This 247th entry to the People's Pics section is a real oddity, and represents something that hasn't been repeated since entry number one, all the way back in the year 2000. The pictures are sent by Spencer Rayner, who is only the second R4 owner ever to send pictures in from the United States. He writes:

'Hi, very excited to have my Renault 4 in the USA, and considering an across country road trip - has anyone ever driven an R4 from east to west coast?'

The photos date from 31st July 2007. Spencer comments on the pictures:

'....at a local gas station, at the Sheriffs Dept when I had to get VIN checked so I can use her, and at my farm in rural Georgia, USA. When they see me drive through town I get a lot of waves from the Cadillacs and the Lincolns. I drive Minis as well here - so they know I am odd :) '

I wrote back to Spencer, mentioning the idea I'd often had of taking an R4 across America, if only the cost of shipping the car over and having it modified to meet all regulations wasn't to prove an issue. His reply might be of interest to any others interested in doing such a thing, since you won't find any other Renault 4s knocking about in the States, and it might be the only way to get one there:

'Hey Pete, I have been importing Minis (99% RHD by the way) here for 6 years in containers of between 5-7 Minis per month and have to deal extensively with customs, EPA, and DOT.

'So long as a vehicle is over 25 years it is exempt and can be imported into the USA - customs duties are 2%. So my 1974 R4 was a breeze to bring in. That 25 year law applies to citizens and residents like myself. Now someone like yourself who would be a visitor can bring any year vehicle into the states for 12 months and then it has to be shipped out of the USA or sold if it is over 25 years. So, you could ship a pre 1982 Renault 4 into NYC (cheapest port at about £500 - £700), drive her to the west coast and then sell her there - not California though since they have draconian laws - but Oregon or Washington would work. Or, you could ship your 2008 Porsche, drive that across the USA and then ship her back home again :)

'I am looking to move to Seattle from Atlanta and will take my trusty R4 with me. Cheers and a great site!!!'

Spencer adds that he is always on the lookout for both Renault 4 and pre-1982 Mini parts, in addition to the Minis themselves if they're going cheap. He can also provide details of his shipper and offer import advice.

By way of a follow-up in 2011, in answer to Spencer's first query whether anybody had driven coast-to-coast, I recently heard again from a Norwegian reader named Svend J., who intends on doing just that. See entry #PP278 for info.