Description
The Renault r8 is one of the iconic French cars of the 30 glorious years, crowned in the range by the r8 Gordini. Although the R8 Gordini quickly established itself as a sales success, the Régie's sales department realised that some customers could not afford to buy a Gordini, and that there was a gap in the R8 range between the 46bhp Major and the 88bhp Gordini. That's why an intermediate model with a sporting vocation was designed, the R8 S. Aesthetically, the Renault 8 S took a lot from the Gordini, with its four-headlight grille identical to the Gordini except for the iodine headlights and headlight surrounds, and the cooling vents for the front brakes. But the R8S is first and foremost a car of compromise, and in addition to its sporty exterior, the R8S offers an interior inspired by the R8 Major with its faux wood dashboard, but with round Jaeger counters that inspire performance. Under the bonnet is a small 1, 108 cm3 four-cylinder engine mated to a 4-speed gearbox. This block was taken from the Caravelle 1100S. Fuelled by a Weber twin-barrel carburettor and a special camshaft, the R8S is more powerful than the Major, offering 53 bhp. In terms of performance, the R8 S can boast a respectable 146 km/ h, 15 km/ h more than the Major, but 30 km/ h less than the Gordini. But at a time when the Gordini has become untouchable, the R8 S offers a good compromise for most enthusiasts, and in the end, this car's reputation has been restored, especially as very few of them have been well preserved by their owners. This is nevertheless the case with this one, which has been kept perfectly original. The upholstery is in very good condition, as is the bodywork in its original white colour. At the time, the r8 s was available in white, blue, green, red or yellow. It has only had 3 owners and has remained in the same family of enthusiasts for 39 years. The vehicle was appraised in 2018 and has a collector's registration document.
