Dave C's Gordini legend!

S

Stuey

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From Practical Classics, Jan 2004, letters:

(Your) Gordini artice said there were no RHD 12 Gordinis. While that is true, the Australian importer of Renaults imported six and converted them using parts for RHD 12s.

All were sold to people with racing licenses, and all had the 160hp kit with the bigger pistons and liners as well as a more heavily worked head.

One of these has recently been fully restored by a Renault specialist, and on a track day he surprised a Ford Falcon GT driver as well as himself when he overtook the 5.8 litre monster on the main straight at well over 120mph.

Onya Dave - now of international repute!

Stuey
 
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Just Cars seems about to legendify* Dave as well....that Renault series in JC just goes on and on.

:dance:

* apologies to Dubya
 
Why can't people remember that it wasn't a Renault importer. Renault Australia, a branch of the factory in France, assembled cars in Australia, and sanctioned the conversion of the 12G's to RHD using 12TL parts. There were no fully imported Renaults bought into Australia for sale when the 12G's were imported. Also the Australian boffins actually made improvements to the cars sold in AUS to make the RHD Renaults the best of their type in the world. I was going to add IMHO, but it would have to be plain to see that the AUS cars are superior to the full imports when compared side by side, thank the Japanese for that!

I was also under the impression at the time, that the only 12G in private ownership while the cars competed in the various contemporary rally championships was the one owned by Rod Slater in WA (which is the Dave Cavanagh car). The remaining cars being owned by Renault Australia.

Also 5000 odd 12G's (rather than the 2000 odd in the article) were produced up late 1974 when it was replaced by the 17G
 
I've spoken to a guy at Eurocars (Rod Slater's business - sold my R12 new) who claimed that Rod's car wasn't still in existence. The guy is well a well known and respected Renault fan and has been there for years. I'd mentioned Dave C's car (well before this forum was around) and he had his doubts...

Don't know the story there, but I assume that Rod didn't know at the time that his car was still up and running. I'd just mentioned it because I thought they'd be interested, but they dismissed it out of hand.

Stuey
 
Stuey said:
I've spoken to a guy at Eurocars (Rod Slater's business - sold my R12 new) who claimed that Rod's car wasn't still in existence. The guy is well a well known and respected Renault fan and has been there for years. I'd mentioned Dave C's car (well before this forum was around) and he had his doubts...

Don't know the story there, but I assume that Rod didn't know at the time that his car was still up and running. I'd just mentioned it because I thought they'd be interested, but they dismissed it out of hand.

Stuey
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Hmmm interesting, I had a phone call from someone at Eurocars a few years ago, they said "We hear you own Rod Slaters old R12 Gordini", I said yes thats right and they said thank you and hung up. I never heard another word.

I can prove beyond a shaddow of doubt that it's deffinatly Rods car.

Interesting the comment about the GTHO, I remember that day, it was at Winton about 5 years ago. I remember sitting there looking at this huge GT Falcon in my mirrows thinking I'm going to be in trouble when we take off, much to my surprise (and his) I left him behind, infact at the end of the first lap I was about 100 meters in front, by the second lap about 2 hundred meters, by the time we were finished I had the length of the straight on him. I thought he just playing with me but when we returned to the pits his brakes sure did stink and they sure were hot and he ran over to check out the little Renault that he couldn't catch. I didn't actually pass him (I was already in front), the only V8 I passed was a fully restored 350 Monaro but he was to slow, either Monaro's are terrible slow or he was being gentle.

Number of R12G's built is 5188, number of right hand drive is 7, number bought to Australia is 7, number surviving in Australia is 6. want to know what happened to number 7, well that's another story.

Legend??? NO, enthusiast YES.

David.
 
David Cavanagh said:
Number of R12G's built is 5188, number of right hand drive is 7, number bought to Australia is 7, number surviving in Australia is 6. want to know what happened to number 7, well that's another story.

Legend??? NO, enthusiast YES.

David.
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Was it like teabags? One for each State, one spare and one East Africa Safari car?
 
Way back when the 12Gs were new, two enthusiasts in Brisbane had 1 each of the 7. (I admit, I thought there were only 6.) Lloyd Muller and Rod Browning. I don't know how much rallying they did, or the results, but I do see Lloyd from time to time, and I will ask him about those days.
 
Ahhhh, Dave, that'd be right. You won't remember, but I spoke to you a few years back and you told me all about it - we spoke for about 1/2 an hour running through the specs of your car. Next time I spoke to Eurocars and mentioned it (knowing they were big Ren enthusiasts) they seemed a bit funny about it for some reason. I don't doubt the authenticity of your car - the guy almost seemed - sort of - jealous? Not sure...but he pretended he wasn't interested...

By the way, the writer of the letter was some guy from Tassie...a customer?

Cheers

Stu
 
alan moore said:
Way back when the 12Gs were new, two enthusiasts in Brisbane had 1 each of the 7. (I admit, I thought there were only 6.) Lloyd Muller and Rod Browning. I don't know how much rallying they did, or the results, but I do see Lloyd from time to time, and I will ask him about those days.
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Hi Alan,

I used to know Lloyd and his sons very well but have lost contact with him. I actually bought my first R17 off him. I knew he used to race when he was younger, but I never knew he had a 12G. He has sure had some interesting cars. He got me into Renaults in the first place. Last I knew (some years ago) he had bought a Alfa Montreal.
If you still have his phone number it would be great if you could pass it along.

Also what pads did you change to on NOT 750?

Craig
 
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