AWJ 273M
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| AWJ 273M | |
|---|---|
| Model: | Renault 5 L |
| Current Owner: | Paul Hopkinson |
| Registration Number: | AWJ 273M |
| Country Registered In: | UK |
| Year of First Registration: | 1974 |
| Colour: | Blue |
| Renault Colour Code: | 410 |
| VIN Number: | 8715395 |
| Engine Number: | not supplied |
| Number of Doors: | 3 |
| Current Odometer Reading: | 100500 miles |
| Odometer Read on: | 2007/06/01 |
| Current Status: | Taxed and On The Road |
| Last Seen/Known: | not supplied |
Photo Gallery
History of AWJ 273M
Supplied new by Gregory and Dench one-time Renault agency on Penistone Road, Sheffield to an owner in Aston on 28th March 1974. This owner moved to Totley on the other side of the city in July 1975. In September 1976 she was sold to Pilkington Motors of Chesterfield, a Renault and Peugeot agency, who sold her to a Chesterfield solicitor on 2 April 1977. By the time he serviced her in October 1977 it had covered 27770 miles. The car's MOT certificates show that during this gentleman's ownership the mileage completed was
| April 1979 | 34423 |
| April 1980 | 39639 |
| April 1981 | 44281 |
| April 1982 | 46821 |
| April 1983 | 49169 |
In August 1983 AWJ was sold to a family friend who ran it for a year. He got a job as a rep and used AWJ for a few months as a rep's car until his company car arrived.
| March 1984 | 53528 |
In August 1984 AWJ was sold to my parents for my mother to use after discovering terminal metal cancer on her 1973 Austin 1300.
| March 1985 | 61357 |
| April 1986 | 63061 |
| April 1987 | 64547 |
Used by her until I learnt to drive in September 1987. In 1988 I acquired and used for a few months an even earlier 5, VWB 339L, a TL in Orange. I couldn't afford to keep both long term so I chose the one I'd learnt to drive in.
| March 1988 | 67002 |
| March 1989 | 74306 |
| April 1990 | 84412 |
| April 1991 | 93323 |
I ran her until November 1991 when the tax ran out. By this time I was struggling to get parts and she wasn't running too well, and was quite rusty. I had always tried to keep her looking OK with filler and aerosols but time was taking its toll. For the last 3 years I had to seal the boot up and access it from inside because the bodywork that carried the hinges had rotted away! I was working 25 miles away and needed reliable transport, so she was laid up on the drive. I had become quite attached to her so a garage was sought and eventually found in 1993. By this time, a non runner, she was towed there with 100437 miles on the clock. There she stayed for many years. The winter of 2004/5 took its toll and she was beginning to deteriorate quite quickly. Lumps of bodywork had fallen off, one of the wings had collapsed, the tailgate had become completely detached at one side. I thought that it was time to either get rid or sort it out! Perhaps another year would render it too far gone anyway.
In fact it was too far gone already. There was no floor in the driver's side and nothing apart from providence holding the rear suspension in! The restoration is a story in itself. However in March 2007 she was MOT'd and on the road again. Starting with 100437 miles again! There are still some jobs to do before she is completely useable but she is out and about again!
UPDATE SUMMER 2009. She has settled down well into semi-retirement. Had quite a few long journeys over the last two years including a journey from Northern England to Paris and has performed faultlessly.
