Paris-Dakar 1980 - what if ?

[1959scudetto]

Paris-Dakar: the legendary desert raid rally, initiated by Thierry Sabine, was at the very beginning open to true amateurs and professionals, the route went almost 8000 km (5000 miles) from Paris through France, then over the Mediterranean sea to Algiers and across the Sahara desert to the finish in Dakar on the Atlantic coast.

 Back then it was a challenge for amateur drivers, sometimes with little or no experience, with economic budgets but, above all, an insatiable thirst for adventure.

Today it has become Big business where the privateers have got no chance anymore.

Sinpar: French company specialized in converting utilitarian vehicles to 4WD, mainly Renaults in the 60s and 70s – later taken over by Renault.

The Marreau brothers: French adventurers, mechanics, Africa experts (nicknamed „desert foxes“) and amateurs in the truest sense: in 1971 they won the Cape Town – Algiers race in a Renault 12 Gordini, crossing the black continent (15.432 km = about 9.600 mls)  in the record time of 8 days, 22 hours and 18 minutes through deserts and rain forests, bettering the existing record for 3 hrs. In the following years they participated in several other African raid rallyes.

They were the very first to sign up for the first event in 1979, took part with their self-prepared 4WD Renault 4 (!) and become 5^th. A year later, with the same car, they were no less than 3^rd in the general classification.

This caused quite a sensation, but Claude & Bernard Marreau wanted to win the event.

With a 4WD Renault 20 – again self-prepared  -  they led in 1981 but DNF due to an accident. But finally in 1982 they reached their big goal and won the infamous race: 

(A remarkable feature of their cars were the exhaust pipes, running near the a-pillar up onto the roof)

              

 

 

 

What if… they had driven a Renault 12 Sinpar 4WD?

I had the model: Hachette (Ixo) 1/24 Dacia 1300 (= Renault 12) and the decals for the Renault 4, which they had competed in 1980.

Here are the pics:

And here with the base model in stock form:

Edited December 23, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[Paul Waymouth]

It would have been a tough trip! Great looking model

[Gramps46]

A four door sedan no less.  The elevated exhaust is unique but no above the top intake? Thanks for the background info, much appreciated. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Gramps46

[Rich Chernosky]

Helmut....great looking model and even better the background behind it.  Enjoyed reading...thanks for the post. 

[1959scudetto]

57 minutes ago, Paul Waymouth said:

It would have been a tough trip! Great looking model

 

18 minutes ago, Gramps46 said:

A four door sedan no less.  The elevated exhaust is unique but no above the top intake? Thanks for the background info, much appreciated. 

 

17 minutes ago, Rich Chernosky said:

Helmut....great looking model and even better the background behind it.  Enjoyed reading...thanks for the post. 

Thanks Paul, Gary and Rich - please check out the youtube video included above - no top intake here - only the exhaust  -  and both cars are 4-door sedans.

Edited December 14, 2022 by 1959scudetto

[Bainford]

Cool model. I like the concept behind it, and the history, too. 

[ChrisR]

Cool conversion!

[1959scudetto]

On 12/15/2022 at 4:59 PM, Bainford said:

Cool model. I like the concept behind it, and the history, too. 

 

On 12/18/2022 at 3:40 PM, ChrisR said:

Cool conversion!

Thank you, Trevor and Chris!

[slusher]

Very nice!

[Pete J.]

Always loved Dakar when it was more of an ameture event, before the really big money got involved.  If you like that, you would love the Peking to Paris, vintage race.  https://www.endurorally.com/events/the-7th-peking-to-paris-motor-challenge/  Lots of old cars on a huge endurance rally.  We have our own thread and believe me, you cars would be wildly accepted there! 

 

Edited January 15, 2023 by Pete J.

[PatW]

Yes superb as a Dakar follower from day one.

[Phildaupho]

Well done. There some cars entered in this years Classic Dakar that would make great model building subjects.

[Dave B]

Looks like a winner to me Helmut.

Dave B

[1959scudetto]

On 1/15/2023 at 7:42 AM, slusher said:

Very nice!

 

On 1/15/2023 at 5:18 PM, Pete J. said:

Always loved Dakar when it was more of an ameture event, before the really big money got involved.  If you like that, you would love the Peking to Paris, vintage race.  https://www.endurorally.com/events/the-7th-peking-to-paris-motor-challenge/  Lots of old cars on a huge endurance rally.  We have our own thread and believe me, you cars would be wildly accepted there! 

 

 

On 1/15/2023 at 7:08 PM, PatW said:

Yes superb as a Dakar follower from day one.

 

On 1/17/2023 at 5:25 PM, Phildaupho said:

Well done. There some cars entered in this years Classic Dakar that would make great model building subjects.

 

On 1/18/2023 at 1:17 AM, Dave B said:

Looks like a winner to me Helmut.

Dave B

Thanks all, Car. Pete,Patrick, Phil and Dave - unfortunately, these days are long gone, BIG money rules (as almost everywhere), and the Dakar has only kept the name (partially, at least), but has nothing to do with its origin any more.

[ATHU]

Excellent conversion Helmut!! Actually I've thought about building the Marreau brothers R4 from the Heller kit, maybe one day.......https://www.auto-illustrierte.ch/de/renault-4-sinpar-4x4--auf-nach-dakar--1557

[1959scudetto]

16 hours ago, ATHU said:

Excellent conversion Helmut!! Actually I've thought about building the Marreau brothers R4 from the Heller kit, maybe one day.......https://www.auto-illustrierte.ch/de/renault-4-sinpar-4x4--auf-nach-dakar--1557

Thank you Anders,

this conversion is pure fantasy - I had the Marreau R 4 decals for some years but had no intention to replicate their R 4. The Dacia/R 12 got its wheels from Ixo's Alpine A 110 + roll cage, fire extinguisher and some other parts from the spares, aluminium tube for the roof-mounted exhaust pipe. I did not even have the correct color - only Tamiya camel yellow - so I masked the upper part of the body (including window surrounds) and sprayed the rest with this paint (additional lights were even taken from Italeri's truck accessories !)

[ctruss53]

Super cool!