crick , gring gring , clack clack , tick tick , pouet pouet !
Such an UGLY car this. As a child, i refused to sit in it. My uncle had one and i had to go with him. But i didn’t. Rather walk then be seen in this horrific thing…..(sorry)
