I still find it hard to believe. The creator of beauties like the SM, the redesigned DS, the CX and the “phase deux” A310 V6, was responsible for this. That guy, I’m sure I’ve mentioned him before in other French Friday-posts, was Robert Opron.
Nothing exciting about this Renault, except for the fact it looked better than it’s sibling, the Renault 9. I present you: The Renault 11. l’Édition trois-portes.
And I actually have some sort of fond memories to this one. As my mum used to have one. Not the non-plus-ultra edition, the Renault 11 Turbo, no the most slow one ever. A 5-door silver/grey turbo-less 1.6 diesel. But let’s not focus too much on that 55hp monster. It never failed. It’s engine that is. All electronic devices had been replaced/repaired one way or the other in the end.
I’d love to get a Turbo though, these were really neat cars. They had the same seats as the Alpine A310 V6, that interior was really great. Awesom ‘80's steering wheel and of course plenty of gauges and warning-lights in front of you. Just ready to tell you something was wrong.
These were not sold in high volumes but nowadays these Turbos are true unicorns. I’d suggest go looking in France, there’s about 10 for sale through the usual channel (leboncoin.fr). The Turbo probably didn’t make it to the US in the first place but there was a Renault Encore over there: Marketed and Manufactured by AMC. And I’m not so well-known with the history of AMC but wasn’t this AMC’s last attempt to survive in the first place? Well: They failed.
The model itself is a Majorette. And came with a trailer and a kayak. And the R11 has a sunroof that actually opens! It is Majorette nr 275. These were sold separate as well as I found a really used one recently and I’m pretty sure that one never had a trailer.
It came in either white, maroon or this red. But why on earth did they mount 4-spoke wheels on that trailer when every single Majorette car I remember had those 3-spokes?
I really loved those tow-hitches Majorette offered as the chance you’d lose a trailer while doing all the crazy stuff boys do with their casts was minimal with that “keep it in position”-flap covering the hitch. Ideal for overtaking your competitors, no matter who you run into.
But I’ve got two of these. The play-worn one will be dismantled soon if that customizing turns out to be something I like. I will make that a silver/grey one to recreate my mum’s monstre. One thing I certainly can’t do is make it a 5 door.
C’est ca! Next week I’ll check out another 1/43. Maybe even a totally unknown one for most of you. You never know. Bon week-end!