Text: Tony Vos - Photos: Losange Magazine

Photo: The rear lights have an additional chrome surround. The bumpers also differ from the French version.

He grew up with Renault because his family ran a Renault garage. After buying it, he did a lot of work on the car, both the bodywork and the technology to bring it to this state of as good as new. The 12 S originally came from Salamanca where this car has had two owners. Since its restoration, it has been driven sparingly, no more than 500 km a year for visiting events or participating in classic car rides.

The Renault 12 S is the Spanish counterpart of the French 12 TS. Both cars have completely different R numbers, the R1177 for the TS and R1260 for the S.

Photo: These double headlights are specific to the Fasa-Renault 12 S.

Spanish press characterised the 12 S at launch as a luxury-sporty version of the model built in the country since 1970. They cite the presence of different wheels (Fergat), higher power (68 instead of 54 hp) and standard power assisted brakes as arguments that the 12 S is indeed capable of more than the standard version (TL). All other specific features of the top model were seen more as luxurious and comfortable.

From a test at launch, journalists were less enthusiastic about stability and wish the 12 S had the stabiliser bars of the 12 Gordini. The high degree of understeer was also not appreciated. A slightly higher tyre pressure can partly remedy this.

But what is particularly interesting are the differences between the Spanish 12 S and the French 12 TS. This is partly explained because the 12 S appeared as early as late 1971 and was ahead of the 12 TS that first saw the light of day in July 1972. With the 12 S, a big difference is immediately noticeable at the front. This is because the car has double headlights, large ones on the edges with smaller spotlights on the inside. The bumper rosettes are a bit more substantial in size with a chrome base and rubber blocks on top. The units with the indicators and city lights have a distinguished chrome frame. On the side, the differences continue. The strip on the flanks is less pointed and carries side indicators on the front mudguards. The trim strip on the sills is also much higher and resembles that of the first Renault 6.

Photo: The trim strip with integrated indicator is a special detail.

The rear bumper features the same larger rosettes. The rear light units have a chrome surround and an additional chrome surround around it. Furthermore, the button for opening the boot lid is encased in a chrome trim with a wide strip at the bottom, unlike the narrow strip that runs the full width of the lid on the French version. On this version, there is a reversing light centrally located under the rear bumper. There is a nameplate Renault 12 S on the left of the boot lid. A similar entry can be read on the right-hand side of the dashboard, as on the French 12 TS.

The dashboard may seem similar at first glance, but there are the necessary differences to note there. The clocks are made under licence from Jaeger and look familiar in terms of layout, with the speedometer on the left, the rev counter in the middle and the temperature, charge current with fuel supply gauges on the right. What is different is the cross on the glass of both left-hand instruments and a star on the right-hand side creating a tessellation. The wide aluminium strip running the full width is completely plain in colour, unlike the 12 TS where it has a line pattern. On the far left of the dashboard is a different dial for the temperature setting and next to it a second knob that adjusts the headlight height, a feature not supplied on the French sedan. With this extra knob, the switch for the extra lighting moves to the centre console as does the one for the rear window heater. In fact, on French cars, this is located above the ventilation sliders.

Photo: At first glance, the interior looks identical to that of the 12 TS, but there are many differences in terms of detail.

The two-spoke steering wheel is very similar in design to that of the first type 16 TS. A narrow chrome strip runs along the bottom of the central spoke and curves up at the sides. The gear knob has a shape never seen outside Spain. It is made of a soft material similar to that of the steering wheel rim.

The door panels have a completely unique layout. In the case of this green 12 S, the top edge is black in colour and covered with a material with small holes. The dark brown underside has slanted stripes, while the armrests are also specific in shape. 

The pattern used for the rear seat upholstery resembles that of the 12 TS. That rear seat, of course, also has a folding armrest and the familiar horizontal bars. These are also found on the front seats. Headrests, however, are missing. Later, separate headrests could be added. But comfort is certainly not lacking.

Under the bonnet, the 12 S gives a familiar impression. There are two identification plates on the inner mudguards. First is the familiar losange plate in French showing the chassis number. Next to it, a black oval plate with the words FASA-Renault, the type R1260 and the serial number, in this case 070879. This again indicates production at the end of 1974. There are also several parts found under the hood that were produced locally. One example on the air filter housing is a large sticker from Mann S.A. of Zaragoza.

The engine is technically in line with the 12 TS and produces 68 hp. This is noticeably more than the 12 TL, which makes it to 54 hp.

Henceforth called 12 TS, this neatly follows the changes made as during the facelift in 1976.Nevertheless, plenty of differences remain visible from the French versions. The bumpers lose the rosettes, but get a rubber bumper of a substantial size. The car keeps its twin headlamps which matches the 16 TX in style. The decorative strip on the flanks is made of a combination of metal and rubber. Unlike the French R12, the Spanish version retains the upright grille behind the doors. Also, the rain gutter curves down directly behind the door. While the rear lights are of the new type, the metal around the number plate and the edge of the boot lid are not painted matte black. The ornament around the boot lid release also remains as does the special gear knob and Fergat wheels. However, to complement the new dashboard, the Spanish 12 TS does get the wide centre console familiar from its French counterpart, but still without a clock. In the interior, FASA-Renault maintains the same rear bench and seats. The latter are supplemented by separate headrests, though.

In the 12 TS, the familiar 1,289 engine gives way to the larger 1,397cc variant, which gains slightly in power, namely 70 hp.

A Break version of the 12 S phase 1 also briefly existed, which like the French 12 TS Break, was extremely rare. The Spanish career of the Renault 12 continued until 1983 when the last examples of the Renault 12 GTL Break were made, a model with all the external features of the 12 TS, but with a 60 hp 1.4-litre engine. Because of the appearance of the Renault 18, plenty of competition arose at home and sales numbers were already declining seriously from 1980 onwards. In total, FASA-Renault built 455,008 units of the Renault 12, including 122,724 of the 12 S.

Photo: Owner Ginés Jose Vivancos Ureña is justifiably proud of his restored example.

En détail...

Renault 12 S 1974 (R1260)

Engine:

Type 810-02, in-line 4 cylinder, displacement 1,289 cc, bore x stroke 73 x 77 mm, compression ratio 9.5:1. Weber-Bresell two-stage carburettor 32 DRC, power 68 hp (DIN) at 5,900 rpm, torque (DIN) 96 Nm at 3,500 rpm. Electrical system 12 volts.

Gearbox:

Type 352, 4-speed gearbox, fully synchronised. Gear ratios 1st - 3.455, 2nd - 2.235, 3rd - 1.478, 4th - 1.036, reverse 3.083. Tyres front/rear 155 SR 13, spare wheel on right in boot. Suspension: front coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, stabiliser bar. Rear centrally suspended axle, coil springs, hydraulic shock absorbers, stabiliser bar.

Dimensions:

Length 4.34 metres, width 1.62 metres, height 1.43 metres (empty), wheelbase 2.44 metres, track width (front/rear) 1.325/1.325 metres, turning circle 10.10 metres (between pavements). Fuel tank capacity 47 litres, luggage compartment 420 litres. Empty weight 900 kg.