As we know, I have a history of buying and attempting to revitalize obscure projects. Those days are behind me – mostly – as it’s just too much work to nurse oddball cars back to life, and usually for very little gain on the financial side when you throw your hands up and sell out of frustration over yet another part being long out of production. The seller of this unusual 1975 Renault R12 wagon has done the Lord’s work in terms of keeping this oddity on the road, even managing to find a NOS engine in the dusty confines of a shuttered Renault dealership. It’s listed here on eBay with an opening bid of $2,469 and no takers yet.

Despite seeming like a gray market import, the R12 was actually intended for sale in the U.S. market. Not unlike other foreign makes looking for a foothold stateside, Renault’s tiny dealer network and lingering doubts about build quality did nothing to inspire confidence in this relatively roomy compact wagon. The R12 was actually a decent success for Renault in other markets, with healthy production volume spurring it to find a home in many European driveways. Those results didn’t translate to success in the United States, however, and the R12 disappeared without anyone really noticing.

French cars in general have not had impressive track records in the U.S., and it’s unfortunate that models like this didn’t find more support. I understand why, however, having owned a 1988 Peugeot 505 wagon for a short time. They are endlessly interesting cars with better build quality than they are given credit for, but the lack of trained mechanics and solid parts supply scare many potential owners away. Now, you can find parts for cars like these, as evidenced by the seller’s incredible luck of finding a brand-new crate engine in an old New York dealership, but you have to work at it. Nothing comes easy with owning a car like this, so you sure as heck better love the thing.

The seller reports that while the Renault does roll and steer, it is a non-runner. Even with that engine dropped in, there’s plenty more work to do. The listing reports that there is miscellaneous electrical work that needs to be sorted out, but it doesn’t go into specifics. Coolant hoses and fuel lines all need to be installed, along with various electrical connections. Overall, it sounds like the engine was installed but the finish work never happened. Bodywork is obviously a work in progress as well, but at least the interior is in decent shape. One curious upgrade? Someone ditched the four-speed for a five-speed box, so you have that going for you! Do you think this rarely seen R12 will find a new home?