Filed Under: News
Where have all the Renault’s gone.?
It would seem that the French are more devoted to their car manufacturers than most other nations, All the French manufacturers consistently appear at the top of car sales in France.
I don’t think any manufacturer has produced so many models as Renault over such a short period, models that have sold millions, well most of them, we have written about the phenomenal success of the “5” I think we should tackle the 4 very shortly however for some unknown reason I got the 18 in my mind, though I have never owned one, it clashed with my Volvo period.
My father in law had one, a GTS, Eileen said he was as proud as punch when he came home with it, why not. My friend the Renault Dealer in south London drove one for a while, but then he drove most of the cars for only a while. He had a Feugo for a short period, another casualty?
Historically the 18 was built from 1978 until 1986 as far as Europe was concerned, however the South Americans built it until 1993, for Renault it was their first world car built at 10 other sites in Europe and South America, the true number built is somewhat hazy but we are talking somewhere around 3 million units.
The 18 was supposed to be a replacement for the 12 however demand was such that they were built together until the 12 was finally phased out in 1980, though there was a lot of the 12 in the 18, given that it only took 18 months from conception to production which in the motor industry is a very short time span.
The new car on the block came in four trim modes TL, GTL, TS and GTS, the TL and the GTL had 1397cc engine unit which had been in the 12, it was tuned for 63bhp and coupled to a four speed box, whilst the TS and GTS had a 1647cc A type unit from the Renault 17 but without fuel injection however the bhp was 78, you got either a 4 speed box in the TS and a 5 speed in the GTS, both models had the option of a 3 speed automatic.
All four models were well equipped but for some unknown reason Renault fitted 3 stud wheels until 1980 when a Turbo and Diesel versions came out Renault then fitted 4 stud and in 1983 all models had 4 stud.
Going back in March of 1979 estate versions appeared, basically identical to the TL/Ts saloon, though the suspension was beefed up.
You will no doubt think this is a strange point to stop, however there is a great mystery which appears to be going to take some time to sort out, given the vast number of Renault cars manufactured in the seventies and early eighties, though to be honest it also concerns cars built in the nineties.
I ask one question:- Where have they all gone?, try Ebay and plenty of bits but very few cars, Classic car magazines, about the same, so how could a manufacturer make so many and have them go missing, okay Renault build quality was probably about average, fittings and equipment matched and in some cases was superior to other maker’s.
The one explanation so far is that Renault started fitting computerized bits and pieces in early eighties even then replacements were expensive is it that owners have preferred to dump such cars rather than pay the high prices?
Listing some of the models, 4, 5, 8, 10 12, 14, 15, 16 17, 18, 20 and so on, perhaps some one in the club can help shed a light on the subject.
Happy motoring, winter is on the way, how are your tyres? Remember cheap is not always the best policy.
Have scoured web sites looking for any eighties or earlier Renault, it would appear there are two reasons for the lack of cars, one is our old friend RUST which apparently attacks Renaults with a certain amount of vigor and secondly the bigger cars are used by Autobanger racers, so it would seem there is a rather large heap of scrap, however anyone determined to buy a Renault a good site to visit is “The classic Renault car club” actually found two cars one was a great looking 12 but at least it would be reliable place to look.
Ted Lay tedlay@gmail.com
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