I am still searching for an R8 but unfortunately without success at this stage. I have a great picture on my wall of Bob Watsons R8 Gordini Rally car. It brings back great memories of a great era of the Australian Rally scene. In the Shannons article associated with the R8, there is a photo of John Oulds R8 in flight at Calder Rallycross. For those that may remember during a race meeting prior to thr first Rallycross meeting, I believe John rolled a beautiful and I believe near new R8 Gordini after the big jump at the northern end of the track during a demonstration. Glenn
I am ex South African and we loved watching the R8 Gordinis blow off just about anything on the race track, I still remember Colin Porter clocking 140 mph down the straight at Kialami. Was quite amazed when I arrived in Australia and found that very few Australians knew about the Gordinis, nice to see some Australians appreciate this amazing car.
I know that I am a little late entering this blog now, but I must say that I love the R8. We had an R8 1100 1965 which was unintentionally transitioned to a Rally car. It was that for 2 1/2 years and had great success and importantly we had a great deal of fun. I would love to get one now but there seem to be none available at all on the market. By the way my car was written off when a drunk driver ran into the back of me on the highway, this caused my car to barrel roll 6 times over a distance of 160 metres. Due to a full harness seat belt and a great little car, I got out of the mess with just a little scratch on my elbow. Glenn
The R8 Gordini was a pretty special car, given the input by Amadee Gordini who was a genius at extracting big performance from small production-based engines. I wish I’d seen the works R8 Gordinis in action during the 1970 ARC and rallycross events - in most photos they’ve got all four wheels off the ground!
I used to have a standard R8, so the R8 Gordini was my hero car at the time. Certainly were great cars in their time. Now I am into Sprites, and also have an MX5.Daily driver is a Forester Turbo.
By the way, my next car but two was Peugeot 205 gti.
Still have her, undergoing some renovation.
Very civilised next generation rally-born hot hatch - another lady.
Never had a Renault 4 Turbo despite lusting after one.Anyone out there able to swap notes about the Pug?
Will probably have to sell her at some point, reluctantly, cos partner wrote off the Subaru wrx Impreza and have bought a car befitting my age (Golf gti turbo mark 6) but I do love these classics.
Ros
We’ve heard a few references to the mighty Cooper S in relation to these French machines. It appears the R8 Gordini was the Cooper S’s greatest opponent!
Yeah. I had one of the ones Bob Watson didn’t break!
Loved that girl - so many guys wanted to buy it cheap cos I looked like a dopy little girl who didn’t know what I had...did they think anyone could drive a beast like that and not know?
Sorry I had to sell it when parts got scarce and money too and too many nights working on the engine and suspension but I still dream about when the cams started working at about 83 mph.
Think it might have been retired to Alpine Affaire in Melbourne
And, yes, it did burn off my mate’s Cooper s
Ros
Yeah, plus rack and pinion steering and some of the best seating you could ask for. They had a number of features that were pretty advanced compared to what Australian manufacturers were offering in their four-door sedans at the time.
As Fastmaster points out, the R8s were fast and rugged little cars, although with the infamous combination of a rear-mounted engine and swing axle rear suspension they could be quite a handful on the limit. What really amazes me is how drivers/navigators in those days competed in national rally championship events without helmets!
I have great memories of Renaults and their legendary reliability in Australia in the 70s. A friend owned an R8, then bought a R10 for his wife. I bought a R12 sedan for my wife and followed it up with a R12 station wagon a few years later. The same friend and I drove his company car, a R16TS from Melbourne to Ayers Rock and back in a week, driving only in the daytime to avoid the ’roos. That car performed faultlessly.
