Renault in Australia

renman · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:40 pm Post subject: Bolwell

AlpinePete & I have just spent a couple of days bringing our newly acquired Mk VII from the NSW south coast.

It was a great trip and a real adventure a bit like in the days of our youth - except we didn't have any mechanical problems.

We hope to begin the fixing soon Smile

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Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Flocar · Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2009 9:18 pm Post subject:

What about all the other cars that you have yet to restore? Are you trying to out do me for the number of future projects? Laughing

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AlpinePete · doyen Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 269 Location: Oceanview

4x4frog · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:04 pm Post subject:

Great going P & G.
Makes me look real bad, my poor R10 has sat idle for 6 months and you are still aquiring other vehicles and finishing some too. I won't promise to have mine done by Xmas but I can always set the goal to that limit and aim for it and see if I make it Laughing

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Life...the cost of living hasn't reduced it's popularity

Flocar · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:19 am Post subject:

Speaking of adventures of youth, back in 1962 or 3 or ? well way back a mate of mine decided to join us racing and purchased a new Bolwell Mk 4 body kit. I had the tandem trailer and so we set off for Melbourne to pick up the body. Got about 30 kms down the road and hit a dog. Kids, and Mum saw it all so back we go and ofcourse its laying on the road can't move but still alive. We agree to take it to a vet as Dad isn't home etc. So we put it on the tandem trailer and head off. My mate says there is a short cut along a gravel road so down the road we go,it was only a little bit rough. Get to the vets and no dog. So we trace our track back and no dog. So go to the women and say sorry dog died at the vets. Shocked

I often wonder if it recovered and eventually made it home. I feel so bad about that. Crying or Very sad

Any way got down to Bolwell factory at Seaford at the time and the car was not quite finished. Waited around for a few hours and next with great excitement we loaded the body kit and got it home.

He eventually finished it with a BMC B series motor, but by then I had stopped racing and was concentrating on rallying. He raced like us at Winton, Albury, and Calder. He still has the car under some sheets of iron and a tree that fell on it. Says he is going to restore it one day or perhaps his son will. Hope so.
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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

AlpinePete · doyen Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 269 Location: Oceanview

Didn't think the club would have another Bolwell story in it!

poor doggy Crying or Very sad

renman · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

We've so far not done a great deal sadly.
The Mk7 starts reliably though and runs fairly nicely on all cylinders.
It sounds very old school and cammy and we've persuaded most of the rusted out baffles to exit the rear muffler so its loud too. Very Happy

It seems to be quite a solid affair with all the drivetrain bits feeling nicely mounted and controls are good. Except for the gearstick which is about 200mm rearward of where it was with its original gearbox (that might have been an early Holden 4 speed or a Triumph big box).
That is definitely a task we'll need to do - make another linkage.
Although the triple Dellorto carbs don't seem to have their accellerator pumps working very well, the car is very willing feeling and light enough to spin the rears easily.
We don't feel it prudent to spend many$$$$ on new 'glass panels which we've recently found out about, so tomorrow we'll start body repairs.

Sure to be a learning experience, though I'm fairly confident we can muddle our way through Rolling Eyes

_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

Karen · bébé Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Ipswich Qld

Flocar · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:42 am Post subject:

Congratulations to your father. It is always a long job particularly when you can only do work on it part time.

He will lose interest in the 4CV now so you won't need the Dauphine you can borrow it. Laughing

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A one eyed Renault enthusiast.

renman · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject:

Yes Karen, congratulations to your Dad on completing a huge restoration.
I've got to say that I'm really impressed also by your Mum who is so keen on the family projects.
Maybe you can tell us about your own upcoming projects Very Happy

In some ways I reckon its going to be more difficult fixing a 50's Renault than a pre WW2 Chev. What do you reckon?

Also I reckon we're well off topic here but heck it wouldn't be the first time.
_________________
Renault Megane RenaultSport 225 Turbo Cup
Renault Alpine GTA Turbo
'Phil' the Fuego
50%Renault Dauphine Gordini
50% Bolwell MK7

renman · Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject:

Karen · bébé Joined: 03 Sep 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Ipswich Qld

Borrow Dad's 4CV Laughing

That's quite possibly the funniest thing I have every heard Laughing

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It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived Smile

4x4frog · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

Thanks Graeme.
Have been agonising over what to do with it.
I am hoping to get the R18 out of Sue's dad's garage in the next few days(yeah has been going to happen for a while but he's been unwell) and shift the R10 closer to home maybe.
I know of another car around with wide wheels on it that is for sale but I doubt the finance minister will approve my application Sad

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Life...the cost of living hasn't reduced it's popularity