The Renault 16 was formally presented to the public in the spring of 1965 at the Geneva Motor Show, although details of this exciting and innovative new design had been floating around the motoring media for several months previously.
Styling of the Renault 16 varied considerably from any existing models, dominated by the large rear hatchback while at the front, the quad headlamps were a real design feature offset nicely by a three segment "bird-beak” grille.
Irrespective of engine size, the transmission was always four-speed manual gearbox, with a column mounted gear lever which meant even more floor space in the front cabin.
Most West European drivers who might have initially seen the column change as an inconvenience and challenging to get used to, as it was indeed uncommon in West European produced vehicles, soon realised that it advantages far outweighed its disadvantages.
What made the 16 stand out from the crowd in the Renault family, was the generous level of space available, either as a people carrier or a dual-purpose vehicle with tremendous levels of cargo space (14.5 cubic feet or 411 Liter) when the rear seats were folded.
An additional factor that played a large part in freeing as much cabin space as possible was that the 16’s engine was front mounted as well as playing a significant role in the excellent handling and balance of this car through dispersing the weight towards the car’s centre.
A year after launch, the Renault 16 won the European Car of the Year for 1966; the first French-produced car do so.
As much as it was a best seller, the Renault 16 was also a major trendsetter in the European car industry of its time.
