1976 Renault 17 Gordini 1.6 i
Summary:
Great car to restore and keep for weekends
Faults:
I rebuilt the cat from a very sorry state. New bearings, Piston rings, Clutch and the head had a Valve grind. he gearbox was good, but a new radiator was needed as well as new drive shafts. The body needed extensive work and several new panels. The car has been 95% reliable since rebuilding. The interior was OK, but I have had to do some work on it.
General Comments:
Love the driving feel of the car although the heater/fresh air is limited and in Australia is not nice to drive in our hot summers with black vinyl upholstery. Like the 70's period feel and the car is now so rare that most people have never seen one before.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 20th January, 2004
23rd Dec 2008, 01:27
Have now taken my 17 Gordini with me from Oz to New Zealand and am living in the town of Whangarei. Would love to hear from other New Zealand owners of 17's and 15's. Car is even better in NZ due to lower heat in summer. Nice to drive on NZ roads.
14th Feb 2009, 02:42
I have a 1973 Renault 17. Excellent styling that catches many glances. I wonder what happened to them all? Have not seen one for 12 years. I'll keep it forever even if it can't get a WOF.
I can be contacted at jacksonwong2@hotmail.com
11th Jun 2014, 10:08
2014 June now. Not much more to report. Have been given some more parts from a wreck that otherwise would have gone off to the crusher... in a very sad state, some of these cars now.
Mine has not deteriorated at all over the last few years, although I do keep it garaged. It still drives as good as when I first drove it.
Eventually traced the persistent oil leak to slack in the diff bearings, which then distorted the oil seals under load, causing leaking. Adjusted so that there is now very little play... but would normally take the gearbox out to do this work. The oil leak has stopped, much to my relief.
Would have thought that this would have been obvious and in the workshop manuals... oh well.. trial by error.
6th May 2006, 04:01
Had a 1974 17TS here in the States. Agree with black interior comments, it was almost impossible to find the saddle color, light interior along with the convertible roof.