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Help! '63 Caravelle

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CREIA

unread,
Aug 27, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/27/96
to

I have a chance to pick up a 63 Caravelle. It is a convertible w/a hard
and soft top. The body and paint are perfect. I believe it has 30,000
original miles. It has been in storage since '73. The car belongs to my
brother's wife. It is basically mine if I put a new clutch in it and
give it the once over for a car that has been sitting for 23 years. This
is the only one I have ever seen. Do you know the value and/or history
behind it?

Thanks,
Brian

Nicholas BALES

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Aug 28, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/28/96
to

As far as I know the Renault Caravelle was a sport convertible based on
the Renault Dauphine/Ondine. I don't think there were any hard-top or
coupe
versions ever made. It was launched in 1956.

From what I recall, the Caravelle was the original french version
whereas
the Renault Floride was the US export version.

I have no idea how many of these were imported to the US, but you can
probably
use parts from any of old rear-engine Renaults that were very similar
mechanically speaking: Renault Ondine, Dauphine, 4CV, Renault 8, and
Renault 10 (I doubt this one was ever imported)

A very good web page about past, present and future Renaults, including
pictures, clubs (even in the US), links, etc... can be found at:

http://www.users.wineasy.se/katriina/

Hope this helps


>
> Thanks,
> Brian

Nick

--
/___ OOO ___\ | Nicholas | ba...@garonne.stortek.com |
// O\ <> / O\\ | BALES | Toulouse, France |
||_____|____________|_____|| |----------O---------------------------|
| \___/ mmmmmmmmmm \___/ | | A VOUS D'INVENTER LE WEB QUI VA AVEC |
\________[Twingo]________/ http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2090/

Lou Germani

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Aug 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/29/96
to

In article <3224BF...@garonne.stortek.com>, ba...@garonne.stortek.com
says...

>
>CREIA wrote:
>>
>> I have a chance to pick up a 63 Caravelle. It is a convertible w/a hard
>> and soft top. The body and paint are perfect. I believe it has 30,000
>> original miles. It has been in storage since '73. The car belongs to my
>> brother's wife. It is basically mine if I put a new clutch in it and
>> give it the once over for a car that has been sitting for 23 years. This
>> is the only one I have ever seen. Do you know the value and/or history
>> behind it?
>
>As far as I know the Renault Caravelle was a sport convertible based on
>the Renault Dauphine/Ondine. I don't think there were any hard-top or
>coupe
>versions ever made. It was launched in 1956.
>
>From what I recall, the Caravelle was the original french version
>whereas
>the Renault Floride was the US export version.
>
>I have no idea how many of these were imported to the US, but you can
>probably
>use parts from any of old rear-engine Renaults that were very similar
>mechanically speaking: Renault Ondine, Dauphine, 4CV, Renault 8, and
>Renault 10 (I doubt this one was ever imported)

The Caravelle was imported into the US in both coupe and convertible forms.
There was an article about the car in either Collectible Auto or Specialty
Autos - I'll see if I can find it. The basic problem that I can remember is
that they had a very strong tendency toward rust. Parts coulc be very hard to
come by, depending upon your area of the country. You might check on the web
- there is a french car page - look in Yahoo.

The Renault 10 was also imported into the US - I remember test driving one - I
did come to my senses!!

Lou


CREIA

unread,
Aug 29, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/29/96
to Lou Germani
Thanks for the input Lou. I hope the rust is controllable as I live at
the beach. If you can find the article that you mentioned I would
appreciate it.
Thanks,
Brian

Lou Germani

unread,
Aug 30, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/30/96
to

In article <3225CF...@creia.com>, webm...@creia.com says...

>> >CREIA wrote:
>Thanks for the input Lou. I hope the rust is controllable as I live at
>the beach. If you can find the article that you mentioned I would
>appreciate it.
>Thanks,
>Brian
The article was in Collectible Automobile, October 1994!
The Caravelle (Floride in Europe) was produced from 1959-1968 and imported
into the US from 1960-1967.Came in two versions 4 Seat Coupe or 2 Seat
Convertible - removable hardtop optional. Three transmissions available - 3
speed, 4 speed and 3 speed w/automatic clutch.

Generally thought of in two types - pre 1963 and post 1963. The pre 1963 was
based upon the Renault Daupine platform. had an 845cc 40hp motor w/47 lb/ft
torque. 0-60 23.8 sec's, 83mph top speed. 1962 model had a 956cc hengine
with 51hp and 55 lb/ft torque.

The 1963 and later models were based upon the Renault 8 which included better
handling suspension, disk brakes and a 1108cc engine with 51 hp and 65 lb/ft
torque. 0-60 17.6 sec's, 90mph top speed.

No model was considered mechanically reliable, but the 1963-1967 models were
slightly better. All had a very bad tendency toward rust.

Good Luck,
Lou


Dave & Caroline

unread,
Aug 30, 1996, 3:00:00 AM8/30/96
to ba...@garonne.stortek.com, big...@olympus.net

Nicholas BALES wrote:
>
> CREIA wrote:
> >
> > I have a chance to pick up a 63 Caravelle. It is a convertible w/a hard
> > and soft top. The body and paint are perfect. I believe it has 30,000
> > original miles. It has been in storage since '73. The car belongs to my
> > brother's wife. It is basically mine if I put a new clutch in it and
> > give it the once over for a car that has been sitting for 23 years. This
> > is the only one I have ever seen. Do you know the value and/or history
> > behind it?
>
> As far as I know the Renault Caravelle was a sport convertible based on
> the Renault Dauphine/Ondine. I don't think there were any hard-top or
> coupe
> versions ever made. It was launched in 1956.
>
> From what I recall, the Caravelle was the original french version
> whereas
> the Renault Floride was the US export version.
>
> I have no idea how many of these were imported to the US, but you can
> probably
> use parts from any of old rear-engine Renaults that were very similar
> mechanically speaking: Renault Ondine, Dauphine, 4CV, Renault 8, and
> Renault 10 (I doubt this one was ever imported)
>
> A very good web page about past, present and future Renaults, including
> pictures, clubs (even in the US), links, etc... can be found at:
>
> http://www.users.wineasy.se/katriina/
>
> Hope this helps
>
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
>
> Nick
>
> --
> /___ OOO ___\ | Nicholas | ba...@garonne.stortek.com |
> // O\ <> / O\\ | BALES | Toulouse, France |
> ||_____|____________|_____|| |----------O---------------------------|
> | \___/ mmmmmmmmmm \___/ | | A VOUS D'INVENTER LE WEB QUI VA AVEC |
> \________[Twingo]________/ http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2090/


I bought my '67 Renault Caravelle used in '71 for a cool $550.00. I have driven this car
over 100,000 miles and it already had 70,000 when I got it!

Had I not let it set unused last year in favor of my old Volvos, I would still be driving it.
The front calipers froze and I haven't tried to do anything about it.

I don't know why anyone would say they are unreliable. It has been my pride and joy all this
time!!

Dave

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