Listing snapshot
| Spotted | November 2022 |
| Asking price | Not recorded |
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Listed on | Craigslist, private seller |
| Drivetrain | 1.7-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual, front-wheel drive |
| Status | Ad expired. This page is our archive of the listing. |
We came across this 1985 Renault Alliance Convertible on Craigslist in November 2022, offered by its owner in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our old write-up garbled the asking price, so we have not recorded one. The ad is long gone, but we keep this record because Alliance convertibles are rare now, and a description of a real survivor helps anyone trying to find or value one.
What this car was
A blue Alliance convertible, the soft-top version of the small front-drive car that American Motors built for Renault. The seller said it had only two owners and that the previous owner kept it in storage for most of its life. The interior looked close to new apart from the driver seat, which showed the most wear.
The one photo we still have shows the car with its dark blue top raised, parked on gravel under a clear New Mexico sky. The paint is a light metallic blue, the bumpers and trim are complete, and it wears full wheel covers.
It had the larger 1.7-liter engine rather than the base 1.4, paired with a five-speed manual. The seller said the clutch was strong. They were also upfront about what it needed:
- The air conditioning needed recharging
- The power brakes needed bleeding and a fluid flush
- A nickel-sized cosmetic blemish on the hood
- A couple of small tears in the outer layer of the convertible top
Power steering was fitted, and the car came with extensive service records and its owner’s manual. For a car of this age, that paperwork matters as much as the condition, because parts and know-how for these Renaults are now scarce in North America.
A little Alliance history
The Alliance was Renault’s small sedan, the 9, adapted for America and built by AMC in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after Renault took a controlling stake in AMC. It went on sale for 1983 and was named Motor Trend’s Car of the Year. The convertible joined the range for 1985. Sales faded quickly, and the Alliance ended after the 1987 model year, the same year Chrysler bought AMC.
More cars from the archive
- Every Renault Alliance we’ve spotted, with asking prices
- 1986 Renault Alliance, another Renault Alliance
- 1985 BMW 635CSi, another 1980s European car
- 1987 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen 300GD, another 1980s European car
- 1985 TVR Tasmin 280i, another 1980s European car
