Fire Sale: 1982 Renault Fuego

The Fuego was built by Renault from 1980 to 1986, sold in the US through AMC dealers and featured such innovations as the world's first keyless remote system...which is funny because this next Fuego is being offered sans keys.  And it's on a trailer....but at least the listed price is low and this appears to be a turbocharged manual transmission equipped Fuego...future classic for sure. Find this 1982 Renault Fuego offered for a 24 Hrs of LeMons friendly $700 CAD ($515 USD) via theFacebook themarketplace. Tip from Erik202.

Fausse Gordini: 1970 Renault 8

The Renault R8 (later just called the 8) was a small sedan for the common man launched in 1962 with boxy styling and a chassis based on the curvy Dauphine platform.  The R8 used a Beetle style rear engine / rear drive setup and was slow in stock trim, but Renault released a Gordini version that was pushing almost 100 horsepower and a legend in rally races.  Today's blue thing isn't an original Gordini, but it's got a fuel injected big bore engine and should be fun on original skinny tires. Find this 1970 Renault 8 offered for $6000 CAD ($4419 USD) in Quebec, Canada via kijiji.net. Tip from Erik202.

Save The Fuegos: 1984 Renault Fuego

Few cars elicit the same degree of guffawed snickers as a French built car sold in AMC dealers with the Spanish name for fire.  Yeah. The one car that is more Rodney Dangerfield than even Pontiac's Fiero...the Renault Fuego. It is a car that was loved by a few, misunderstood by many, and is all but extinct today...so forget the whales, we need to band together and save the Fuegos. Find this 1984 Renault Fuego offered for $3975 in New Albany, OH via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Deux Pour Un: A Pair of 1953 Panhard Dyna Juniors

In the world of low volume '50s roadsters, there are oddballs and then there are complete bizarro world lunatics.  This is the narwhal in the room...the twin tusked unicorn that was designed by French car builder Panhard to be sold into the US market -- think of it like a poor man's version of a Porsche 356 speedster, but setup like a Citroen DS-- yup front engine, front wheel drive...and that engine is 2-cylinder boxer good for something like 35 horsepower give or take. With only 1390 lbs to haul around this little Frenchie should be fun to drive, just don't expect it to be fast. Find this pair of 1953 Panhard Dyna Juniors here on eBay bidding for $3750 in Sacramento, CA with 4 days to go.

100cc of Social Displacement: 1939 Peugeot P52 Motorcycle

This next car...errr...two wheeler...comes from tipper Brad who writes: I thought you might dig this very interesting (presumably rare) little motorbike—although I cannot recall whether you are a cars-only outlet...This old cycle definitely deserves the label survivor, esp. considering it was produced in Europe just as WW2 was getting underway.  It seems like all the money is being asked but, as usual, where will you find another? Anyhow, what’s better for social distancing than a single-seater? There’s no room to haul bulk parcels of toilet paper, but they cannot be found anyway. Stay safe.  I couldn't have said it better myself -- thanks Brad!!  Find this 1939 Peugeot P52 Motorcycle offered for $3500 in Coatesville, PA via craigslist.

Business To Go: 1961 Citroën 2CV Truckette

Conventional wisdom would suggest that the middle of a global pandemic is a bad time to start a business...but that same wisdom would have told Bill Gates to get a job at Radio Shack or Howard Hughes to become a journeyman aircraft mechanic...so I'm going to throw convention into the wind like an empty toilet paper roll and suggest you start a business with this next vehicle.  What kind of business, you say?  Oh...good point.  You tell me in the comments.  Find this 1961 Citroën 2CV truckette offered for $18900 in South Lake Tahoe, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Tim.

Trappe Chaude: 2003 Peugeot 206RC

You used to hear a lot of chatter from car guys over here in the New World about how the Europeans always keep the best stuff to themselves. Everything from higher horsepower M3s to special Evolution editions of Cossie powered Mercedes was the stuff of legend back in the day...but globalization changed much of that and we get most everything they get back home in Germany/UK...except we don't get much from France these days, which is a shame...but what you can't get here in the the USA you can get by heading due North.  You might have to move to Canada permanently, but a little snow never killed anybody. Find this 2003 Peugeot 206RC offered for $8900 CAD ($6688 USD) in Laval, Quebec, Canada via Kijiji.net. Tip from Erik202.

