One would need to secure one’s beret if allocated dicky seat viewing site..a breath taking experience no doubt..
Project Hélène has finally landed. Rejoice!
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I'd be interested to know what words the French use to refer to a dicky seat..anyone?
I've been in aforementioned dicky seat and it is quite comfortable with lots of leg room. It's not that wide so I would have to acquire a couple of miniature models like the ones that Louis used in his publicity shots. I believe he just seconded girls from the office to save money.
A fine smear of Tarzan's grip across the forehead would secure most berets I reckon.
I've been in aforementioned dicky seat and it is quite comfortable with lots of leg room. It's not that wide so I would have to acquire a couple of miniature models like the ones that Louis used in his publicity shots. I believe he just seconded girls from the office to save money.
A fine smear of Tarzan's grip across the forehead would secure most berets I reckon.
The air conditioning slot which feeds fresh air and a few mud wasps under the dash area would double as a viewing slot when planning an ambush on approaching troublesome parking officers.
The plaque says to use only genuine Renault parts. Okay Louis. 
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I took a quick look at some (well 3) old car mags I found online and a couple on my computer, and found a variety of expressions for a dicky seat.
siège de coffre,
siège occasionnel,
siège basculant,
sièges en spider,
strapontin
all showed up - mainly referring to US cars, eg the 38 Chev. I suspect spider refers to sports car seats.
It can be found left in English - dicky or rumble. The only phrase most articles used was siège de belle-mère which might lead to a quick divorce. Strapontin is a folding seat generally.
Most often I found siège de coffre, which is also used in the French Wikipedia,
fr.wikipedia.org
You might like this article (you will like the pictures)
How on earth do you get into one without boots on the paintwork?
siège de coffre,
siège occasionnel,
siège basculant,
sièges en spider,
strapontin
all showed up - mainly referring to US cars, eg the 38 Chev. I suspect spider refers to sports car seats.
It can be found left in English - dicky or rumble. The only phrase most articles used was siège de belle-mère which might lead to a quick divorce. Strapontin is a folding seat generally.
Most often I found siège de coffre, which is also used in the French Wikipedia,
Siège de coffre — Wikipédia
You might like this article (you will like the pictures)
La place de la belle-mère - Guide Automobiles Anciennes
La place de la belle-mère, dossiers, actualités, événements, salons, films et séries
www.guide-automobiles-anciennes.com
How on earth do you get into one without boots on the paintwork?
JohnW, briefly cause we are off topic - the diesel Landy could get to 60 mph, but ran out of oomph on the many miles long hills that were built up from the Hawkesbury River on the motorway, for example. Then it was third or even slow second gear with a blast of black exhaust smoke. If the drum brakes were in good condition the thing could stop surprisingly quickly. Unusually there were leading and trailing shoes on both axles. Engine braking was good on steep descents.
Thanks for the research. The phrase siège de belle-mère (mother-in-law seat) is also used by the British. There's no way I'm calling it strapon-tin. Nope not doing it.
Boots on the paintwork is avoided by the step pads shown here but you'd need long legs.
Underneath the siège de belle-mère is a nice discrete little storage area for delicate items. Would come in handy when smuggling contraband or dirty money across the Swiss border. Also under the seat is a small removable sheet metal access panel and an oiling point for the top of the transverse suspension spring. 
If I were your beau-père I think I would enter the siège de coffre by putting my muddy clodhoppers on the driver's seat and stepping over.
A giant, sorry, géant, couldn't use those steps, let alone une belle-mère
A giant, sorry, géant, couldn't use those steps, let alone une belle-mère
This more spacious model appears to use bits from the same parts box - https://www.guide-automobiles-anciennes.com/VOITURE/renault-vivastella-limousine-pg9-2518.htm
Ah but one needs to think like a French man. To hoist small children up into the siège de belle-mère would be a sinch. Hoisting une petite dame française would be both a gallant and sure way of protecting the paint work.
Ah yes in the years 1933,34 and 35 many of the sports sedans had similar parts. Some parts were even extended to the late 1940s and 50s after the war.
Extremely impressiver Graham.
You have inadvertently answered a question for me. That is how to fill the pockets in the upholstery. The 203 seats will require the same process. Cotton wadding looked like a horrid way to go... The 20mm foam you talk about, is that thick or wide? If wide, what thickeness did you use? So many question I know, but gee I'm impressed with your handy work.
Cheers,
Dan
Hey Dan, My foam strips were 50mm wide and 20mm thick, square cut edges and nothing fancy. The foam strips are squished up between the spoons and gently inserted into the pockets. The spoons are then removed one at a time.
From down in the bowels of the roomy rear seat footwell is this pic showing part of the B pillar cross brace . The rest of it is built in between the seat back springs.
Cheers Graham, I'll be doing some Google and Youtube searches on how to spoon.
Guilty my Lord! Yes, I drove it at nearly 60. Had to stop for a tractor that pulled out. Faded practically to nothing by the time we pulled up. They were OK for the time, in fairness.
Electrics
This is how it should look if I were to keep it 6 volt and original..
But I didn't want a bar of that so I went my own way. Instead I adopted a 12 volt system complete with a 12 volt (not Bosch) alternator and front/rear indicators. For the harnesses going to all four corners I used 5 and 7 core trailer wire because it kinda matches the look of what was used originally. I used old terminal blocks and switches where ever I could. For a simple electrical system there sure was a lot of wiring but the trailer wire made it quite a lot easier.
Work behind the dash.
Three main components seen here are the 4-way fuse box (only 3 used). The twin horn relay and the big black box which contains the Scintex equivalent to brake/indicator relays. See here https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/index.php?threads/electrickery-question.145782/
All the wiring etc works a treat.
For the charging system I used a very small alternator often favoured by race car engineers because of it's small size. With a bit of black magic I managed to disguise it as a 1934 generator. It's really hard to pick but it works.
This is how it should look if I were to keep it 6 volt and original..
But I didn't want a bar of that so I went my own way. Instead I adopted a 12 volt system complete with a 12 volt (not Bosch) alternator and front/rear indicators. For the harnesses going to all four corners I used 5 and 7 core trailer wire because it kinda matches the look of what was used originally. I used old terminal blocks and switches where ever I could. For a simple electrical system there sure was a lot of wiring but the trailer wire made it quite a lot easier.
Work behind the dash.
Three main components seen here are the 4-way fuse box (only 3 used). The twin horn relay and the big black box which contains the Scintex equivalent to brake/indicator relays. See here https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/index.php?threads/electrickery-question.145782/
All the wiring etc works a treat.
For the charging system I used a very small alternator often favoured by race car engineers because of it's small size. With a bit of black magic I managed to disguise it as a 1934 generator. It's really hard to pick but it works.
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