In Brief:

• Charming and eye-catching example of Renault's elegant Floride
• Finished in Metallic Gold over a Tan leather interior with a Brown soft top
• Exported and then re-imported into the UK in 1991
• Just 2 UK owners since 1991

Auctioneer's Notes:

A charming 1961 Renault Floride, finished in Metallic Gold and complemented by a Tan and Black interior. Bought by The Vendor as a summer runabout for his wife, the car is now offered as a light project as, sadly, it has not proved to be to her liking. With its elegant French styling, rear-engine layout and striking period colour scheme, this Floride has plenty of appeal for anyone looking for something stylish, unusual and highly characterful.

Maintenance & Condition:

Recent expenditure includes new brake cylinders all round and a set of new tyres. Further invoices on file detail a replacement radiator block, fuel pump, brake lining axle set, brake cylinders, handbrake cable and master cylinder, along with various sundry parts. The car is described as a light project, and prospective buyers should expect some further fettling and improvement to bring it fully up to standard.

History:

Original documents on file show that the car was manufactured in 1961, while the V5 records first UK registration in 1994. This suggests the Floride may have been exported and later re-imported, although there is no paperwork trace to confirm this part of its history. The accompanying invoices provide a useful record of recent maintenance and parts replacement.

The Model:

The Renault Floride was one of the most stylish small European cars of the early 1960s, combining Renault Dauphine-based running gear with elegant coachwork associated with Pietro Frua. Known as the Caravelle in the United States and Canada, the Floride offered buyers chic continental motoring in coupé, cabriolet and hardtop forms. Powered by Renault’s 845cc Ventoux inline-four engine, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual gearbox, the Floride was not designed as an outright sports car, but rather as a fashionable and characterful compact grand tourer.

Sale Insight:

With its Metallic Gold paintwork, attractive Tan and Black interior, useful recent expenditure and documents confirming its 1961 manufacture, this Renault Floride Coupé is an appealing and unusual classic. Offered as a light project, it provides scope for improvement while retaining considerable charm, rarity and period presence.

Estimate:
£4,000 - £5,000