Renault Estafette Camping-car 1979:
Adventure beckons
Exotic places
The holidays are always just around the corner. Many of us have already decided where our adventures will take us next summer. Will we stay close to home or will we set sail for exotic places? The means of transport is partly decisive. Do we prefer to travel by plane or by car or, even better, by motorhome, with our own home at our fingertips?
Photos : Automedia
Photo: The Renault Estafette camper from the factory collection has been completely redesigned, both externally and technically.
21 years
The Renault Estafette has had a long career, from 1959 to no less than 1980, 21 years. The basic shape of the Estafette remained the same. Customers could choose between a short or long version, a pick-up or a chassis cab. Both the short and long versions could be fitted with a raised roof, with the tailgate initially the same height as on the low Estafette, but later set higher into the roof. There were also versions with side windows as a van or for transporting passengers. The best and most sought-after version was the Estafette with roof windows, the Microcar.
Second style radiator grille
Various details were modified, the most obvious being the bumpers which were extended further to the side and the second style radiator grille which was introduced in 1973.
Photo: No detail has been overlooked. Many parts have been updated, while the specific features of this version have been preserved.
Final engine
The Estafette also changed its engine. The first versions were powered by the 845 cc engine from the Dauphine. This was followed a few years later by the 1,108cc 4-cylinder (R8), which delivered much more power and more importantly, torque. The third and final engine was the well-known 1,289 cc engine from the Renault 12 and later many other models. Here too the increase in torque was particularly important in this version. This is an Estafette 1,000 kg that was converted into a camper in its early life. The 1,000 kg version was joined by the 800 kg version with a lower payload (845 kg). The 1,000 kg, which has an official payload of 1,125 kg, was only available with a high roof in later models. In fact, many customers combined the need for more volume with a higher payload. In the case of a motorhome, these 1,000 kg are not really necessary.
Two parts
In this example from the Renault factory collection, it is easy to see that the extended high roof consists of two parts. This is because the roof has been cut in two right down the middle, with an extra track in between. This bridges the extra length of 38 centimetres.
Green version
Sliding doors are a characteristic feature of the Estafette. This green version has none on the driver's side, but one on the right side to access the cargo area or, in this case, the living area.
This 1977 Estafette arrived at Renault at the beginning of 2021. A member of staff had seen the original caravan advertised. The Caravan Salon, the trade fair for caravans, motorhomes and everything to do with them, traditionally takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany in September. Renault is always there to present products or concepts designed for its target audience.
Spacenomad
The exhibition complex opened its doors at the end of August 2021. Renault presented the Trafic Spacenomad. This is a model specially designed for holiday use, with a large folding roof that provides considerable additional interior space for standing and sleeping more people. Deliveries of this model began in early 2022.
A special concept variant, the Trafic Hippie Caviar Hotel, was being developed to add a touch of glamour to this new model. This is an extremely luxurious, designer motorhome. It was inspired by the motorhomes of the 1960s. Part of the exterior (the cabin) is mint green and the car offers extra space with a platform on the roof for sunbathing.
The interior has bright yellow carpets and the cushions are upholstered in a grey woven fabric. Hippie Caviar is emblazoned on the front fenders with a specially designed logo. Because this one-off version was inspired by the 1960s, Renault's history department had a motorhome version of the Estafette tracked down and restored. This process had to be completed at a rapid pace, partly because the show opened in the middle of the French holiday season.
Getting on with it
Renault's Jean-Louis Pichafroy remembers it well. "For us, it was a matter of getting on with it. The car was in good original condition but had to be completely repainted. That meant completely stripping it down inside and out and rebuilding it. The engine had to be overhauled, the entire braking system replaced, new tyres fitted and as much as possible rebuilt with new parts. Think of the lighting, for example”.
Decorated
As well as the hard work in the workshop, the car also had to be decorated. The old brown cushions did not go with the hippie caviar theme of the show where the Estafette was presented to the public alongside the Trafic. The old Renault had already been painted green, so the same colour was sprayed on the Trafic. The logo was quickly applied to the doors, and the typical three-part side windows were already in place.
“Then the designers went to work and managed to adapt the interior to the direction chosen for the Trafic. This meant that the Estafette also have the bright yellow carpets and grey fabric. It was a race against time for everyone involved, but of course we met the deadline.”
Photo: Here you can clearly see where the roof of this Estafette has been extended.
Because the Estafette was completed just before the show and then driven straight to the reserve, the people in the workshop hardly had a chance to drive the gem. We hear this clearly in the explanation when we are handed the keys. And indeed, there are only twenty virgin kilometres on the odometer.
Thevehicle also came with instructions not to step on the yellow carpet with dirty shoes. Of course, the car needed to be kept in mint condition as another camper-related event was already on the agenda.
Photo: There are only 21 kilometres on the odometer, since the Estafette has only been driven from the workshop to storage at the Flins plant since the show.
As soon as the key was turned, the engine started without a hitch. This silky-smooth runningtells you that this is a completely overhauled engine especially after pushing back the choke. The engine responds evenly to the throttle. The 1.3 litre engine, modest by today's standards,was more than capable of keeping the vehicle on its toes in the city and on country roads, as well. For those who do not drive an Estafette every day, the position of the gearlever and the gearshift pattern take some getting used to.
Elongated speedometer
The information on the dashboard is characterised by simplicity. An elongated speedometer is joined at the bottom by a fuel gauge and charge gauge. Add four indicator lights and that's it! What more do you need?
Brake fluid
The fact that the Estafette has been restored to perfection is evident in many details. Just look at all the lighting parts, the chrome rings around the headlights, the logos and even the two brake fluid reservoirs. In those years, the 1,000 kg version already had power brakes with brake pressure limiters on the rear wheels. The dimensions of the drums and the braking surface were the same.
Round table
Fans of classic camping will appreciate the Estafette. At the very back is the full-width kitchen. When the weather is good, you can open the rear door for a chat with the neighbours or a good view of the surroundings. A round table can be placed between the settees, or a double bed can be set up without the table. Directly opposite the sliding door is a substantial, high storage cupboard, and there is also plenty of storage around the kitchen and on the roof of this Hippie Caviar.
Photo: The interior has been decorated by the same designers who created the Trafic Hippie Caviar Hotel for the Düsseldorf Caravan Fair 2021.
En détail…
Renault Estafette (R2137)
Engine:
Type 810.01, 4-cylinder petrol, 8 valves, Solex 32 PDIS carburettor, bore x stroke 73 x 77 mm, capacity 1,289 cc. Power 35 (DIN) hp at 4,500 rpm, torque 89 Nm at 2,500 rpm, compression ratio 8:1. 12-volt electrical system.
Gearbox:
Type 329-27. Manual gearbox with 4 synchronised forward and 1 reverse gear, ratios 1st - 4.38, 2nd - 2.45, 3rd - 1.51, 4th - 1.00, reverse - 3.66, final drive ratio 5.86. Independent suspension with coil springs and hydraulic shock absorbers. Tyres 175 SR 15.
Dimensions:
Length 4.470 metres, width 1.780 metres (without mirrors), height 2.280 metres, wheelbase 2.650 metres. Track width front 1.328 metres, rear 1.478 metres, ground clearance 0.125 metres. Turning circle 10.80 metres (between curbs).
Weight: 1,150 kg, maximum permitted mass 2,225 kg. Fuel tank capacity 37 litres.