R4 fourgonette (van) alternatives

[sebastiaan]

Hi all,

Looking for some inspiration. I've currently got an S3 109 landy for local duties and am due a change. What I need is something >40 years old, with 4 seats (or more) that can also haul off garden trash (branches, hedge clippings, that kind of stuff). I have been looking at Renault 4 vans, but is there something else I should be looking at?

Wife needs to drive it as well, so stylish / cute stuff gets bonus points!

[skinnylew]

Are the Renault 4 vans 4 seaters? First thought was the Citroen Arcadiane but not a 4 seater other than that maybe an old commercial with an extra row off seats like a Commer/Dodge or similar.

[kevins]

How about a Reliant Kitten estate?

[sebastiaan]

skinnylew, yes, some of them are 4 seaters and I'd need one of those. Thin pickings though...

kevins: thanks for the suggestion, but meh. I'm also not in the UK, so finding one would be a little tricky, especially if I wanted a LHD one.

[mikehamid]

As a Renault 4 owner, I can vouch that they'd be awesome. If she can handle the dash mounted gear change, then it's very easy to drive.

How about a Volvo estate of some variety?

[melle]

I wouldn't look any further, R4F4/6s are cool vans if you can still find one! They were everywhere in NL in the 90's/ early 2000s, not sure how many will be left now.

[sebastiaan]

Having a look at one tomorrow. They're not cheap anymore though.

[melle]

I know. Many were ran down as cheap tax free vans when the threshold was still 25 years. A Renault Express would be cool too (I've been a PTT Post driver, we had loads of those), but they're pretty rare too now.

[sebastiaan]

The one i've got my eye on is an import, post the rule change. Seems indeed most are. This one's an '83 so has front discs and also the "big" 1100 engine. Easier to live with versus the older ones, I think.

[mikehamid]

That'll be the Cléon engine then. Where's it from originally? French, Spanish or Slovenian built?

[sebastiaan]

No clue where it was built. Is that important?

[mikehamid]

You get a few trim level differences, depending on the country.

[sebastiaan]

So the "never welded healthy car" i went to look at if course wasn't, with holes in the double skinned portion of the floorpan at the pedals and other various places. All fixable, but not in line with the 6.5kEUR price if you ask me.

[rblote]

This is my Acadiane. They came in 4 seater as well. There were stacks in Holland. It's quite rare here in Australia.

[wodge]

Theres loads most of the below are available with smallish engines and still scene tax free in the UK at least:

Peugeot 305 Estate/break
Peugeot 309
Citroen Visa
Citroen GS Estate
Citroen C15 Van from 1984
Renault 18 Estate
Renault 25 hatch
MK3 Ford Escort Estate
MK3/4/5 Ford Cortina Estate.
Ford Sierra Estate
MK1/2 Granada Estate
Morris Marina/Ital Estate
Hillman Hunter Estate
Austin Allegro Estate
Triumph Herald Estate


The Citroen GS Estate is probably closest

[wodge]

Not enough pics in this thread:

[metalshapes]

[misteralz]

Polo Breadvan?

Matra Rancho?