Produced: 1983 - 1985
By October 1983, the PR100 was felt to be in need of a bit of a facelift. Renault tidied up the front end, smoothing off the craggy-looking front dome and replacing the lower front with a new one in dark grey plastic which presumably was cheaper to replace after minor accident damage. Considering the limited nature of the changes, the result was quite effective - the new front gave the bus much more of a 1980s look. The facelifted buses are known as type PR100R (PR180R for the articulated version), R standing for restylé (restyled). However, since they are mechanically exactly the same as the previous mark I PR100 and PR180 variants, few operators differentiate between the restyled buses and the pre-facelift buses.
CTB, Bourges
no. 89 (2525 QU 18) - September 2000
Bourges 89, showing the combination of the restyled front end found on the
'R' buses with the mk. I-style doors. This bus was new in 1984 and has since
been withdrawn.
Calais Opale
Bus (STCE), Calais no. 45 (2112 QZ 62) - March 2001
Calais 45 was new to CAM, the operator serving the principality of Monaco,
in 1983. From this angle, PR100Rs are virtually indistinguishable from the mk.
II buses that followed.
The restyled buses were produced for less than two years before the mark 2 version was introduced in September 1985. Hence they tend to be found in small numbers and their advancing age now means that they are becoming difficult to find. Their similarity to the mark 2 version of the PR100 family means that they are easy to overlook. In general, restylé buses can be differentiated from bona fide mark 2 buses by having short windows in the doors (rather than full length on the mark 2), all-metal rear bumpers (lacking the plastic rear light surrounds found on the mark 2) and either chrome or single-width plastic rubbing strips down the side of the bus (mark 2s generally have a double-width plastic strip). Where the bus has not been repainted, a restylé bus will retain stylised 'PR100' or 'PR180' transfers on the side, whereas a mark 2 will have 'PR100.2' or 'PR180.2' in small block capital letters. However, any one of these features can often be changed due to damage or refurbishment. The most reliable distinguishing feature are the doors, as these are rarely changed.
Less than 300 PR100Rs were produced (mostly PR100MIs but with a few PR100MIPSs). Around 130 PR180Rs were produced.
As with all older buses in the PR100 range, restylé buses may be treated to a refurbishment by Safra to smarten their appearance and extend their lives. More details can be found here.
Calais Ardres Transport 3444 QS 62 - March
2001
An unusual example of a three-door PR100R, in operation on docks shuttle
work around Calais. 3444 originated up the coast with STDE in Dunkerque as no.
524 (one of seven PR100Rs bought by that operator). A number of Dunkerque's
buses have since passed to CAT, who are contracted to provide services around
Calais on behalf of the ferry operators. From this angle PR100Rs are
virtually indistinguishable from mk. I PR100s, the only give-away in this case
being the plastic side trim. However, this can be easily changed following
damage.
SVTU (Phébus), Versailles
no. 110 (1849 RH 78) - October 2002
PR180Rs never were that common, and since starting this site I've been
looking for a decent example to photograph. Finally I tracked this 1984-built
bus down in Versailles. The last survivor of a batch of three, it was the oldest
bus still in use with Phébus and retained the operator's old blue livery (most
of the rest of the fleet had been repainted in the new white and blue colours).
I'd have liked the bus to be facing the other way really, but generally speaking
I'm pleased to have found what is now quite a rare beast.