Description
Hello. I am parting ways with my 1961 Renault Floride Cabriolet. To put it simply: it was styled by the Italian designer Pietro Frua. The result is absolutely flowing. This is a car that commands respect. When you're behind the wheel, you're no longer someone hunting for a parking space: you become a character from the Nouvelle Vague. It's instantly more flattering. The original selling point (guaranteed no trickery): it was in a Renault Floride that my father won over my mother. The story doesn't say whether it was down to the Italian charm of the lines or the comfort of the seats, but the fact remains: this car has a 100% track record of romantic success. If you're reading this advert, you won't doubt its likeability (and its romantic appeal). The specification (for the aesthetes): • Paintwork: Dark blue. A fairly rare shade, far more subtle than the eternal whites or reds of the era. • Interior: Red upholstery. The blue and red combination offers a very elegant contrast. • The detail that changes everything: it retains its original cigar lighter. It's there, it's period-correct, it's perfectly useless day to day, but its mere presence considerably raises the standing of the cabin. • And for reading: the car comes with the Revue Technique Automobile from May 1960 (no. 169), the Owners Workshop Manual (Brookands Books edition), a maintenance log book (recent English reprint), the magazine Votre Auto special Floride Caravelle Nov-Dec-Jan 2003, La Renault Floride de mon père by Patrick Leseur (ETAI edition), and the spare parts catalogue PR 654-R1092 (Régie Nationale des Usines Renault edition). • The art of compromise: sold with its soft-top (for summer romantic rendezvous) AND its original rigid hard-top (for the rest of the year if you live in a rainy region, which would be a public-interest option). The technical details: • The heart: the 4-cylinder 'Ventoux' engine, technically borrowed from the Dauphine Gordini. It's reliable, it's French craftsmanship the like of which we no longer make. 5 CV fiscal horsepower. • The form: the engine has had a complete overhaul and the ignition system has been fully reconditioned. It starts when you ask it to. • The transmission: 4-speed manual gearbox. In its day, this was the pinnacle. The MOT will obviously be done before sale (ideal for switching it to Carte Grise Collection historic-vehicle plates). The price of exclusivity (and of love): 21, 000 euros. Vehicle viewable in Nancy. First contact by message. Extreme negotiators or whimsical swap proposals: let's not misunderstand each other. We're looking for a buyer who will keep the legend of this car alive. See you soon.
