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Renault 15/17 in the (historic) test - lack of harmony?

Name: Renault 15 TS 1972
Brand: Renault

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Created on June 30, 1972

Text:

Paul Simsa

Photos:

Renault Communications

221

Renault Communications

221

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Enough ground clearance for a detour off the road

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - A trip to the beach

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Since model update with continuous rear light

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Sporty but simple design

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Almost as spacious as a station wagon

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - The press photos were taken in Corsica at the time

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Characterized by the large rectangular headlights

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - The journey is the reward

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Renault 15 GTL (1978) - Long hood with large overhang in front of the axle

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - With smaller headlights than after the facelift

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Striking not only because of the color

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - At the end of the rainbow

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Actually an R12 Coupé

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Roaring through the night

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Tended to understeer when accelerating in a bend

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - The hood looked different than after the facelift

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Renault 15 TL (1973) - Somehow reminiscent of the Lancia Beta HPE

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Renault 15 TL (1973) - Large black radiator grille

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Model updated variant with narrower radiator grille

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - With black plastic cover at the rear

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The revised version was also clearly recognizable at the rear

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Improvements were made to the headlights during the facelift

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Unorthodox bodywork with huge rear windows

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The perfect car for young couples?

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Long body on a short wheelbase

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Was already an eye-catching vehicle back then

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - In front of Corsican rocks

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - After the facelift, the front looked softer

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Renault 15 TL/GTL (1979) - A comparison of the two equipment variants

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - The suspension was designed for comfort, but was definitely too firm for the bumpy road

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - With a hefty 90 hp thanks to the engine from the R16

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Only produced until 1976

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Interesting shape with concave tailgate

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Renault 15 TS (1973) - The R15 was not only available in white, but also in many bright colors

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Renault 15 (1973) - In the Libyan capital Tripoli

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Renault 15 (1987) - On the Grand Place in Brussels

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Renault 15 (1987) - Big mouth and a lot behind it

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Birds of a feather flock together

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - A magnet for women

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - The unmistakable grille

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - In different color variants

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - You could even take a nap on the seats

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Good seating comfort

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - The upholstered seats offered sufficient lateral support

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - TL and GTL side by side

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Striking plastic bumper

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Engine compartment

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Renault 15 TS (1973) - Cockpit with sports steering wheel

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Renault did it colorful back then

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - With upscale equipment compared to the TL

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - On the road off-road

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - With air ducting in the hood

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Holiday feeling under palm trees

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Sand under your feet

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Under olive trees

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - The front chrome bar looked quite beefy

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - With the 1.3-liter engine from the R12

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - No halogen light despite large headlights

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Large, but not very bright headlights

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - On the country road

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Trust me, I know a shortcut

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Renault 15 GTL (1976) - Without halogen light, driving at night became an adventure

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Renault 15 GTL (1978) - With bright red seat upholstery

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Renault 15 GTL (1978) - Full-length rear light, long before it was trendy

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Renault 15 GTL (1978) - No door handles, but handle recesses

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Renault 15 GTL (1979) - The alloy wheels were not wheels at all, but wheel covers

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - On the way to the tennis court

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Gently sloping rear end

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Standing somewhat crosswise in the landscape

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Is also good as a backrest

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - The first version

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Consumed around 10.5 liters on average

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Cornering tendency

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Renault 15 TL (1971) - Enough power even on the mountain

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Renault 15 TL (1973) - Motorized shopping spree

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Renault 15 TL (1973) - The wide, black radiator emphasized the long overhang at the front

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Renault 15 TL (1973) - With the long rear windows, the body appeared elongated

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Renault 15 TL (1974) - Driver behind the wheel

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Was somewhat less rare than the rare R17

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - It rolled off the production line until 1979

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The upper edge of the radiator grille disappeared with the facelift

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The engine came from the R12

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - For all those who wanted a station wagon and a coupé but only had a parking space

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Reminiscent of a Lancia Beta HPE

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - An amazingly practical car thanks to the large tailgate

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Striking rear end with wide tail lights

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The thick chrome strips at the front and rear were actually made of plastic

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - On the road on Corsican country roads

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Shortly before sunset

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Moving fast with 60 hp

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Based on the R12, but cost a lot more

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Independent design language

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Top speed: 150 km/h

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Halogen light was reserved for the more expensive R17

