Dual controls

[Matthew MacMunn]

Were there ever dual controls fitted to R4 driving school cars or did the heater block fitting mechanical linkage ?

 

[sdvcatfish]

Hi.
I learned to drive in my Dads Bronze R5TL.
It was an early one still with Dash Gear Lever before Renault moved the Stick to the floor.
The only Dusl system fitted was voice activation and handbrake.

 

[angel]

I have somewhere a Renault accessories catalog from the '70s that shows the dual pedal arrangement, to convert the R4 to a driving school car.

 

[Matthew MacMunn]

Ah they did exist then, would love to see the set up if you find it

 

[benchseat]

It is long gone now, but I once owned an R4 with a servo-assisted clutch. By the time I bought the car it had been disconnected but the servo mechanism still worked fine (it was mounted in the engine compartment at the base of the bulkhead). There was a big piston and various levers plus a knob which I think was operated from the driver’s side by a Bowden Cable. So yes, they did exist.

 

[angel]

Here you are:

 

[Matthew MacMunn]

Many thanks , i was wondering how it went through the centre bulkhead

 

[John Edmonds]

From 1971, the converted Renault 4 with hand controls was available to disabled War Pensioners who had previously been issued with converted black Morris Minors. The company undertaking the conversions was 'Reselco', this name being cast in the servo body. Steering column mounted hand controls were usually the clutch (vacuum servo assisted) and accelerator. My dad, who had lost his right leg in the war, was able to use his left leg for braking yet skillfully manipulated the hand controls for accelerator and clutch. By the mid- 1970's, the R4 was phased out in favour of the Ford Escort Popular Mk 2 1.3 auto which was a far easier conversion. Very interested to hear about the R4 conversion memories!

 

[Matthew MacMunn]

From 1971, the converted Renault 4 with hand controls was available to disabled War Pensioners who had previously been issued with converted black Morris Minors. The company undertaking the conversions was 'Reselco', this name being cast in the servo body. Steering column mounted hand controls were usually the clutch (vacuum servo assisted) and accelerator. My dad, who had lost his right leg in the war, was able to use his left leg for braking yet skillfully manipulated the hand controls for accelerator and clutch. By the mid- 1970's, the R4 was phased out in favour of the Ford Escort Popular Mk 2 1.3 auto which was a far easier conversion. Very interested to hear about the R4 conversion memories!

Very interesting, back in the day I drove my bosses Talbot Horizon with a hand throttle and steering wheel ball, took some time to remember to let off the throttle on gear changes.