SOTW: Renault Fuego GTX
Fiery Renault coupe sets Shed's heart ablaze
Fuego - Spanish for 'fire', don'tcha know...
It really was a strange one, the Fuego. Its humble Renault 18 underpinnings were clothed in a body styled by one Robert Opron, the man who also created the gorgeous Citroen SM and handsome Citroen CX.
But despite swoopy Gallic looks that were as suavely French as the Capri's were thuggishly British, Renault couldn't bring itself to be proud of the Fuego. Its flamboyant name and heretical Citroen design lineage made it an odd one out in a range full of dull, stodgy cars with numbers instead of names. Renault killed it in 1986 after six years of production, although it did continue in Argentina until 1992 as the Fuego GTA Max with a 121bhp 2.2-litre engine by Berta motorsport.
...shame the location isn't as exotic as the name
Even so, the front-drive layout allowed for plenty of room on the inside for full-size adults when the rival Capri would be much more of a squeeze for four. It was a rather interesting car under the bonnet, too, with engines ranging in size from an asthmatic but economical 1.4 litres to a more respectable 108bhp 2.0-litre model. In between, there was a torque steer-tastic 132bhp 1.6-litre turbo model released in 1984 and even a smoky 88bhp turbodiesel model available for left-hand drive markets.
Nice rear window
Amazingly for a shed, it also appears to be a one-owner car, although quite how they've owned a Y-reg, 1982 car since 1981 we're not exactly sure...still, for £695 ono, we wouldn't get into semantics.
Advert is reproduced below
Renault Fuego GTX
£695 ono
This is a Renault Fuego GTX, a high-performance modern classic car.
Sadly we have to sell this vehicle as we are planning to move abroad.
This vehicle is a high-performance GTX model with original engine. It has been driven mainly on the motorway and has always been problem-free. At 137,000 miles, the car had a full service. The engine was fully reconditioned by Goswells Engineering and works superbly. The timing belt, starter motor, alternator and exhaust were also replaced at that time. The vehicle has new tyres and new wheel bearings. It also has new brake pads. The oil is synthetic and does not need to be changed either.
In addition the buyer will also get some supporting spares for the vehicle together with 6 original colour paint sprays ordered from Renault.
The vehicle has two ignition keys.
This vehicle has a registration plate, which has recently been valued at £125.
This is an ideal modern classic car for an enthusiast which does not require too much restoration. Mechanically it is very good and the body is good for the year. It drives really well. You feel very secure on the road at whatever speed you are travelling as it has very good driver stability - also when driving on winding B-roads it leaves other vehicles far behind.
The vehicle does not need a lot of work doing apart from what is described below:
As the vehicle is 26 years old it does have some rust spots but nothing serious as shown in the photos, but these can be treated fairly easily.
The vehicle has been mainly jacked up in the garage for the past couple of years and sometimes it has been taken for a short drive.
My dad toyed with the notion of buying one new when I was a kid, but was put off when the Renault salesman told him that it wasn't very good. I think he bought a '5 Gordini instead.
Pretty rare car these days, well done for being different this week guys
I can't help but feel that the current owner should have scrapped it at 136k.
I remember back in something like 1982 one of my dad's colleagues had one of these and would sometime pick my dad up for a lift to work in it. I thought it was brilliantly cool then, but to my contemporary eyes its an odd looking machine.
Anyway, good 'off beat' choice.
When I was little, I really wanted my Dad to get one of these - someone near us had one in goldy-beige. At the time we had a Cortina, which was eventually replaced by a Cortina estate.
If you can find him, Mr Eoo Soy will snap your hand off for that!!My dad used to have a Renault 18 Turbo. Left hand drive, went like the proverbial off a stick. Well, it probably felt that way to eight year old me when the only car I'd really ridden in up to that point was a 1.3l Mk2 Escort. He had a Haynes manual for it which also covered the Fuego. I remember wishing my dad had bought the Fuego turbo instead because it looked so much better.
My dad's 18 was maroon with a huge cutout TURBO decal in grey stripes on both sides of the car. And the wheels were cool. Same as on that fuego there. Of course to an eight year old that made it the coolest car in existence.
If the owner thinks it will give any other car a run for it's money down anything less straight than a Lib Dem MP's morals, he is in cloud cuckoo land.
Oli.
My dad's looked very much like this, except it was maroon, and the word Turbo was cut out of the go faster stripes in an italic Times New Roman type font. I'm certain that this decal alone added 30bhp. I'm sure the Fuego had a similar decal too - probably a factory option.
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