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - The angular shape of the hood was not very advantageous in the event of a collision

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - On the gravel track

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Renault 15 TL (1979) - Stretched appearance due to short wheelbase and ample overhang

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Renault 15 TL/TS (1974) - 30 hp between the two cars

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Renault 15 TL/TS (1975) - TS and TL hardly differed externally

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - With 90 hp, the TS was the most powerful version

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Photogenic vehicle

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Sailing trip with the whole family

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Sporty around the bend

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Renault 15 TS (1971) - Before the facelift still with the small rectangular headlights

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Renault 15 TS (1973) - Sporty version with 30 hp more

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Renault 15 TS (1974) - The most powerful model on the airfield

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Renault 15 (1972) - I wonder how it got there?

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Renault 15 (1978) - TL and the upmarket GTL version

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Renault 15 (1987) - On the road in Belgium

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Renault 15 (1987) - "Frituur" is the name given in Flanders and the Netherlands to stalls selling French fries and other fried foods

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - The twin halogen headlights were only available on the R17

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - One of the differences between the sister models was the headlights

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - With and without sunroof

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - In front of the church

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - steel rims with hub caps

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Fresh air thanks to electronic folding sunroof

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Spoilt for choice

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Waving on the highway

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - With the chassis from the R12

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - catching up: more than twice as many units of the R15 were produced as the R17

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Except for the headlights, the front was identical

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - With folding roof

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Presentation with a lot of pomp

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Two models, four variants

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Apparently the seats were very comfortable

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Stylish upholstered seats

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Perfect for a couple's vacation?

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - When the photographer is photographed

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Orange seat covers

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - The seats were part of the design

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Very large tailgate

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - In contrast to the rest of the car, the seats didn't look very sporty

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Renault 15 TL (1976) - Frameless windows

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Renault 15 TS (1975) - The windows had to be cranked as standard. Electric windows were available on request

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Not cacti, but car seats

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Upholstered seats with fabric cover

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Renault 15/17 (1976) - Back then, seat covers were available in all possible colors

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Renault 15 TL (1975) - Transparency drawing

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Renault 15/17 (1970) - Engine installation

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Fresh from the press

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - At the Maubeuge spray shop

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Renault 15/17 (1971) - Final assembly in Maubeuge

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - In the Sandouville spray shop

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Quality control of the bodywork in Sandouville

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Production hall in Sandouville

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Body check in Sandouville

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Sandouville production hall

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Engine installation

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - The hood was hinged at the front

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Installation of the suspension

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - Final touches during wheel fitting

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Renault 15/17 (1973) - Paint inspection at the Sandouville plant

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Renault 17 (1972) - A total of almost 100,000 R17s were built

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Renault 15/17 (1972) - In the Italian advertisement

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Renault 15/17 (1973) - Same silhouette, different bodywork

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Renault 15/17 (1973) - Swedish advertising brochures

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Renault 15/17 (1973) - Finnish advertising

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Summary

In 1972, Renault was still really daring: with the Renault 15/17 Coupé, the French company launched two unusually styled and sportily motorized models on the market. Why this was (not) a good idea is explained in this historical test report with over 200 photos from back then.

This article contains the following chapters

R 15 TL
R 15 TS and R 17 TL
R 17 TS
Plus points
Minus points
Overall verdict
Technical data

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Renault's recipe for success is the station wagon - compact, safe to drive, comfortable. After the R 4, R 6 and R 16 series, we eagerly awaited the R 5, see the driving report in mot issue 3/72. But Renault did not want to stick to this recipe alone. In 1969, the R 12 came with a notchback and in a peculiar style on a short wheelbase, with the engine in front instead of behind the axle. In 1971, the R 15 and R 17 coupés followed on the same chassis and were launched on the German market - with the exception of the R 17 TS, which followed in the fall of 1972. A lot of bodywork for the chassis: the overhang at the front is emphasized by the wide, dark grille surface. Anyone with a sporty taste would want a car with a wider track and a longer wheelbase. Tastes are also divided when it comes to the differences between the R 15/R 17. The R 15 with the long rear side window looks more elongated. The R 17 is more interesting in its new way: A hinged window is concealed behind the slits in the raised side panel, and the side windows can be retracted without posts; for an extra DM 900, the R 17 is available from March 73 with an electric folding sunroof, effect similar to the Porsche Targa.

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