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!

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!

About This Renault: 1971 Manic GT

This next car is going to be a bit of a history lesson for even the most astute French car collector, because it is French in language and basic components, but not assembly. Yes, this is the rare French Canadian built machine, with assembly of the custom fiberglass body of Renault 8 parts byLes Automobiles Manic Ltée, of Granby, Quebec back in the 1970s.  It was the brainchild of a Quebecois named Jacques About (pronounced...yes...a-booh.  Très Canadien) and you can listen to this fascinating vintage 10 minute radio interview of Monsieur About from the CBC archives and read about them on Hemmings here. Find this 1971 Manic GT offered for $15,000 in Port Angeles, WA via craigslist.  Tip from FuelTruck.

French Connection: 1956 Renault 4CV

I've got to be honest with you guys today and admit that I'm really not an expert on the Renault 4CV market -- and the going rate for one of the surviving examples of the million 4CVs produced from 1947 through 1961 is beyond my limited understanding...but...this next car just feels like a good deal compared to the other rear-engined aircooled crap littering the internet auction sites. Find this 1956 Renault 4CV offered for $11,500 in San Diego, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Needs Engine Installed: 1966 Renault Caravelle

The Renault Caravelle is another rarely seen-on-the-road French pile of parts that competed with Volkswagen's Beetle and Karmann Ghia with a rear-mounted engine and basic accouterments. However, the Caravelle didn't use an aircooled pancake engine and instead zipped & zoomed around with a watercooled inline-4.  Find this 1966 Renault Caravelle offered for $8000 in Paradise, CA via craigslist. Tip from Sean S.

Needs To Be Housebroken: 1960 Renault Dauphine

The  Renault Dauphine was a small rear-engine rear-drive economy sedan built from 1956 through 1967 as the French answer to the VW Beetle, Fiat 500 and Morris Minor. It isn't the fastest thing at the next cruise night, but as they say -- the happiest person on the planet is the guy driving the Dauphine on a pretty back-country road, and the most pissed people in the world are those following behind.  Find this 1960 Renault Dauphine offered for $3,500 in Olympia, WA.  Tip from FuelTruck.

The Renaulty Spot: Collection of Renaults

What is better than a classic Renault offered at an estate/garage/junk sale?  How about a collection of 20 of them offered for who knows how much money.  Find this collection of Renaults offered for an undisclosed sum of money in Monticello along with a 1980 Archer T5 replica for $12,500 via craigslist.  Tip from Munky.

Electric Boogaloo: 1961 Henney Kilowatt

Why do Millennials love Elon Musk so much?  Aside from his name making for a fantastic cologne brand, there isn't much there other than that he made a bunch of money with an online bank (X.com) and has parlayed that cash into a bunch of other businesses...so I guess we should all start worshipping the modern day Rockefellers -- the internet barons of the 21st century -- BUT, I do want to say that, contrary to popular belief, Elon Musk did not invent the electric car, that award goes to Thomas Davenport of Vermont who ran the first electric car way back in 1834.  Fast-forward a century or so and you could buy a Renault Dauphine based Henney Kilowatt.  Find this 1961 Henney Kilowatt here on eBay for $15,950 buy-it-now with 4 days to go located in Kingsport, TN. Tip from Frank.

Guals Like Stink: 1981 Renault 5 Turbo I

The Renault 5 Turbo was a homologation special that shoved a turbocharged engine into the middle of the normally front-drive Renault 5 platform. It was more than just a hopped up option because it completely transformed the car from a bespectacled Dr Jekyl into a fire-spitting Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Find this 1981 Renault 5 Turbo I offered for $7,500 in Los Angeles Area, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Spank.

Mistaken Identity: 1962 Renault Dauphine

The buzz phrases to use in car listings lately seem to be One Owner & Barn Find.  Both are rarely true or used in the correct context.  Unfortunately, this has lead to a new batch of self-proclaimed car hunters roaming the streets trying to cash in on the classic car market frenzy.  This Renault was apparently discovered by a marine biologist or sea mammal enthusiast.  Find this Renault Dauphine incorrectly listed as a "Dolphin" for sale in Woodbridge, NJ for $3,500 via craigslist.

Peak of Exclusivity: 1980 Renault Alpine A310 Fleishmann

Lambo's...Ferrari's...McLaren's...honestly, these cars don't guarantee exclusivity anymore.  Once reserved for the elite and seen on rare occasions, average techies and newly legalized cannabis dealers are filling up the roads with flashy wheels these days. Why not take it up a notch and drive something no one will recognize?  Smirk as crowds gather around you at Coffee & Cars while Joe Smoke leans solo on his gold wrapped Huracan.  Find this 1980 Renault Alpine A310 Fleishmann for sale in Allentown, PA for $29,995 via craigslist. Tip from Torrance

Renault Anymore: 1960 Henney Kilowatt

In an effort to avoid being too predictable, I sometimes feel the urge to post random cars that aren't affordably priced Porsche 914s, Datsun 240Zs, or some kind of boxy Volvo.  Obviously, a good deal on a some well known classic is always a good thing, but what about the odd balls?...what about the Renault family sedans that were converted to electric power from 1959-1960?  Find this 1960 Henney Kilowatt offered for $10,000 in Nesconset, NY via hemmings.

1961 Renault Dauphine

Some people prefer domestic cars and some European. The problem with trying to buy a European car in the United States as a whole nation of manufacturers is missing. The French manufacturers withdrew from these shores starting in the mid seventies and by the end of the eighties no new Renaults were being sold. In 1961 the Dauphine was a success in Europe, but in the United States not so much. We would be remiss if we included the most popular cars of this century without including one some considered one of the worst. For your consideration please feast your eyes on this 1961 Renault Dauphine located  outside of Jacksonville, Florida  for $4,750.00 or best offer, trades considered.  This post is part of DT's 2016 Birthday Celebration of 100 cars; enjoy the ride!

Faking It: 1983 Renault 5, R5 Turbo Replica

The Renault 5 was a front-wheel drive supermini built all over the world by French automaker Renault from 1972 through 1985.  Renault also built an insane mid engine version of the car known as the R5 Turbo, but it was mechanically very different, so building your Renault 5 into a Turbo replica is going to be an exercise in all hat, no horse.  Find this 1980 Renault R5 Turbo Replica here on eBay bidding for $3,050 USD reserve-not-met with 2 days to go, located in Coahuila, Mexico.