It pays to walk down a different alley once in a while…in this case, the payoff was a nothing less than a LeSharo, which has become exceedingly rare. It has the FWD cab and drive train form a Renault Trafic van mated to a low-profile fiberglass camper body. I have not seen one for well over a decade; the last one is written up here.
And yes, with a 75 hp 2.1 L Renault turbo diesel, it was slow, although not as slow as the 57 hp naturally-aspirated version.
A truthful bumper sticker, for a change. Now if this was the non-turbo version with 57 hp, the bumper sticker would have to be even more explicit in its warning.
Yes, that’s a Renault Trafic van cab disguised under that primitive fiberglass disguise.
You’re more likely to see the second evolution if this body, mated to a VW T4 Eurovan front end, which was a bit more US-compatible with its VR6 engine. These came along in 1994, two years after the Renault-based version was put to sleep.
I was rather attracted to these, given that they were inherently a more efficient design than the typical American truck/van based campers. But they lack adequate headroom for me, so I never bit.
Also the interior configuration with these two second-row chairs didn’t really appeal either.
Here’s the view from the rear window.
And from the side window. The rear dinette folds down to make a bed.
I might get a kick out trying to wring some adequate forward momentum out of the little diesel mated to a four speed manual. Apparently there were lots of issues with this drive train and in 1986 it was substituted by a gas version of the Renault four, teamed with a three-speed automatic transaxle.
Apparently there was an outfit that swapped in Chrysler 3.3 LV6 minivan drive trains into these, but I’m sure that business has dried up.
But here’s proof that this was one of the fairly rare turbo-diesels.
I did a CC on one of these years ago, but actually I have a lot more pictures this time around:
Like you, Paul, I find these strangely fascinating!
One thing: the cab is from the Trafic – the Master was a larger van (styled at Bertone incidentally) – more the size of a current ProMaster…
Oops; wrong Renault van. Fixed now.
“Yes, that’s a Renault Master van cab disguised under that primitive fiberglass disguise.”
No, it’s a Renault Trafic !
Surprised it wasn’t named Trafique
I have worked on one of these back when I spent 6 months as an RV tech (pretty sure it wasn’t a turbo thou). The timing belt had let go and it was deemed a loss. The owner had it towed home to try and figure out an engine swap. Not sure if that ever happened.
I was riding in one and the belt let go. It’s an interference engine. The owners manual had a mileage recommendation for belt replacement, and this vehicle was within 10,000 miles of the required replacement.
The proportions remind me much of the current Morgan Olson C250 all-electric van, designed for parcel and mail delivery. With practical side loading. Could have been adaptable to various commercial uses.
I think I remember Renault gearboxes at the time tended to self destruct on account of not having an adequate reverse detent,, and probable being selected in place of 4th or 5th. 1.9 Diesels, turbo and normal y aspirated, were common in Uruguay
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-vr-motorise/laurentides/winnebago-lesharo-deluxe-1988/1685094608
I got a free turbo diesel lesharo with a bad timing belt, 2 rockers broke also. Thing is these valves go straight up and down so I took a chance and replaced the rockers and belt, other then sitting for 3 years it fired right up, 190usd in parts from Canada and the uk and I’ve got about 500 miles down since it was fixed 2 weeks ago,camping out tonight in fact.