Abarth, Cooper, Quadrifoglio, just a few of the many names that refer to the sportiest versions of a car manufacturer. Renault also has such a name to indicate that you are dealing with something very sporty and special: Gordini. Amédee Gordin has been building sporty versions based on Renaults since the 1950s, mostly the sedan models of the brand.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Renault managed to achieve fantastic results with tuned Dauphines together with Gordini. The Renault Dauphine won the Tulip Rally in 1957, the Monte Carlo Rally in 1958, the Alpine Rally in 1959 and achieved several excellent results on the track.
A big step was made in 1962, when Renault presented the 8. The idea of a sedan with the rear engine remains, but what is new are the engines that can be tuned better. Until 1966, a 1,108 cc four-cylinder with 95 hp can be found in the Renault, from then on a 1,255 cc variant with 105 hp.
In those years, the 8 Gordini competes against cars like the Mini Cooper and it is very difficult to achieve the results of the past. However, the street version of the 8 Gordini is a success and that is partly due to the power that is higher than that of the Mini Cooper S of the time. Between 1964 and 1970, just over 12,000 units were built and today you can see the 8 Gordini as very popular sports cars.
This Gordini is an early copy from 1964. In 2017, the car was completely restored by a specialist and, with the cooperation of various other specialists, completely brought to new condition. The bodywork was thoroughly overhauled and the Gordini blue paint was renewed on both the outside and the inside. The car therefore looks very fresh and damage is therefore strange to the Renault.
The entire interior was also reupholstered. The rubber floor covering is also new, as are the door panels. The dashboard is in a beautiful condition with a whole arsenal of gauges, scattered over a fairly simply designed dashboard. That’s called functionality!
The engine of this Gordini has been completely overhauled and is therefore ready for the next owner. The four-cylinder runs fantastically and hangs very well on the gas. Driving this sporty sedan is therefore a great party. Once in the very pleasant bucket seat, the car provides an enormous amount of driving pleasure. The engine picks up eagerly and the Renault is very willing to steer from corner to corner. The original four-speed gearbox is equipped with a fifth gear to make long distances a bit more pleasant. The car has been overhauled so recently that the engine and gearbox still need to be run in.
A beautiful Renault 8 Gordini in optimal condition? You will not find many, but in Brummen there is now one that will meet all expectations.