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Comments
GS125
I am still searching for an R8 but unfortunately without success at this stage. I have a great picture on my wall of Bob Watsons R8 Gordini Rally car. It brings back great memories of a great era of the Australian Rally scene. In the Shannons article associated with the R8, there is a photo of John Oulds R8 in flight at Calder Rallycross. For those that may remember during a race meeting prior to thr first Rallycross meeting, I believe John rolled a beautiful and I believe near new R8 Gordini after the big jump at the northern end of the track during a demonstration. Glenn
Streepie
I am ex South African and we loved watching the R8 Gordinis blow off just about anything on the race track, I still remember Colin Porter clocking 140 mph down the straight at Kialami.
Was quite amazed when I arrived in Australia and found that very few Australians knew about the Gordinis, nice to see some Australians appreciate this amazing car.
GS125
I know that I am a little late entering this blog now, but I must say that I love the R8. We had an R8 1100 1965 which was unintentionally transitioned to a Rally car. It was that for 2 1/2 years and had great success and importantly we had a great deal of fun.
I would love to get one now but there seem to be none available at all on the market. By the way my car was written off when a drunk driver ran into the back of me on the highway, this caused my car to barrel roll 6 times over a distance of 160 metres. Due to a full harness seat belt and a great little car, I got out of the mess with just a little scratch on my elbow. Glenn
MarkOastler
The R8 Gordini was a pretty special car, given the input by Amadee Gordini who was a genius at extracting big performance from small production-based engines. I wish I’d seen the works R8 Gordinis in action during the 1970 ARC and rallycross events - in most photos they’ve got all four wheels off the ground!
davidlow
I used to have a standard R8, so the R8 Gordini was my hero car at the time. Certainly were great cars in their time. Now I am into Sprites, and also have an MX5.Daily driver is a Forester Turbo.
rosalind
By the way, my next car but two was Peugeot 205 gti.
Still have her, undergoing some renovation.
Very civilised next generation rally-born hot hatch - another lady.
Never had a Renault 4 Turbo despite lusting after one.Anyone out there able to swap notes about the Pug?
Will probably have to sell her at some point, reluctantly, cos partner wrote off the Subaru wrx Impreza and have bought a car befitting my age (Golf gti turbo mark 6) but I do love these classics.
Ros
MarkOastler
We’ve heard a few references to the mighty Cooper S in relation to these French machines. It appears the R8 Gordini was the Cooper S’s greatest opponent!
rosalind
Yeah. I had one of the ones Bob Watson didn’t break!
Loved that girl - so many guys wanted to buy it cheap cos I looked like a dopy little girl who didn’t know what I had...did they think anyone could drive a beast like that and not know?
Sorry I had to sell it when parts got scarce and money too and too many nights working on the engine and suspension but I still dream about when the cams started working at about 83 mph.
Think it might have been retired to Alpine Affaire in Melbourne
And, yes, it did burn off my mate’s Cooper s
Ros
Tommo
Don’t forget the 5 speed gearbox.
eddyf
Feared by Cooper S lovers :-).. love that car!
MarkOastler
Yeah, plus rack and pinion steering and some of the best seating you could ask for. They had a number of features that were pretty advanced compared to what Australian manufacturers were offering in their four-door sedans at the time.
Boss302
Geez independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes on a cheap family car back then.
amaroo7
Great article. My uncle has one of these since new and is just getting back on the road. Can’t wait for a ride!
MarkOastler
As Fastmaster points out, the R8s were fast and rugged little cars, although with the infamous combination of a rear-mounted engine and swing axle rear suspension they could be quite a handful on the limit. What really amazes me is how drivers/navigators in those days competed in national rally championship events without helmets!
Motown1
It would have been a wild ride back in the day, driving one of these at full speed amongst trees and other obstacles!
Motown1
It would have been a wild ride back in the day, driving one of these at full speed amongst trees and other obstacles!
Fastmaster
I have great memories of Renaults and their legendary reliability in Australia in the 70s. A friend owned an R8, then bought a R10 for his wife. I bought a R12 sedan for my wife and followed it up with a R12 station wagon a few years later. The same friend and I drove his company car, a R16TS from Melbourne to Ayers Rock and back in a week, driving only in the daytime to avoid the ’roos. That car performed faultlessly.