I bought a thing!

"BvdV - The Dutch Engineer" (dutchengineer)
07/12/2019 at 18:52 • Filed to: Unnecessary Car Shopping, Renault, Renault 17

And this time it has 4 wheels!

Meet my 1977 Renault 17TL Découvrable Automatic! The gearbox is not my preferred choice, and very not-oppo, but fret not a swap is planned. It’s not often these come up for sale, and this one was a right steal!

For those not familiar with older Renaults: it’s a pillar-less coupe based on Renault 12 and 16 parts, meaning it has a longitudinal placed engine, yet is FWD. In this case the engine is an aluminium Clèon-Alu 1.6, also used in some versions of the alpine A110 and A310, with 90hp when new.

This model is actually from a series of 3 12/16 based coupes: the 15, 17, and 17 Découvrable. Withthe latter being a pseudo-convertible/targa with it’s large cloth roof and pillar-less windows:

The condition if this car is pretty amazing, even though it hasn’t run for a while. It was kept inside as part of the collection of a Renault dealer since 1991, where it was taken on a spin semi-regularly, until it was moved to a private garage, where it sat for a few years. Due to this, it’s surprisingly solid, with no really worrying rust spots. That’s especially remarkable given the tendecy of Renaults from this era to rust as soon as they leave the showroom floor.

My plans for the car are to get it back to running condition, replace aged suspension bits, and have fun cruising it around.

Turns out all that unnecessary car shopping had a nice effect in the end after all!

DISCUSSION (20)

EL_ULY > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 18:55

coooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!

CaptDale - is secretly British > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 19:08

This thing is sweet!

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 19:19

Did European Renaults end up with any AMC parts? Your care may be earlier than that partnership though.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
07/12/2019 at 19:27

I think the exchange was pretty one directional, with the exception of some smaller and more interchangable parts.

This being a 1977 it’s just a year older than the AMC partnership, so doesn’t have any AMC parts

MultiplaOrgasms > My X-type is too a real Jaguar
07/12/2019 at 19:31

I approve of 4.0 s wapped Renault 17 .

Tapas > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 19:32

Congratulations!

lone_liberal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 19:36

I think that car is very Oppo.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > lone_liberal
07/12/2019 at 19:39

The car definitely is, just a bit of a shame of the automatic in there. But as a cruiser it should be fine with this gearbox too.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 19:48

MY GOD, THAT IS AMAZING. I now expect every one of your posts from this point forward to be about this car for the sake of placating the rest of us. :P

We need a full photo or video tour! :D

Seven Footer > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 20:19

Oooooooooo... That's pretty.

Schaef_Camaero Z/28 > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 20:48

Neat!

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/12/2019 at 23:34

Even with the auto this is very Oppo.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/13/2019 at 02:51

Thanks! I’ll try to post about it a lot, but not at the cost if racing photodumps and such of course :p

I’ll shoot more pictures when I get it to my own storage place.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
07/13/2019 at 02:53

Thanks haha! It is indeed one of those weird cars that is instantly Oppo

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/13/2019 at 07:30

Do eet! We need a video of the first start and test drive as well :P

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
07/13/2019 at 08:07

Oh I will!

duurtlang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2019 at 04:00

As I was ‘out of the country’ for a while I kind of missed the details of your purchase. Congratulations! When do you expect it will be road worthy?

You mentioned a manual swap. Looking on wikipedia I found this engine also came with a turbo (and manual) i n the Renault Fuego and Renault 18, with up to 132 hp. Is considering transmission + engine something you consider as well?

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > duurtlang
07/17/2019 at 13:13

Thanks! I don’t want to cut corners, and want to stay realistic, so I’m aiming for Spring 2020. But I’m going to make a more accurate planning once I have fully checked every part of the car.

That is a possibility, however, when was the last time you saw a 18 Turbo or Fuego Turbo? As these are also rare classics by now I wouldn’t want to sacrifice one of those, but if I can find the drivetrain of one, sure why not!

duurtlang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
07/17/2019 at 13:37

Spring 2020 = Oppomeet 2020?

That is a good point about the parts, as they will be rare. You’d probably have to look in France. Transmissions are not really the issue, but engines are rarer.

https://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/1538071522.htm/

https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1374411070.htm/

https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1628189993.htm/

https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1519379665.htm/

https://www.leboncoin.fr/equipement_auto/1584869181.htm/

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > duurtlang
07/17/2019 at 14:59

I’ll try! But that might be with the stock engine then...