1976 Renault 20 Test Drive
When the Renault 30TS was launched in March 1975, it was the largest engine from the French manufacturer since WW2. The 2.7-litre PRV-powered five-door hatchback was a deliberate move upmarket that proved to be spectacularly mis-timed, thanks to the after-effects of the 1973 Energy Crisis. At launch, it was a unique proposition, being a five-door hatchback in the saloon-dominated executive sector – beating the Rover SD1 and Audi 100 Avant to the market by over a year.
Six months later, the 30 was joined by the 1647cc 20TL – the same car with a more rational choice of power unit. It was Intended to replace the R16, but the more charismatic 1965 car remained in production for a further five years, proving that new was no better than old. The range was bolstered with the arrival of the 2.0-litre Douvrin engine in the 20TS and fuel injection in the 30TX, during 1978 – and the diesels in 1979. Popular in France, less so in the UK, it’s easy to forget that these cars outsold the Rover SD1 globally by some margin.
Words by Honest John
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