The Jet Set Life: 1987 Citroen CX 25 Prestige

I hate to be the guy who pooh-poohs all the good ideas around here...but buying a 30 year old Citroen is sorta like buying a private jet.  Its not intrinsically a bad idea...its just that the consequences are less than desirable.  Sure, its nice to brag to your friends about your new toy, but maintenance is expensive, constant, and time consuming.  Plus, there is the danger associated with piloting one of these things, maintenance logs, FAA clearance, et cetera...all for something that is gonna spend more time perched on 3 wheels than zooming around taking you to exotic places.  Bottom line, you should only buy this car if it is an emotional impulse buy and you can afford it.  Find this 1987 Citroen CX 25 Prestige offered for $12500 in Palm Beach, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

French Fried Cheeseburger: 1984 Renault Alliance

If you ask an automotive lovin' kid today what he/she thinks about the Renault Alliance, they'll probably tell you that Carlos Ghosn was framed, but Nissan should run as far away from the French automaker as possible..but if you ask an old seasoned car guy, he/she will regale you with stories of Franco-Merican build quality, MotorTrend's 1983 Car of the Year Award, and arriving at their final destination on foot. Or perhaps I'm being a bit hard on the little Kenosha, Wisconsin assembled french fry, maybe you could be that guy at the next Friday night car show.  Find this 1984 Renault Alliance offered for $1100 in Milford, CT via hemmings.  Tip from BP.

French Fried Wagon: 1986 Renault 4

Life is just too short to spend your time driving something boring like a new Honda Civic or the bus.  We spend too much time focusing on convenience and reliability -- and the concept of adventure is just tossed out the window like the smoldering end of a freshly smoked gauloise.  Buck the trends, beat the crowds, and get yourself something interesting for your commute, like this 1986 Renault 4 offered for $6900 in Glens Falls, NY via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

French Bread: 1968 Citroën 2CV

The Citroen (Citroën) 2CV (en français -- deux chevaux)  was a front drive economy car that had prototype builds starting in 1939 with innovative features like a flat-twin aircooled engine and seats that could be removed from the car and used as picnic chairs. Find this 1968 Citroën 2CV offered for $4300 in Fort Plain, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

French Fried: 1990 Peugeot 405 Mi16

The Peugeot 405 was a Pininfarina designed sedan from the French automaker Peugeot S.A., built from 1987 through 1997.  Actually, they still make a halal version of the 405 in Iran and Egypt for local consumption, but the car was replaced by the 406 in Europe and by the early 1990s the entire Peugeot lineup was pulled from the US market. The Mi16 version was the sportiest of the 405 lineup, not exactly something you'd phone home about...but beggars can't be choosers...I guess. Find this 1990 Peugeot 405 Mi16 offered for $8250 in Great Falls, VA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Not Many Around: 1991 Citroën XM 2.0

I'll probably get a lot of hate mail from the CXMOCA (Citroen XM Owners Club of America), but I'm gonna just go ahead and suggest that a Citroën isn't going to be the most reliable car on the block.  When the seller starts his advertisment with the words Running and driving...it might be a sign that most aren't...and the next words...Functional hydraulic suspension, recently serviced could indicate that reliability of various complicated Citroen components isn't exactly "Japanese".  However, that doesn't mean you couldn't or shouldn't own one...but just maybe you shouldn't use it if you are driving for Uber Organ Delivery Service or have to clock into work at a designated time and day. Find this 1991 Citroën XM 2.0 offered for $5,000 in Philadelphia, PA via craigslist. Tip from M.E.  

1982 Citroën CX Pallas

The Citroën CX is an oddball French sedan/fastback (don't call it a hatchback because it has its own trunk in the back) "executive car" that combined a complex hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension with 4-cylinder powerplants to replace the venerable ID/DS in Citroen's lineup.  Find this 1982 Citroën CX Pallas offered for $2,500 in Richmond, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Centennial Blues: 1952 Citroën Traction Avant

It was 100 years this past March when French industrialist André Citroën launched his Type A 8CV "Torpedo".  It was a simple machine without the complex solutions to automotive problems that Citroen became known for in later years -- hydropneumatic self-leveling suspension in 1954, the first mass market disc brakes in 1955 and swiveling headlights in 1967...but first Citroën pioneered a few basic ideas that are in use with most mass production cars today, namely; unibody construction, 4-wheel independent suspension, and front-wheel-drive in a car called the Traction Avant. It might not have been made by Honda...but it is the Accord's French great grand-uncle. Find this 1952 Citroën Traction Avant here on eBay bidding for $11,100 in Vancleave, MS with a few hours to go.

Rare = Crap or Fact? 1968 Peugeot 204 Roadster

There is a fine line between a car that is rare because its manufacturer limited the production of vehicles (because of exclusivity) and those cars that are rare because they were total crap when first released or have all rusted into oblivion..and this next car straddles that fine line like a cowboy riding a 2D horse....because Peugeot built 1.6 million examples of the 204 model, but I just don't have the foggiest how many ragtops made it to the US of A...but I have never seen on in the flesh.  Find this 1968 Peugeot 204 Roadster offered for $10,900 in Chicago, IL via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Pininfarina Penned: 1968 Peugeot 204 Convertible

I bet you couldn't tell me what the best selling car in France was between 1969 and 1971?  I'll give you a hint, it wasn't the Volkswagen Beetle or the Ford F-Series, but it was a small Pininfarina designed French sedan from Peugeot called the 204.  You won't see many of these around the streets of the USA, and they aren't monstrously expensive. Find this 1968 Peugeot 204 Convertible offered for $12,900 in Chicago, IL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!