posted by Roshake
The Dacia 1300 and its variants was built in Romania from 1969 to 2004, making it one of the longer-lived cars. It is of course a Renault 12, or it started out as one. Over time, it sprouted new grilles and such to keep it looking a bit fresher than it actually was. The R12 was not exactly the most beautiful shape to keep going for so long; the simple boxy Lada was better suited for immortality.
As to my headline, I can’t help but always equate these with a certain movie character:
Since the Kazakhstan scenes in “Borat” were actually shot in Romania, it only makes sense that a Dacia would be used for this role.
I don’t have time for a more detailed history of the Dacia 1300 lineage, but it’s not for lack of interest or because it’s not worthy. I have a lot of respect for cars that have proven themselves over the long haul in often challenging environments, proving tt the rest of us that certain old Renaults are a lot tougher than we tend to give them credit for.
They shouldn’t have added the black plastic stuff. The original styling, like the original machine, was durable and resilient.
From the start the Renault 12 always looked as though it had been designed as a wagon first and the sedan “sculpted” with a couple of flourishing sword hits to a quarter-scale clay model. Too upright a roofline and too sloping a trunk lid to pair up harmoniously.
I’ve always felt the same about the Peugeot 504. The sloped rear of the saloon was a bit odd, and looked somehow forlorn. Whereas the estate version looked confident, practical and purposeful.
Yes and the black nose and 5 mph bumpers made ir look like one of those BL early 70s prototypes .I clocked one or two in Vancouver back in 89. along with a Skoda Estelle. No Lada Signets or Nivas
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Agreed. I had a 12 wagon for a number of years, and it didn’t look awkward from any angle. In fact, I thought it to be a decently attractive car… hitting the right combination purposeful conventionality with enough French quirk that you knew you weren’t looking at a run of the mill Toyota or Datsun.
As I have already rambled on about how much I loved my old Renault many times before, I’ll spare y’all another repeat of same.
Time has softened my views on the goofiness of the sedans, and I think I could thoroughly love one of those too. Even the later Dacia versions with the black plastic grille and other mods.
In the era, we mocked the antiquated Fiats and Renaults, and etc. that Eastern Bloc car companies were building. But with hindsight, we understand they did what they could with what they had, and really turned their cars into tough, durable machines.
They were sold in Canada for from about 1984 through 1986, including a two door and a pickup truck, which was not offered in a Renault 12 version.
When you factor in the Ford Corcel part of the story, this car’s family tree is one of the more complex, interesting and surprising I can think of.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-1969-ford-corcel-gt-the-confusing-history-of-a-multinational-brazilian-classic/
And here for a feature on the end of the Dacia 1300 https://www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/freeze-frame-end-of-an-era-for-renault-based-dacia/
And there’s more on this French website about the Dacia including more photos.
https://www.carjager.com/en/blog/article/dacia-1300-1310-la-renault-12-des-carpates.html along with the R12 coming from Turkey. https://www.carjager.com/en/blog/article/renault-oyak-12-toros-la-cousine-anatolienne.html
CC Effect-I just encountered a battered example of the wagon version of the one of these coming the opposite way here in Velence Hungary last night. I couldn’t help but smirk.
First one I have seen, and I already seen my share of Moskvitches, Trabants and Wartburgs.
(Ladas don’t count, saw plenty in my old life in Canada)
The rear quarter looks very Saab 99-ish.
Agree.
Yes, definitely!
I see a lot of resemblance in the front, too. From the pinched ‘nose’ and slight overbite, to the shape and placement of the emblem in the grille.
Yes and the black nose and 5 mph bumpers made ir look like one of those BL early 70s prototypes .I clocked one or two in Vancouver back in 89. along with a Skoda Estelle. No Lada Signets or Nivas
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Impressive, AMC was able to successfully market the R18i as a luxury import. For a few years, at least. When the R12, in whatever brand guise, did it no favours in image enhancement.
Six years ago, I caught this 1984 Renault 18 GTL American at a major Renault event. Same color scheme as the sedan in the ad.
“American”, on the right side of the trunk lid.
And of course, some Renaults 12 were also on display.
Excellent find and photos Johannes. This silver/black colour scheme was how I remember the R18i looked its best, when introduced in North America. Seen in a few period road tests. Nice Fuego as well!
Popular Mechanics Owner’s Report: https://tinyurl.com/388726s7
I had one of those for over 100,000 miles. Rode nicely and had comfortable seats – ahh the French! 5 speed with, sadly, dealer installed air. I remember once climbing from Carson City to Lake Tahoe in the middle of summer. The car made it up just fine but 2/3 of the way up there was no vacuum left to keep the air engaged and the system switched to (hot) outside air thru the vents.
I distinctly remember reading a newspaper article (probably from either the Washington Post or Wall Street Journal) about Dacia considering exports of the 1300 to the US. This was around the late ’80s when Hyundai and (Zastiva) Yugo were doing well selling low-buck cars from unfamiliar brands built in countries Americans didn’t associate with automakers, and Dacia thought they maybe could sell an ancient Renault in the States if the price were low enough. The only detail I remember is that the coolant overflow tank was made of glass.
Anyone else recall this or have more info? I can’t find any online.
In the September 1984 issue of Popular Mechanics, Toronto Star car journalist Jim Kenzie wrote an article on low cost imports available in Canada, but not the US. The Dacia GTL is discussed, but no mention of plans then, to import them. https://tinyurl.com/yc84pm3v
I remember that article from when it was new, but that wasn’t the one I was referring to. Also, LOLing out loud at cars like the Hyundai Pony being considered “exotic imports”. I wouldn’t mind Skodas being sold in the US though, the new ones are often nicer than the VWs they’re based on.
I got to drive a few of these Dacias during the time I was working in Romania. The earlier models (Dacia 1300) were put together a lot better and also drove better than the 1310’s.
The 1310 is a cramped, squeaking, shuddering, heavy steering penalty box with bad brakes. The trunk lids on these models never seem to fit and the panel gaps are huge, likely because of worn out dies. Lots of cheap, hard, ill fitting plastic parts inside and out. Anything you touch in the interior gives you the feeling it will break (and sooner rather than later it does just that). The later models would also rust enthousiastically. The wheezing engines, however, were relatively trouble free or at least easy to repair. Any Romanian will tell you he could keep a Dacia 1310 running with only some steel wire, a pack of cigarette paper (to adjust the points) and a screwdriver. The last cars built in 2004 had a sticker price of just over 4000 euros, but by that time everyone was already buying the new -and infinitely better- Logan.
When I lived in Canada in 1980s, this car was available in certain Canadian regions as an alternative to Chevett, Pony, Lada and Skoda. I recall one of selling points is European front drive technology. But I think it was the worst of other 4. In China, it was labeled as one of four Eastern European junks in 1990s
Friend of mine used to have one of the these years ago. Rode in it many times in the vicinity of Szatmarcseke. More comfortable than my Chevette. The area reminded me of some of the scenes from Borat. Visited the famous Calvinist cemetery where the headstones are shaped like boats. Fairly remote. My friend bought gasoline from roadside vendors.
The very acceptable Dacia Denem … which was the tagline they actually used when marketing the 1310 in the UK in the early 80s.. alas (?) they didn’t sell many, i guess Skoda, Lada and more obscure brands such as FSO already had cornered the market for really cheap eastern European built cars by then.
The tagline was always seen as a bit of a joke in the ensuing years, however Renault decided to use it again, somewhat self deprecatingly when they relaunched Dacia in the UK and Europe as their Budget brand.