R Is For: 1975 Renault 17 Gordini vs 1990 Reliant Robin

Good morning! Today we’re taking a look at two cars that start with the letter R, but, sadly, don’t actually start at all at the moment. One is British – and is short one wheel – and the other is very, very French. Which one will prove to be the better deal?

Yesterday wasn’t much of a comparison, based on the votes. Who wants a minivan with a boring and terrible transmission, when they can have an Italian sports sedan with an exciting and terrible transmission? Besides, that Quattroporte might be the cheapest way to get Ferrari power into your garage.

I agree with the majority of you. I have nothing but respect for the noble minivan, but if the choice is between these two cars, it has to be the Maserati. It’s just so pretty, and it sounds so good. Besides, I already dealt with one VQ35DE engine in the proper orientation. I’m not about to put up with one facing the wrong way.

All right. Let’s look at a couple of weirdos. These have both been sitting for years, I’m sorry to say, and neither one is ready to ride off into the sunset. But they both look complete and viable. Let’s check them out.

1975 Renault 17 Gordini – $3,900

Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter overhead valve inline 4, five-speed manual, FWD

Location: York, PA

Odometer reading: 115,000 miles

Operational status: Not running, has been sitting for years

My original thought for the letter R was to find a Renault Fuego. But in the midst of that fruitless search, I came across this gem, and it’s so much better. This is the Renault 17, the Fuego’s predecessor, a front-wheel-drive coupe that’s almost entirely forgotten in the US these days. Even better, it’s a Gordini. For those who don’t know, Gordini is to Renault what Abarth is to Fiat, or AMG is to Mercedes: it’s the spicy version.

“Spicy” may be pushing it, actually; under the hood is Renault’s familiar Cleon overhead valve engine, here displacing 1.6 liters and putting out 95 horsepower. Hey, for a small car in the mid-1970s, that was pretty good. It also has a five-speed transmission in place of the lesser 17’s four-speed, and of course, some fancy wheels and trim. The last inspection sticker on this car dates from 1992, so it has been off the road for a while. You’ll have to do some work to get it back on the road. But Renault enthusiasts do exist, even in the US, so if you get in with the right crowd, you should be able to find sources for parts.

Inside, it’s in pretty good condition, but oddly shiny. I don’t know what that’s about. It’s your basic 70s European interior, with comfy-looking bucket seats, full gauges, and a nice thick-rimmed steering wheel. This is a driver’s car, with a bona-fide rally pedigree: a Renault 17 Gordini won the 1974 “Press-On-Regardless” rally in Michigan, and of course, Renault 8s and 12s that preceded it had their share of motorsports glory as well.

It’s half in primer on the outside, which I take as a good sign; someone has been doing rust repair, which means someone thought it was worth saving. Also, as you can see in the photo above, the US-spec R17 has possibly the dumbest, most half-assed implementation of 5 MPH bumper rules ever – the US bumper is just stuck on behind the European one. Unbolt that sucker and sell it for scrap; you’ll probably knock fifty pounds of weight off, and it will look a whole lot better.

1990 Reliant Robin LX – £500

Engine/drivetrain: 848 cc overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD

Location: Coalville, Leicestershire, UK

Odometer reading: 72,000 miles

Operational status: Ran when stored, but that was years ago

The Reliant Robin is a study in minimalism. It has a simple steel frame, a fiberglass body, a tiny four-cylinder engine – and only one front wheel. The idea is that eliminating a wheel reduces the rolling resistance and the overall weight of the car. It also reduces the car’s road tax and licensing requirements in the UK. The original Robin was produced from 1973 to 1981; this is the second generation, from after the model was revived in 1989.

The Robin is powered by an 848 cc engine mounted directly behind the single front wheel. It only puts out 40 horsepower, but the whole car weighs less than a thousand pounds, so you don’t need a lot of power. These things supposedly have a top speed of 85 miles an hour, which frankly must be terrifying. The engine drives a completely normal rear axle through a completely normal four-speed gearbox; the only unusual thing about this car’s design is the single front wheel. This one has covered 72,000 miles, but it has been in storage for an undisclosed length of time. It ran fine when it was put away, but now you’ll have to do some work to get it going again.

Inside, it’s basic but has everything you need. I’m not sure why the seats are mismatched, nor do I know which one is original. Apart from that, it looks all right inside, just dirty from sitting. I can tell you that I’ve seen a Reliant Robin in person before, and they are tiny. Don’t expect a lot of room inside.

The body looks OK, but it’s fiberglass – you’d have to crawl under and look at the steel frame to make sure it isn’t rusty. And of course, after sitting, all the rubber parts will need replacing, including the tires. The good news is you only have to buy three of them.

I know there’s a huge price disparity between these two, but I’m taking into account that you’d have to have the Reliant shipped over to the US. It’s certainly old enough, and you aren’t likely to see another one anywhere. Either way, you’ll end up spending hours scouring eBay for parts, and searching old posts in owners’ forums for technical advice. Which one are you more willing to put the effort into?