You are looking at a 1978 Renault Estafette R2137, super rare even in it's native France. This one is Left Hand Drive and UK registered and has MOT until the 19th April 2011 and I've just taxed it for 6 months, until the end of July 2011 so it can be driven away legally with insurance.

It seems to have originated near Angoulême in South West France, you can tell by the spare number plate on the rear (used when driving with the tailgate down) although it's last registration shows it registered in Saint Longis near Alençon. It is a solid vehicle but not without its issues. I swapped this for an equally rare GAZ Volga and immediately I acquired it the water pump went. Amazingly this was still available through Renault UK as are most parts, secondhand parts are plentiful on French eBay & www.leboncoin.com , once this was repaired I drove it a little around London and that's about it. I found the driving position to be great, the engine to be reliable and to be a real and honest head turner.

The bodywork is in pretty good, it seemed to have started life as a Co-Op blue colour and been resprayed white some time ago, there are patches of rust on the doors and tailgate, there is a hole inside the offside front step, repairable. The sills have fibreglass in them but they are not structural as this has a very meaty chassis which is in very good shape. The canvas (well plastic) tilt is in good shape, I've not taken it off or even lowered the rear flap in my time but it does look remarkably good. The glass is in good order although the drivers sliding window doesn't lock, neither for that matter do the doors, it lives inside though! The rear lenses have holes in them and they will need taping for the MOT, the glass is mostly missing from the drivers door mirror too.

The interior is as you'd expect for a working Estafette, the drivers seat has tears in the plastic, the speedo glass is broken but it works well and it is generally a bit scruffy. What few controls there are work well although the choke cable sometimes sticks but is sorted in a couple of seconds. The heater has been disconnected for some reason although the cabin gets nice and warm because the engine is in the cab!

So it starts well and feels nice and strong, my little trips around South West London have highlighted a couple of things, the brakes are a bit sharp, possibly sticking a bit, the rear exhaust box is blowing and there is some clutch judder! 

The reason I am selling this is that I have just not feeling it any more, my little Austin A35 was stolen today and that was my pride and joy and that, along with my mojo, has gone. These pick ups just never come up for sale so I am putting it on with no reserve knowing it is solid but will need work for the next MOT and general TLC otherwise. It is showing 97911kms which equates to 60839 miles, I've no idea if this is genuine. It comes with a V5, MOT until April and tax until the end of July, a copy of the carte gris (French V5) and the last controle technique (French MOT) and not much else. It is garafed in South London and inspections are encouraged! I am happy to sell anywhere but payment in cash and collection within 7 days of auction close please! I have no idea of the value so it is a £1 start and no reserve, thanks for looking and happy bidding!