real French Mighty Mouse, the Renault R-8 Gordini isn’t a street car, nor was it meant to be. It’s designed for racing and rally enthusiasts only, and we strongly confirm that it does its job in these areas very well Suspension, steering, engine, and interior have been re- designed to meet the competition driver's special needs. All 2 competitor needs to do is install a roll bar and paint a ‘number on the door ~ the Gordini's ready, willing, and able. Our test ¢ar could realy fly. AS a matter of fact, it was flown to the\ West Coast via TWA jet cargo carrier so we could test it before its formal introduction. One idea hit us on initial Inspection and stayed with us during the short time we enjoyed the litte Frenchman: its purposeful design. From its 15-inch Dunlop “SP” sport tires {o the twin tach speedo instruments on its special dash and back again to the two-tone Marchal Bi-Stridor air horns, this [GORDINY'S BACKYARD RAN TO TIGHT, TWISTY MOUNTAIN ROADS — THE KIND RALLYS ARE USUALLY RUN ON. BODY LEAN IS HARDLY EVIDENT. a-G0-Go car had enthusiast written all over it. It proved an excep: tionally deceptive vehicle, both to us and to other motorists. Until the big, legible tach read 4000 rpm, not much hap pened. But from 4000 up to 7000 rpm, things turned wild. With 95 hp on tap in a 1740-pound car, performance wat striking. Other motorists were confused and surprised wher the little blue car passed them on curves, straightaways, 0 leapt away from them at traffic lights. Completely deceptive from the driver's viewpoint as well, the car refused to lear in fast corners and it didn’t show any tendency to overstee! until we reached the extreme limit of adhesion. The Gordini R-8 was great fun to drive fast on tight, winding roads. It gained our complete confidence quickly The car handled very well for a small sedan, the four-wheel disc brakes performed flawlessly, and handling was all any- ‘one could expect ar ask from this type of car. Many timesRENAULT OF FRANCE COMES UP WITH A 95-HP, 100-MPH MIGHTY MOUSE FOR THE SERIOUS WEEKEND RALLYIST diated. ae power assist serV0.sono 60-00 continued we found ourselves far above the speed limit before we realized it, so completely deceptive was its willingness. The French put their car together well, too. No rattles, squeaks, and only slight wind whistle at speed reached our ears. Big, soft, firm bucket seats were an outstanding fea ture. These seats can hold their own in comfort, support and relaxation with any seats we've ever tried. Now to get down to specifics. Zero to 60 mph in 13.9 seconds is impressive for any 1108cc sedan—so is a quarter-mile clocking of 72 mph in 19.5 seconds with two people aboard. Equally impressive was the car's 97-mph top speed, where it felt steady as a rock. And the straight, quick, swerve-free stops spoke well of its very strong disc brakes coupled with those Dunlop “SP” tires. A few rainy nights proved the car a good wet-weather vehicle as well, It didn’t leak. The wipers did their job well, but most important handling remained quite good —the neutral feel prevailed Special modifications that separate Gordinis from regular R.8s include an oil cooler, twin Solex two-throat carbs, a 45-amp battery, special generator, the Marchal twin horns, and a special fogamp switch and inspection light. The hydraulic disc brakes are assisted by a Hydrovac servo unit, and special, thicker brake pads (Ferodo #733) are fitted. Heavy-duty suspension, coil springs all around, twin shocks on each rear wheel, a H-D anti-roll bar, and Renault's poor road’ front axle are part of the package. Special crossmember stiffeners, bumper stiffeners, and engine crossmembers increase the car's ability to take the rigors cof competition. The dashboard is unique to the Gordini, with big air vents, round dials, and padding. ‘As an enthusiast’s sports/racing sedan, the Gordini fills the bill, As a family sedan —forget it. Traffic isn't for its hyper-tuned engine. It bucks like a bronco when chugging with traffic. But out on the rally route where real perform ance counts, the Gordini comes into its own. An added attraction: gas mileage of 23 to 33 mpg. per RENAULT GORDINI (R-8 1100 SPECIAL) OPTIONS ow TEST CAR: fat BASE PRICE: $2595 po. East Coast and Catt ports (OboMETER READING AT START OF TEST: 200 hipsters RECOMMENDED ENGINE RED LINE: £500 rm, PERFORMANCE ae = i Gia i ebseed) Sovegonate: Eo est ‘osered mph per 1000 rpm In tap ese 157 mb ‘Stopping Distances-trom”30 mph, 265 Wt; Hom 60 mph, iA) Me ‘SPECIFICATIONS FROM MANUFACTURER ent. ating 4. ‘StesFitk & pinion mith coment (Gi compustion chambers” Tuning ameter: 30% ft Stroke: 2a is. Dpacerent 76 cae. ‘Torgve, 76 tbs fea Se0t Seren: FD ea ipntion 20H ei ens! Lockens rdruic Epa heed near cat Eective ling area: 43¥ shore remain, ‘eae Warsale—ingependent Tekeront 48.0" cer, - Bee FOUR-WHEEL DISCS PROVED SUPER STOPFERS WHEN MATCHED WITH DUNLOP “SP” TIRES. FADE, SWERVE, AND NOSE DIVE WERE NON-EXISTENT MOTOR TREND/JUNE 1965. 67