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Motoring News
low price. Launched in 1964, this automotive icon
brought the joy of sporty driving to an entire
generation.
seats now mounted on fore/a rails. Mated to automatic
transmission, the V6 engine confirmed Espace’s status
as a truly high-end model.
Renault 8 Gordini 1500 Twin Cam (1967) (private col‐
lection)
is Renault 8 Gordini is powered by a 1.5-litre engine
with a double overhead camsha, the same powerplant
that was used by a number of Alpine prototypes com‐
peting in the Le Mans 24 Hours. is particular model
is unique and once belonged to Amédée Gordini.
1996 – Espace III: e third generation saw Espace
grow in size, with a version that was 27cm longer still –
christened Grand Espace –added to the range in Jan‐
Renault 8 Gordini (1969)
Renault 8 Gordini shone in rallying from 1964, with an
extraordinary performance in the legendary ‘Tour de
Corse’ culminating in four cars placed inside the overall
top five, headed by winner Jean Vinatier. at impres‐
sive record of success continued all the way up until
1970. e model on show at the Rétromobile Show re‐
cently returned from the 2014 Rallye Monte-Carlo His‐
torique, where it competed as part of the Team Renault
Classic line-up.
• Five legendary Renault 8 Gordinis, including a
Type 1134, prepared by Renault’s competition depart‐
ment.
• e Espace saga, told through eight display vehi‐
cles from the original concept right up to the currentday model, with a special space reserved for the ex‐
traordinary Espace F1.
e vehicles on display on the Renault stand in detail:
uary, 1998.
Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134 (1965)
is Renault 8 Gordini Type 1134, prepared by
Renault’s competition department, has been restored to
contribute to the Renault 8 Gordini’s 50th anniversary
celebrations.
Ex-Michel Leclère Renault 8 Gordini (1969)
e original livery of this white car with an orange front
2002 – Espace IV: e current-generation Espace was
produced entirely by Renault at its Sandouville plant. Its
most significant innovation was its bodywork, no
longer made from composite materials but from steel.
Other Espaces at the Rétromobile Show:
Renault Project 900 (1959)
Providing spacious interiors has always been at the very
forefront of Renault’s thinking. Responding to the re‐
quirement for better management of a vehicle’s cabin
space, Project 900 was too avant-garde to meet with any
great success – but Espace was not far around the cor‐
ner...
Matra Project P18 (1981) (Matra Museum collection)
Presented by Matra, this prototype would act as the ba‐
sis for the model given to Bernard Hanon by Philippe
Guédon in 1982. It led to the partnership between Re‐
nault and Matra for the design and production of Re‐
nault Espace.
Renault Espace I (1984) (private collection)
A pre-production vehicle built in October 1983, this car
carries the number 4, making it the oldest Espace
known to exist! Its owner, a former Matra employee,
states: “I am extremely proud to have played a part in
this adventure and to see, 30 years later, just how much
of a revolutionary vehicle Espace went on to be!”
Marne Taxi: Renault Type AG1 (1909)
e first Parisian taxi, the Type AG found itself elevated
to fame during the First World War. In 1914, the Ger‐
man army marched upon Paris. In order to hold the en‐
emy back, it was necessary to despatch French troops to
the front – a task that fell to Paris’ plethora of taxis. Six
hundred of them were consequently called into service
to transport 3,000 men, which resulted in France win‐
ning the First Battle of the Marne and earned the vehi‐
cles their ‘Marne Taxi’ sobriquet.
e vehicle on display at the show has been restored es‐
pecially to mark this centenary.
Renault 8 Gordini:
Renault 8 Gordini (1970)
One of the most popular sporting models ever pro‐
duced by Renault is indisputably the Renault 8 Gordini,
which boasted a top speed of 175kph for an unrivalled
end was chosen by its first owner, Michel Leclère, who
piloted it to victory in the Pas Dunlop and second place
in the 1969 Coupe Gordini. Despite the passing of the
years and changes of ownership, this outstanding Gor‐
dini is totally original.
Renault Espace: Four generations on display to tell the
story of this model:
1984 – Espace I: Espace was first presented to the me‐
dia in April, before going on sale in July. e model’s
versatility took observers by surprise, with the five rear
seats all being removable and the front two revolving
when the vehicle was stationary to create an impromptu
living room. Renault introduced its slogan ‘Voitures à
Vivre’.
1991 – Espace II: e second-generation Espace of‐
fered more refined dynamics and soer lines. is time,
the modularity was even more versatile, with the rear
Renault Espace F1 (1994)
is Espace F1 was designed to celebrate the WilliamsRenault team’s third consecutive Constructors’ crown in
the 1994 Formula 1 World Championship and the sixth
title for Renault’s V10. It went on display at the Paris
Motor Show in October 1994 and even acted as the
Safety Car at certain circuits.
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