Renault 12 Car history

Make:	Renault
Years of production:	1969 to 1980 to 1999 (Turkey)
Type:	Motor car
Engines:	1,289  cm to 1,565  cm (Gordini)

The Renault 12 is an automotive Class 7 CV , in front wheel drive , with a 4-cylinder engine to front overhang and a rigid rear axle. The French competitors of the R 12 are the Citroën GS , Peugeot 304 and Simca 1100 . In 1973 , at the time Renault 12 is was the best-selling car in France  The Régie Renault 's average car was produced mainly in France at the Flins factory . The Renault 15 and 17 coupesare derivatives. The Renault 12 was so named because it was equipped with a Cleon-Cast iron engine  of 1,289  cm. The total Production 4,090,629 copies

History 

The Renault 12 is launched in September 1969 in two versions L and TL. The latter has door armrests, separate reclining front seats with a central armrest, a vanity mirror and a trunk light. The black plastic grille is a novelty. At the Paris Salon 1970 , the L and TL breaks join the sedans. They gain a front-passenger grip, a new throttle, an engraved grid on the shift lever, chrome drumsticks on the bottom of the body, and the bottom of the trunk lid at the rear.

During the summer of 1971 , the high-performance Renault 12 Gordini ( 185  km / h ) goes into regular production. The G 12 has a  Cleon-aluminum engine  of 1565  cm ³ Type 807/20 derived from the Renault 16 TS or 113  bhp DIN at 6250  rev / min and 14.3 mkg of torque at 4,500 rpm . In addition to various modifications ( crankshaft , intake, camshaft ), it is powered by two horizontal carburettors double bodyWeber and cooled by an oil cooler. This engine is served by a 5 speed gearbox. Braking is reinforced by ventilated front disc brakes and disc brakes on the rear. The 89-  liter fuel tank with filling on the left side (and not on the right rear of the license plate as on the other 12) was specific. The exterior is also differentiated by the blue hue France, the white stripes, the additional long-throw headlamps protected by small bumpers, the air intake on the hood, the rimswidth 5 inches and a half and the removal of bumpers (except Gordini TL). In the cockpit, there is a rev counter, a steering wheel 3 branches and trim lightened. The Renault-Gordini company in Viry-Châtillon was marketing a competition kit that included: segments, connecting rods , jackets, camshafts , valve springs , spark plugs, sprinklers, intake trumpets instead of the air filter and new rocker cover  . In 1971, in the hands of the Marreau brothers, the Gordini set the record on the course Cape Algiers. For 1972, some modifications are made to the rest of the range: an alternator instead of the dynamo and the removal of the side marker lights on the front fenders.

In July 1972, a version with a sports presentation named TS appears. It uses the  motor-Cléon Fonte  of 1289  cm ³ 60  hp DIN dual carburetor body of the Renault 15 TL, which achieves a maximum speed of 150  km / h. It is equipped with power brakes. Aesthetically, the R 12 TS, which is inspired by the R 12 sold in the United States and R 12 S made in Spain, is immediately recognizable by its Gordini type wheels, by its chrome side strip on the edge of the flanks and its two additional long-range iodine projectors (they will be, as of the following year, integrated with the main optics of "Kangaroo" type). The interior is characterized by "Integral" seats with built-in open headrests, a rev counter, a coolant temperature indicator (sealed circuit) and a center console. On other versions, the parking brake takes up the floor between the front seats. As a result, the front seat of the L version is replaced by separate seats and the front center armrest of the TL version is removed. On the outside, the taillights lose their frame and the front turn signals change from orange to white.

For 1974 , the range is completed by a TS and a TR Automatic sedan with automatic gearbox with electronic steering. The Renault 12 TR Automatic combines the exterior appearance of the TL (with an additional chrome side strip) and the integral seats of the TS. All 12 "74's display the Vasarely diamond on the front and a black plastic logo on the back. The 1975 fare goes from the 12 Gordini, the appellation will be immediately recovered by the 17TS. The breaks L and TL are respectively named for a short year breaks LN and TN, the latter, which is distinguished by its chrome side strip, aligns its presentation on the new break TR Automatic. Finally, the sedan L replaces its wheel trims with chrome nuts.

From the autumn of 1975, the Renault 12 is restyled: new grille lined with gray, higher bumpers with lights and bumpers (except L) incorporated in the front, enlarged rear light units with reversing lights (TS) , power-assisted brakes on all models (except L sedan), redesigned instrument panel (except L) with enlarged handset, matte black horizontal side air extractors, new rectangular punctured wheels (except L) and removal of wheel trims chrome. The L, which sees its power down to 50 hp, rolls with ordinary gasoline . For 1978, the range is composed as follows: 12, 12 break, 12 TL, 12 break TL, 12 Automatic, 12 break Automatic, 12 TS and 12 break TS. From July 1978 , following the launch of theRenault 18 , only the TL sedan and breaks continue (including a TS break with wheels Gordini style). The mandatory rear seat belts are added and the front lights become two-colored. For 1980 , the TL sedan and the TL wagon.

International manufacture.

In the 1970s , the 12 is the most manufactured French car abroad, in the following countries:

• Australia (12 GL in Melbourne ), South Africa (Rosslyn Motors), Argentina (12 with front window deflectors at IKA), Australia , Canada (R12 four round projectors at SOMA for "Société de Montage Automobile" in Saint-Bruno of Montarville, Quebec), the 12 has had a very discreet career in the United States), Colombia ( Sofasa Envigado ), Ivory Coast (SAFRAR), Spain (12 S with additional recessed rectangular projectors at FASA ), Ireland (Smith Eng), Madagascar (SOMACOA), Morocco(SOMACA) and Portugal (ILR).Romania ( Dacia ):Between 1969 and 2004 , the manufacturer Dacia manufactured under license in Romania in Piteşti many versions of the Renault 12: 1300 sedan, 1310 saloon (more luxurious version with four round projectors), 1320 sedan with hatchback (from 1989) , coupe (from 1979), station wagon (from 1973 ) and pickup 1304 (from 1975 ). The latter has been developed in single cab, double cab, petrol , diesel versions, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. In 1984 , all Dacia are equipped with a new grille with four round projectors. After 35 years of production, the last two cars (a sedan and a station wagon) fell from the chains at the end of 2004 after 1,959,730 units produced. They are exhibited at the Romanian Automobile Museum. The 1300 has been replaced by the Logan . The pickup versions were produced until the end of 2006 .Turkey ( OYAK )From 1971 until the end of 1999 , the Renault 12 was also produced 700,000 copies by the OYAK in Turkey , where it was the best-selling car. From her restyling in February 1989, she was called Renault Toros .

Technical details

Engines: gasoline
Cléon-Fonte engine: 1,289 cm 3
Cleon-Alu engine : 1,565 cm 3 (Gordini)
Transmission: 4-speed, 5-speed on Gordini box 3 automatic on TR
Unloaded weight: 880 to 980 kg
Fuel Consumption: 7.5 liters L / 100 km
Bodywork: Sedan and station wagon
Dimensions: Length Sedan:4,300mm,Estate:4,400 mm
Width: 1600 mm
Height: sedan:1,440 mm,station wagon:1,445 mm