Quote:
Originally Posted by Gerard C
Very nice souvenirs you brought here, reading you pops many things. The interesting moving part at rear of the R4 van, was called le "girafon", the gear lever was also called "parapluie" lets say umbrella style. The good balance between road holding, comfort and inside room offered by the 16 was the basis of its success, the TX and the 5 speed gb came too late. The parapluie lasted till the first series of 5. Do you remember that the R4/6 wheelbase was different from left to right? I guess the 4L Trophy which is 20 years old is not known in UK.
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Due to our on & off relationship with Renault, beginning with the R16 engine in the original Europa, we often had a few Renault company cars at Lotus. We had a few Renault 5's at one time & they were certainly more reliable than the awful Mk3 Cortina's.
Later on, Team Lotus had a couple of Renault 4 vans & during the Lotus 78/79 era one was actually pressed into service with Perspex mock-up fuel tanks in the back to see how fuel surge worked whilst the van lurched & rolled its way round the Hethel test track.
Hope you are enjoying your Assumption Day holiday, Gerard. More like the end of the world here with thunder, lightning & the occasional monsoon!