1968 Renault R10 Major

Description

• UNSOLD at auction April 2023
• Exceedingly rare now 
• Very collectable 
• Good condition 
• From a small collection
• Rear engine 
• Four-wheel disc brakes 

This is a very rare and significant car in a number of ways. Importantly, it was the last in the line of rear engine Renaults. Massively overlooked for several years, these eclectic classics are not only uber rare but very collectable and in this condition, very usable too. 

History 

Part of The Hockley Collection. We are pleased to have this and several other classics on our platform. The collection is an eclectic mix of classic cars and bikes. Graham, our vendor tells us he “only buys stuff he likes”. Most of them have been stored for a number of years (see pics). It is time for scale down, more likely than not to make space for some others. 

Outside 

The Renault 10 is essentially a Renault 8 that has been stretched about a little to provide more legroom, more interior space and a bit more room up front for luggage. 

The bodywork is in very decent condition. It has been resprayed at some point in the past and the paintwork has worn well. Aside from the odd wear and tear scratch, there is no significant damage. There are a couple of cracks in the paintwork on the roof, presumably caused by the sun drying it out. 

We’re told the Renault 10 has been in a hot climate and “the underside of the car is solid”.  

The front and rear bumpers do have some areas where the chrome has worn thin. The right-hand rear light surround has a crack but is otherwise in place. The remainder of the body trims are in place and in good order. 

Inside 

By today’s standards the interior was sparsely furnished but was in keeping with the Volkswagens, Fiats and Datsuns of its time. But, as always, the French manufacturer was ahead of the curve.  

Features included reclining bucket seats, dual sun visors, a two-speed heater blower and two-speed windshield wipers. The front windows rolled up and down too.  

The interior has had a nice refresh in places. There is a somewhat interesting and original faux woodgrain overlay on the instrument panel which is very popular now in certain Swedish Superstores. 

Graham tells us; “The interior is very good but where some sections of the seat covers have been replaced there is a noticeable colour difference in the red vinyl. The dash, carpets etc are all good”. The images are in our Gallery. 

Mechanicals  

The new Renault 10 had an all-new, 956cc inline-four, code-named the Sierra. It was enlarged to 1108cc for the Renault 10 Major. The unit featured an iron block, alloy head and removable wet liners. A four-speed gearbox was standard. The Renault 10 was even further ahead of the competition in other areas too.  

The Renault 10 featured disc brakes on all four wheels, highly sophisticated equipment for any car of its time. Steering was by rack and pinion, with a relatively quick 3.4 turns from lock to lock. The suspension was fully independent, by control arms and coil springs up front, and swing axles, radius rods and coil springs in the rear. 

We asked Graham to tell us what that combination of mechanicals is like on the road: 

“The motor fires up easily and soon comes off choke to settle to a nice even tick over with no fuss. On the road it performs better than you would expect from such a small capacity engine, pulling well in all gears with smooth changes from the gear box. It’s fun along the B roads and handles nicely. Having 4-wheel disc brakes makes itself apparent as soon as you have to slow down from speed for the first time”. 

Summary 

It’s easy to understand the enduring popularity of all-time hits like the MGB, Triumph Spitfire and even the odd Maxi. But what if you want something that’s a little bit out of the ordinary that is still inexpensive and fun to own? 

A car that’s small, with enough space to bring the family along? Easy to own but can still cruise at dual carriageway speeds? Importantly, something that drives and stops well. With all-wheel disc brakes, fully independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a rear-mounted engine, the Renault 10 fits the bill perfectly. 

These are great as first time or second car classics, but we suspect that in this condition, this one will be snapped up by a Renault enthusiast or a collector. Scarcity means prices are moving. Finding one is the first hurdle. Finding one in good condition is the bigger hurdle and this one ticks all the boxes. 

Footnote 

All the classics in the Hockley Collection start and run. However, as always after a classic has rested up for a period, there will be an element of recommissioning involved before returning properly and safely to the roads.