The 1957 Dope Dauphine

[Turbell]

Love a Dauphine, my old Man has a minty mint Gordini one he did from a 400 quid wreck that was in Practical Classics a few years ago, did real rally in a Gordini last year, strange to think I looked at a '65 one when I was 17 that was A modded Hermes car and was rotten 30 years ago ( @rustandrotten will remember it) how time flies!
Looks tops slammed, we're off to Reims next weekend to buy loads more shite!

 

[Turbell]

In local Renault showroom for New Clio launch with my 750, I know it's not everyone on here's thing....but they were they cars of that era, Gordini was the RS of that time, plenty were modded at the time, including superchargers.

 

[Adey]

awesome stuff, ive seen some old pics of supercharged ones. I do love a mint retro, its just so HIGH

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Due to be collecting her on Saturday all being well, properly excited

You never actually drove it further than round the block when you first had it did you..? My memory was it wasn’t road registered..?

That’ll be proper awesome driving that home this weekend!! Hope the weather is kind to you!!

 

[Adey]

It was all registered just wasnt safe/solid enough to drive. So yeah this will be my first proper drive in it too......

 

[DaveL485]

Jesus mate, it's a good job you didn't take it anywhere it would have exploded in a cloud of orange dust!

Whoever took that on has put a lot of time in, i'm surprised he's sold it on after that.

 

[Adey]

To be honest when i messaged him to say i had the money and wanted it he did say he was going to keep it if i didnt have it. Has had stupid amounts of interest in it. Hopefully all goes well driving it back tomorrow, probably wont lol

 

[Big Steve - Raider]

Ive really got the horn for this car @Adey

 

[Adey]

130 mile drive home through a snow storm! but shes back. Will update with some pics soon. Properly chuffed

 

[Adey]

So today was the day i was to collect the Dope, @Jezer101 was to be my co pilot. I picked Jez up at about 8.30 and we headed on our way. The weather wasn't pretty but metoffice had promised me sunshine for the middle of the day both up north and back home. Winner winner.
The gentle drive up to Warrington to collect the car was pretty uneventful, 3 stops on the way before arriving at the unit where she was kept. A brief walk around the car and a quick drive to the petrol station to familiarise me with the car was done then the paperwork signed.

We hit the road in what has to be the slowest car i have ever driven 0-60 is times in minutes if it actually gets there. Urgh this was going to be a long drive home. A slight incline in the road will see the cruising 60mph drop to 45mph as i was trading places up and down the slow lane with lorry's. I think there might be a slight ignition fault as a few times i felt it limit itself and struggle to get past 50. Then the snow hit, Fuck me it got cold. No heater, no door seals, snow coming down heavy from nowhere and i had to crack the window to stop the windscreen fogging up. Where was my mid day sunshine ffs. Anyway we soldiered on, the sunshine broke through briefly but the heavens again opened about half hour from home. The single speed wipers that dont touch the windows very well doing their best to give me some visibility.

I rocked up home after a single brief stop for fuel (gauge isnt too accurate) 130 miles later, more than a little broken from driving a heavily lowered 63 year old Renault with next to no front suspension travel with a huge smile on my face and no feeling in my toes. Im so stoked ive got this heap back. 1 day off 4 years of the original UK registration date from the first time i owned her. One hell of a cool car that got plenty of thumbs up and funny looks on the way home. Cant wait to use her and sprinkle her with a little Adeyspec magic. Ive got to gain back a few more HP to make it more user friendly. I dont think many of the original 27 horses are still in the stable.

 

[andybond]

I cant believe it was 4 years almost to the day you got rid of it! Time flies!

 

[Adey]

It was 4 years from date of registration not the sale, close though. I think i sold it in October of 2016 after looking at the paperwork.

 

[Adey]

 

[Jezer101]

I clocked you at 59mph going down hills on the GPS. Up hills we got as low as 41mph irrc. Your lane wondering was worrying...

 

[Adey]

yeah really need to remember I'm on the other side of the car........

 

[Jezer101]

yeah really need to remember I'm on the other side of the car........

I didn't actually realise it was LHD until we got on the motorway. There were a few moments when people passing you braked as you went completely over the lines. Haha

 

[andybond]

It really does look well @Adey

 

[Adey]

cheers man, I know its something alot wont get or think it belongs in the scrap yard but it's super cool in my eyes

 

[andybond]

I get it. I get it alot.

I would be tempted to put in an engine like your twingo has ...

 

[Adey]

I get it. I get it alot.

I would be tempted to put in an engine like your twingo has ...

Unfortunately its not as easy to swap an engine in these as you would of thought being a Renault. My engine as far as im aware rotates the opposite way so that you can use a starting handle, meaning the gearbox does too. The R8/10 stuff can be made to fit but hard to find and pricey. The mk1 r5 gearboxs dont fit and are unsuitable due to the dauphines swing axle setup. Could end up being some PMT style mix mash. Theres an 1100cc engine that i think will fit but finding the right one will be a pain. There are tuning options for my engine to bring it up from the oem 27bhp to circa 55bhp...