No power steering and a fuel gauge that requires engine-out repairs? This is a definite French classic
“It’s what I call a ‘yes, but’ car,” says Danny Maclean of his Renault Caravelle Convertible 1100.
“Yes, it has brakes, but they have no servo. Yes, it has steering, but it’s not power-assisted. People used to call the Caravelle a poor man’s Ferrari. I think you’d need to have a drink or two to see it like that, but still, it is rather beautiful.”
He’s right about that. His Caravelle features some lovely touches, too, such as the very French-looking ‘1100’ script on the engine cover and the mesh grilles either side of the rear numberplate (they’re purely decorative).
This model, launched in 1958 in 2+2 coupé, cabriolet and convertible bodystyles, was the work of Carrozzeria Ghia – so that Italian look is no accident. It was supposed to go head-to-head with cars such as the Triumph Spitfire but, at least in Britain, it was almost twice the price. Danny’s example was registered in 1963, five years before Caravelle production ceased.
It’s the second Caravelle that he has owned. “I bought my first in the late 1970s,” he recalls. “It looked so different compared with the Fords and Vauxhalls most people owned. It wasn’t in such good condition as my current Caravelle and cost me £675, but someone offered me £700 and I took it.
“I regretted selling it for years, and then 18 months ago I saw this one at a classic car auction. It cost me just over £9000, but I’ve spent a fair bit on it since.”
Not on the car’s body or interior, though. The car had been imported from South Africa so hadn’t been troubled by salted roads during its life. It had been partially restored, too, although some of this work needed rectifying.
“I handed it over to Wimbledon Classic Cars to correct what they called ‘the bush fixes’,” explains Danny. “For example, it didn’t have the right brakes and some parts were welded when they shouldn’t have been. It’s now back to its original, factory-fresh state.”
However, some jobs remain: “The odometer is showing 50,758 miles, but it has done since the speedometer stopped working 18 weeks ago. To replace it, you have to remove the engine. The fuel gauge doesn’t work either, and to fix it you need to get to the fuel tank, which is behind the engine, so the engine has to come out for that too. I’m waiting for a third thing to go wrong that requires the removal of the engine and then I’ll have them fixed, because it won’t be cheap.”
Danny’s Caravelle has the more powerful 1108cc engine, introduced in 1964. It replaced the 956cc engine, which itself had replaced the 845cc launch engine.
“The earlier engines were grossly underpowered,” he says, “but with just 55hp, this later engine is also grossly underpowered!
“Coming here today, I looked at Wimbledon Hill and thought ‘this will be interesting’. Still, on the flat and especially on twisty roads, being rear-engined and rear-wheel drive, the car makes the most of what little power it has.
“In any case, for me it’s all about the looks, which are even better with the metal hard top fitted. It’s in cream and sets the Caravelle off a treat.”
