Renault 4 Price Guide 2008 - 2009
An update to the buyers guide. Renault 4s are now recognised as classics, but prices still seem low. Parts availibility is improving, and an increasing number of owners are restoring their cars, so I've included more detail in the upper range of prices. It is 22 years since the last Renault 4 was imported into the UK, and some cars are becoming a bit iffy. See the buyers guide for what to look out for. |
Price |
Condition |
£50 - £200 |
In this price range you'll find cars without an MOT that would need a lot of welding to make roadworthy. (Spares cars or restoration projects). A GTL without an MOT and not much chance of getting one without a lot of work might well go for £50 to someone who wants some parts. Early 750cc and 850cc cars can be worth £250 in parts (depending on the condition of those parts), so can be worth a premium. |
£200 to £500 |
Here you'll find ropey cars with an MOT, or quite often reasonably good cars without an MOT. A car in this range will probably need some money to keep it on the road, but you might be lucky and buy a nice car that only needs a few parts and perhaps a lick of paint from an owner who doesn't have the time. These are normally cars that are worthy of redemption, but cars that would not make it through the next MOT or Control Technique without some work. |
£500 to £1250 |
A reliable if slightly tatty car with a long MOT. The majority of unrestored running UK Renault 4s will sell in this price range. These are cars that will likely to need some investment to make them nice, but especially at the top end they should be cars that will get through the next MOT without great expense. For example I would expect Rosalie the Renault 4 to sell in this price range (since that webpage her rear suspension mountings have been repaired). |
£1250 to £2000 |
They might be original cars that have been well looked after, or solid cars that have benefited from some good restoration work. They should be presentable and drive well with no major repairs needed any time soon. Most UK Renault 4s won't be in this price range. Be sure not to pay this much for any car with rot in the rear suspension mountings or cars with botched repairs in this area. It's a common problem that either Renospeed or Clementine can repair for about £500, so if they need doing knock that off your offer. See the buyers guide for details and be fussy. |
£2000 to £3000 |
Rust free and low mileage original car, or a well restored car with any welding carried out to a very high standard (expect a photographic record that shows that the rear suspension or any rusty metal were removed for the repair). Cars in this price range should drive very well, and should provide many years of trouble free motoring. Cosmetics should be good too. You should expect admiring glances when you bring these cars to a Renault 4 meeting. Ermintrude has twice changed hands at the lower end of this price range. Currently she's probably in the previous price range, but if I ever get around to properly fixing the rear end and she ought to move up to the middle of this one. |
Over £3000 |
Serious enthusiasts will spend this much to buy the sort of car that only crops up every few years. Could be a very original car in near perfect condition, or a car that has benefited from a high quality restoration. Problem with these cars is they are rarely offered for sale. Even across Europe they are rare. Ornella is being offered for £3500 (see the forum). |
Other variants
- Earlier cars built before 1973 tend to sell for perhaps 30% more than the GTL, but these cars rarely appear on the market.
- Later LHD cars imported from Europe will tend to sell for similar prices to UK cars, but are often less rusty. LHD isn't a hassle on Renault 4s - it's only useful to have RHD when you are planning to overtake other cars.
- The van variants rarely come on the market, though prices seem similar to the equivalent saloon.
A note on pricing
Please ignore price guides in magazines such as Practical Classics. At the time of writing they suggest you can buy a nice early Renault 4 in good condition for £1250. I recently paid 2800 euros for a nice early car bought in the south of France, and the total price to me after bringing it home and some fettling will likely exceed £3000, and I still think I have a bargain. To restore one to the same condition would have cost me much more.
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