Never saw the light of day

Large coupes have always been popular in the US and the Allure was an attractive extension to the range, initially for Renault and later also for Eagle. The car was ready for its market launch by the end of 1988 / early 1989, but Chrysler’s marketing managers thought differently.

Nowadays, just one example of this rare car is saved in the Chrysler Heritage collection in Detroit. It’s a white car with not a single mark of its Renault heritage to be found on it. No ‘losange’ on its radiator grille or on the steering wheel, although there is no doubt that these were there one day. The keys are still Renault ones. Furthermore there is enough to recognize it as a Premier derivative. The dashboard was taken over from that car, although the centre console and the dials with its red numbers are different. Chrysler Heritage’s car comes with a five-speed manual gearbox that is mated to the well-known 3-litre V6 engine. The 2.5-litre V6 turbo version must surely have crossed AMC’s mind, too. The car’s seats appear to have been made specifically for this model with connected headrests. Like the Premier, the Allure has ample luggage space in the boot. This sole survivor comes with alloy wheels that weren’t used on the Premier until some time later. It is also equipped with streamlined door mirrors and quarter light windows, which cannot be opened.

The rear side windows are joined together by the rear screen, seemingly with no c-posts, giving the rear of the car the effect of a floating roof. Chrysler’s decision not to add the Allure to the Eagle model range seems unusual. Perhaps it was the threat to become a competitor of their own existing models that made them determined not to build it?

When car production at the Ile Seguin in Billancourt was discontinued in late March 1992, we saw another Allure in the then-modest works collection, which was also based there. This was a dark grey car with no headlights and indicators. Where the Chrysler Heritage car comes with black bumpers and door undersides painted in black, too, the one in Renault’s collection had these colour coded in the same paint as the rest of the body, just like the LX version of the Premier had. All of the emblems missed, too. It seems that the grey car did not survive, as it can now no longer be found in Renault Classic’s collection. And so it may be concluded that this unique prototype was scrapped: one of the last pieces of Renault’s US heritage has now definitely fallen into oblivion.