U.S.-Built Drop-Top: 1985 Renault Alliance
American Motors was never flush with cash, but times were particularly tight in the late 1970s and early 1980s. AMC wasn’t “big enough” to be saved like Chrysler, who was the beneficiary of a mega loan by the U.S. government. The company did find a financial savior in France’s Renault who used AMC production capacity in Kenosha, Wisconsin to build the Renault Alliance between 1983 and 1987. This 1985 Alliance L convertible is one of the outputs of that partnership and is a low-mileage survivor looking for a new home.
The Alliance and Encore were rebadged versions of the Renault 9 and 11, using front-wheel drive, still relatively new to U.S. buyers. As part of a bailout, Renault got a controlling interest in AMC which it kept until selling American Motors to Chrysler in 1987 (they wanted Jeep). In the four years prior, nearly 625,000 Renault-branded cars were built and sold by AMC, a number greater than those carrying AMC identification. The Alliance was a budget-minded economy car that was joined by a convertible in 1985, AMC’s first drop-top in 17 years.
These cars were powered by a 1.7-liter I-4 with fuel injection. They weren’t hugely powerful at 77 hp SAE net, but the goal was to win the race at the gas pump. The new ragtop didn’t consume that much production capacity at 7,141 units in 1985, built with help from American Sunroof Company (which is now American Specialty Cars). We’re told the seller’s convertible is a low-mileage, daily driver sort of machine at 34,000 miles (the odometer recently quit working).
This Renault has had the same owner for the last 10 years or so and it’s driven very little these days, hence the reason for selling. The body is good, the paint is okay (the clear coat may be failing in places), and there are the usual dings and scratches. The interior is nearly perfect while the top is near needing replacement. The car is equipped with air conditioning, but it needs a recharge. The machine is said to run well enough, though it does smoke a bit if left sitting for a while. The tires and brakes are newer.
If you’re looking for a car that is seldom seen these days and want a ragtop, could this Renault be the one? It’s located in New Castle, Delaware, and is available here on craigslist for $7,985. The seller also has posted a video of it running here on YouTube. A tip brought to us by Mitchell G. and a rare find from “Franco-American Motors”!
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Comments
Fuzzy dice in a car like that is pretty darn funny!
IMO the AMC-Renault Alliance never benefitted AMC. THIS ALLIANCE is just one example of why the TOP was DROPPED on the project. A friend whose father worked for AMC had an Alliance. What a POS.
I’ve seen 3-4 of these good condition pop up for sale within the last couple of months
What can you say, it was a dismal time in the American car market Late 70s to mid 80s. Working in a dealer at the time, had the chance to drive most of the offerings from various makes. This one ranks right up there with the best of the worst that have stayed in my memory:
Diesel automatic Chevette
Any Fiat
And oh the Renault alliance (!) it had all the quality feel of a snap together 1/25 scale Plastic model. The number of these that were traded in less than a year old was memorable. I am utterly stunned. they made a convertible, I never remember seeing one, not that I would take notice anyway. May someone have pity on this sole Survivor. Heck there is probably even a Facebook fan page for these…….
I sold these, while working at a Volvo dealer that also sold this line. The mechanics hated them. I hated them. These, Chevettes and PT Cruisers will always be on the same list.
Testing. Testing. Web site acting strange, again.
This car makes me think of the Fiat-based Jeeps and Dodges of recent years.
I think this would be a fun little car. But why, oh why, did the owner put a bra on a car like this? That looks ridiculous!
Back when these were introduced, my sister ordered one from Joe Erdelac AMC/Renault on the westside of Cleveland. Fortunately for her they went out of business before the order could be completed. She opted for a 1983 Chevy Cavalier instead…it was a very good car, far better than the ‘alliance’ of AMC and Renault could ever produce.
Good luck finding parts, I had a GTI Renault convertible, fun car right until I was in need of a few parts, then things turned ugly…needless to say I sold it immediately!
LOL, I defy anyone on here to find a replacement speedometer cable!
I have one.
No, you may have had a Renault GTA, but not a GTI.
I remember working on the line for these cars. There was a rumor going through the plant with the plans to build a convertible. The plant denied it to the point of adding a story in the local paper that they had no plans to build one. Two weeks later, the first convert came down the line. It was a white with blue interior. Believe me, they were falling apart before the end of the line with dozens in the repair department.
