Renault Gordini 17: Thoughts? Comments?

In reply to Stan:

Are you just hypothesizing, or have you actually found one that's for sale?

Could be this one:

http://m.ebay.com/itm/291972378083?_mwBanner=1

I almost bought one once, but there was a Spitfire on the same used car lot and I had to have it. I remember great seats and an awesome exhaust note.

pointofdeparture wrote: Could be this one: http://m.ebay.com/itm/291972378083?_mwBanner=1

That's the one. A couple/three hours away.

Have you ever said "I really like the styling of an amc pacer, but I wish it were less reliable and more French."

DeadSkunk wrote: While the 17 was a pretty wild looking car back in the day, it does look pretty tame compared to today's plethora of over styled cars.

And that is why I don't like most modern cars.

gearheadmb wrote: Have you ever said "I really like the styling of an amc pacer, but I wish it were less reliable and more French."

You do know where you are posting right?

stan wrote:

pointofdeparture wrote: Could be this one: http://m.ebay.com/itm/291972378083?_mwBanner=1

That's the one. A couple/three hours away.

You're nuts. Have you spoken to your doctor about this? Restoring a rust-eaten French car that isn't something really special like a Traction Avant is the automotive equivalent of dating a really sketchy barfly because you're pretty sure that the Penicillin did its job.

In my experience French cars, Renaults in particular, make British automobiles seem Miata like.

Kreb wrote:

stan wrote:

pointofdeparture wrote: Could be this one: http://m.ebay.com/itm/291972378083?_mwBanner=1

That's the one. A couple/three hours away.

You're nuts. Have you spoken to your doctor about this? Restoring a rust-eaten French car that isn't something really special like a Traction Avant is the automotive equivalent of dating a really sketchy barfly because you're pretty sure that the Penicillin did its job.

I am nuts.

...but not that nuts...

Never seen one of these before, or heard of it. Looks like the bastard love child of a Jensen Interceptor, Sirocco, and a Gremlin. I like it.

I have heard of the 17 before, never knew it made it to our shores.

Honestly, seeing the condition of that one, you are better off buying one in France and shipping it over. It would be cheaper and cause less gnashing of teeth and wails of anguish in the night

Holy crap. I know that car. Or more accurately, I worked for several years with the owner of that car, and he told me some about the car. He's a good guy and a gearhead, into cars and bikes.

I started off thinking what are the odds, but based on the rarity, I'd say since I know an owner of a Gordini 17 in the US, the odds are probably like 1 in 2.

Pretty sure he bought it new and daily drove it for a while, and it had already been off the road for a few years when we worked together back in late 90's. He kept it in his garage or under a cover in his driveway depending on the season.

He's one of the salesmen at the listing dealership, which is a part time gig for him, or at least it was when we worked together.

That looks like a terrible idea. You should buy it.