Renault 12 Van

Now it seems easy to blind the windows of a break and call the resulting car 'van'. But Renault did not make it that easy. The van version of the Renault 12 even got different bodywork. The two rear doors were dropped, creating a large side surface on which entrepreneurs could place their advertising.

FACELIFT

The changes were so "drastic" that the 12 van carried its own R number: R2360. The large tailgate obviously speaks in favour of this car, which was based on the most basic equipment variant, the 12 L. The 12 Van followed shortly after the launch of the facelift of the whole series, which means that the van variant always features the second type of front including the higher-mounted front bumper with integrated city lights and indicators. The car sits on the standard 13-inch wheels without hubcaps, lacks chrome strips and features light grey mirrors.

What is especially important with this type is the load volume, and with 1,700 litres this is very decent in the 12 Van. Moreover, the 12 has a load capacity of 430 kg and the load floor measures 1.75 x 1.29 metres. Another advantage is the modest height of the loading floor above the road, just 51 cm. The car actually forms a nice duo with the 5 van, as it too is derived from a passenger car.

ATTACHMENT POINTS

Despite the facelifted Renault 12 having a completely new dashboard, the 12 L continued to use the first type of instrument cluster. That means three separately placed round clocks and the steering wheel with slightly curved centre cushion. Incidentally, Renault put the 12 Van on the market very bare-faced, which immediately resulted in a number of additions for the 1977 model year: attachment points in the loading floor, passenger sun visor, rear window heating and roller belts. Comfort was not spared though, the seat backs can simply be infinitely adjusted and there was also the option of adjusting the seat height.

Up front, the familiar 54 hp 1.3-litre Cléon engine paired to a four-speed manual transmission snorts.