Friday 13th November 2009

SOTW: Renault Fuego GTX

Fiery Renault coupe sets Shed's heart ablaze

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Fuego - Spanish for 'fire', don'tcha know...

Fuego - the Renault named Fire! That was a cover line from an early 1980s issue of Autocar, which featured a review of perhaps the most bizarre car Renault offered for sale that decade.

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

Its wobbly, wallowy Renault 18 underpinnings always made the Fuego more of a cruiser than a back-road champion, though, so take the seller of this GTX's assertion that "when driving on winding B-roads it leaves other vehicles far behind" with a hefty pinch of salt.

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

This particular Fuego is a 1982 108bhp GTX, and it looks pretty tidy. It's got 140k miles on the clock, was apparently serviced at 137k, has had a recently reconditioned engine, and even comes with a few extra spare parts (although the owner does admit that the car has a few rust spots).

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.

The vehicle is green/grey. We have owned the vehicle since 1981.
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.

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[muckyman]

I've not seen one of these for many many years.
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