When was the last time you saw one of these
- Thread starter MartinN
- Start date
Blimey that's a blast from the past. Thought they'd all dissolved years ago!
When I first went into the car trade the lad I was working with had a blue 16TL, I had never ridden in one but the front seats were like leather armchairs and a real nice ride. A customer at the garage had a 16TX which was 1800cc, again nice car. Renault did make some nice cars back then.
Tony.
Tony.
That it did Martin, albeit turned around and driving the rear wheels in the Lotus.
Tony.
Tony.
Just saw this,
Lotus Europa
Lotus built its first mid-engined racing car in 1960, but did not get round to using the layout in a production vehicle until six years later. Even that was quite early for a sports car of this type, which would have made the Europa an oddball for its time even without the curious "breadvan" body shape.
At first, Lotus used the Renault Cléon-Alu engine (also used in the Renault 16 and the World Rally Championship winning Alpine A110), but the Ford Kent-based Lotus Twin Cam was added to the range in 1971.
Tony.
Lotus Europa
Lotus built its first mid-engined racing car in 1960, but did not get round to using the layout in a production vehicle until six years later. Even that was quite early for a sports car of this type, which would have made the Europa an oddball for its time even without the curious "breadvan" body shape.
At first, Lotus used the Renault Cléon-Alu engine (also used in the Renault 16 and the World Rally Championship winning Alpine A110), but the Ford Kent-based Lotus Twin Cam was added to the range in 1971.
Tony.
Old Renaults such as this are rare even here in rural France, where they die of neglect rather than corrosion! With no salt during our winters we even see rust-free Metros, Minis, and nineteen-sixties Vauxhalls.
Renault 16. In terms of its effect on the world of automotive design, probably one of the greatest French cars. A ground breaking machine that gave the world the family sized hatchback years before the competition caught on. A bit strange to work on, but a fabulously comfortable car to smoke around in. I always fancied a 16TX but never got to own one. Shame they rotted so badly.
Don't forget the British hatchbacks, such as the Austin A40, Ford Anglia estate, and MGB-GT. The Brits never really knew how to market them - BMW were just as bad, with the 2002Tii touring, and the E36 Compact.
If the Compact had been sold in the UK with the 2.3 litre engine which was available in Europe, with a Z3 front end (it fits!) it would be regarded as a 'Classic.'
If the Compact had been sold in the UK with the 2.3 litre engine which was available in Europe, with a Z3 front end (it fits!) it would be regarded as a 'Classic.'