1960 Renault Floride Gordini Convertible
Rare UK market right-hand drive car with Gordini power

Registration No: PUD 843F
Chassis No: 0034216
MOT: Exempt

• Very rare UK market right-hand drive example with Gordini Upgrades
• Original registration number with Hill’s Number Plates
• Recent engine overhaul
• Subject to a full body overhaul some years ago

Launched in Paris in 1958, the stylish little Renault 2+2 initially had two names: ‘Floride’, French for ‘Florida’, and ‘Caravelle’ as potential buyers in America who did not live in that state did not particularly want a car named after it. Though built in France, its elegant body styling came from Italy’s Pietro Frua (see also Maserati and AC) and the engine was in the rear which then was Renault’s default position (and this car shared its floorpan with the elegant Dauphine). The Floride/Caravelle was popular and sold well - perhaps because Brigitte Bardot was used by Renault in some of the car’s marketing images. Subsequent revisions were made to the car including larger engines and revised bodywork and ‘Caravelle’ eventually became its sole name. Renault had made some 117,000 Caravelles when production ceased in 1968 in Coupé, Cabriolet or Convertible versions (the latter was supplied with a matching hardtop). A few examples found their way to legendary Renault performance guru Amedée Gordini, which produced 40hp as opposed to the standard model's 35hp.

Chassis 34216 was believed to have originally been sold to the Channel Islands in 1960 and spent the first 7 years of its life there until 1967. The car was specified as a Convertible with a Gordini power plant, so an extremely high specification for the time! The car was then sold to the UK and acquired the registration ‘PUD 843F’ (a 1967 plate) which it still retains to this day. The previous owner started the restoration of the car by having it completely repainted to a high standard in Gold with a Black roof and commissioning an interior retrim. After running out of steam, he sold it to the vendor (who owns an aircraft maintenance outfit) who finished the car with a complete brake overhaul including new master and slave cylinders and an overhauled engine. The car is now in fully driving and working order and presents very well indeed and displayed just over 22,000 miles on the odometer at the time of consignment.

For more information, please contact:
Lucas Gomersall
lucas.gomersall@handh.co.uk
07484 082430