I bought a new 1985 Renault Encore S 3 door hatchback with 1.7 L 4 cyl., A/T, P/S, A/C, AM/FM stereo as a second family car. After the warranty expired, a local mechanic handled the service (LOF, timing belt, brakes, etc., no major repairs). Biggest single expense was a set of four Michelin tires. The car was reliable and economical to own and operate. Fast forward to 1996, I sold the eleven-year old Encore (no scratches, no dents, close to mint condition) to the servicing mechanic who wanted it for his daughter.
Who cares !?
Junk!!
Sorry to hear all the negative comments on a very nice car. I have owned and rented several from my car rental company and sold them to the renters.
The convertible is especially good car with a power top with no problems. Car cruises at 60 with 35 mpg. However, they are an interference engine (1700) so the timing belt must be changed every 30 K miles.
I still own one and drive it regularly.
never saw or heard of these in the vert.
If I had it I’d want a hrd top too. It looks really bad to me.
A “low mileage” Renault Alliance? Is there any other kind?
Also ASC did mean American Specialty Cars…but they went out of business 6-7 years ago.
Amazing the uninformed comments that invariably follow an AMC/Renault car being posted. Parts can be a bit tricky to find, but more than half a million Alliance/Encore were produced in addition to well over a million Renault 9/11 plus other variants worldwide.
I will say that the asking price on this one is high,especially with the automatic.
In fact, you can buy my 85 for half the price, since I’ve sourced a great 87.
Agreeded, I have had one new one of these convertibles and I own a used one for 14 years. My 87 has 160,000 miles on it and runs great and doesnt use any oil. Parts are pretty easy to get and are cheap. I just replaced the cv axle and it cost $57.00. for the part. People with no knowledge of these cars like to bash them. Not the best car ever built but certainly better than some Chevy Cavalier or Citation.
Aha! I know of someone that had been looking for years. I tried to help out, as I thought I had sources, lol. I could never find one! I’ll get in touch with him and find out the status. THANKS!
Sorry Russ you started this one off dead wrong. Chrysler Corp received NO loan, “mega” or otherwise from the USA government. Although it’s a common mistake it’s still not true. Chairman Iacocca asked the government to guarantee loans for Chrysler, which couldn’t find financing otherwise due to Chrysler’s bad financials and poor sales. In other words, had Iacoca failed to turn Chrysler around, the taxpayers would have been stuck with the defaulted loan. Fortunately, Iacoca turned Chrysler around very quickly, all loans were paid off early, and the government never apent a dime.
I had seen these in Europe when I was in the Navy in the early 1980s. We bought a brand new 2 door in 1984. Absolute base model. I put a Crutchfield AM/FM in it. Ours was red with a tan vinyl interior. Nice smooth shifting 4 Speed. It was really fun to drive, it handled well, and it was surprisingly solid.it might surprise people to know that it was Motor Trend car of the year in 1983, and it had >70% U.S. parts concept. They were built at an old AMC plant in Kenosha Wisconsin. It survived one collision, but not two. Our neighbors at the time had a Renault LeCar. Their popularity was pretty brief.
MT Car of the Year! They will never live that down!
I bought my wife a new gold 1984 Renault Alliance DL coupe. She drove it to work. It was very nice and had pedestal seats that reclined. At the time, it was very in vogue as it looked European and got great gas mileage. Unfortunately, my wife wrecked hers on the highway. However, the Renault’s passenger space was well built and my wife was not harmed. I remember the Alliance as a pretty, little car and it served its purpose well.
I bought a brand-new ’84 coupe because I loved the looks, the Alliance had won the Car of the Year award, and I desperately wanted to drive something European. I kept it four years, did all my own work on it, and aside from a severe lack of power, it performed just fine, getting sometimes over 45 mpg. Most of them didn’t fare so well. Shortly after I sold mine, I discovered a salvage yard nearby in Oklahoma where I think every Alliance must have gone to die. I always wished mine had been a convertible. I might still have it.
Chrysler did not receive a “Mega Loan”, from the Government.
The Government just “Co-signed” loans, which were paid back fully.
I bought a new 1985 Renault Encore S 3 door hatchback with 1.7 L 4 cyl., A/T, P/S, A/C, AM/FM stereo as a second family car. After the warranty expired, a local mechanic handled the service (LOF, timing belt, brakes, etc., no major repairs). Biggest single expense was a set of four Michelin tires. The car was reliable and economical to own and operate. Fast forward to 1996, I sold the eleven-year old Encore (no scratches, no dents, close to mint condition) to the servicing mechanic who wanted it for his daughter.