Millésimes Renault 16

1965
August 1964: First official pictures of the R16 released to the press December 2, 1964: The first R16 is made at the factory in Sandouville, close to Le Havre, especially built for the R16. Januari, 5 1965: press-introduction of the Renault 16, on the Côte-d'Azur. Spring 1965: Sales of the 16 started. Available versions: R1150 Grand Luxe and R1150 Super with 1470 cm³ engine

1966
August 1965: A small renault logo is placed on the grille. A chrome strip is put on the dashboard and a logo with «Renault 16» is placed on the right side of the dashboard. December 1965: New type ventilation openings on the most right and left side of the dashboard

1967
Improved ventilation - heating system Redesigned dashboard Automatically operated choke

1968
Manual choke Warning light for disc brake pad wear New hubcaps New grille gearshift Bigger (longer) ... on the bumpers Introduction of the Commerciale (155 x 355 instead of 145 x 255 tyres, outside rearview mirror) March 1968: Introduction of the 16 TS (R1151) on the Salon de Genève. Some of its features: 1565 cm³ 61 kW engine (engine R1150 engine with new cylinderhead, with hemispherical combustion chambers) all new dashboard, with four round instruments, (now with revcounter and cooling fluid temperature gauge), extra iodium headlights, 155 tyres, windscreen wipers with two speeds, day-night position for interior rearview mirror, rearwindow demister, reading light for the passenger, double horn, optional electrical windows...

1968

Manual choke
Warning light for disc brake pad wear
New hubcaps
New grille gearshift
Bigger (longer) ... on the bumpers
Introduction of the Commerciale (155 x 355 instead of 145 x 255 tyres, outside rearview mirror)
March 1968: Introduction of the 16 TS (R1151) on the Salon de Genève. Some of its features: 1565 cm³ 61 kW engine (engine R1150 engine with new cylinderhead, with hemispherical combustion chambers) all new dashboard, with four round instruments, (now with revcounter and cooling fluid temperature gauge), extra iodium headlights, 155 tyres, windscreen wipers with two speeds, day-night position for interior rearview mirror, rearwindow demister, reading light for the passenger, double horn, optional electrical windows...

1969
The normal R16 gets the wheels and the brakes of the TS, but without the servo, the two speed windscreen wipers, the double tone claxon. The Super also get the day-night rearview interior mirror. Reversing lights standard on the TS, placed under the normal rear lights, they are optional on the other models March 1969: Introduction of the TA, an R16 with automatic gearbox. The TA is an normal 16 with the 1470 cm³ engine but offers in the interior some of the equipment of the TS

1969

The normal R16 gets the wheels and the brakes of the TS, but without the servo, the two speed windscreen wipers, the double tone claxon. The Super also get the day-night rearview interior mirror.
Reversing lights standard on the TS, placed under the normal rear lights, they are optional on the other models
March 1969: Introduction of the TA, an R16 with automatic gearbox. The TA is an normal 16 with the 1470 cm³ engine but offers in the interior some of the equipment of the TS

1970
Small changes to dashboard and seats TS gets seatbelts on front seats as standard, other models follow in April 1970

1971
July 1970: Small facelift for the 16: New rearlights (rectangular instead of almond shaped), placed under a black bar which runs over the width of the car under the hatch. Reversing lights of the TS are now incorporated in the rear lights 16 and Super are replaced by the L and TL (R1152). New engine of 1565 cm³ (TS engine with R1150 cylinderhead). Power assisted brakes TA discontinued, the automatic gearbox is now available as an option on all versions (L,TL,TS)

1971

July 1970: Small facelift for the 16:
New rearlights (rectangular instead of almond shaped), placed under a black bar which runs over the width of the car under the hatch. Reversing lights of the TS are now incorporated in the rear lights
16 and Super are replaced by the L and TL (R1152). New engine of 1565 cm³ (TS engine with R1150 cylinderhead). Power assisted brakes
TA discontinued, the automatic gearbox is now available as an option on all versions (L,TL,TS)

1972
Lateral parking lights (or indicators) on front wings dissapear. On L and TL: Totalisateur journalier standard, headrests and tinted windows become an option Automatic version recognizable by «Automatic» logo at the rear

1973
L and TL: All new dashboard October 1972: New logo on all models, designed by Vasarely

1974
October 1973: Introduction of the 16 TS (R1156) on the Salon de Paris. The TX was the fastest and most luxurious 16 ever. It came equipped with a 1647 cm³ 68 kW engine (essentially an enlarged TS engine), and it had a five-speed gearbox. The TX version had a specific front, with four, rectangular headlights, and large indicators/parking lights under those. The TX had Gordini wheels, a spoiler above the hatch and a rearwindow wiper. It also had a laminated windscreen, automatic seatbelts, different steering wheel, electrical windows, central locking. Air conditioning was available as an option. The system to open the bonnet was changed also. For the other models and the TX: dissapearance of the Renault name on the rear wings and new layout of the name and version text on the back of the car. Reversing lights are now white instead of yellow TS: Dissappearance of supplementary iodium headlights. The car is now equiped with «Kangourou» lights, with iodium lights incorporated April 1974: Introduction 16 TX Automatic

1974

October 1973: Introduction of the 16 TS (R1156) on the Salon de Paris. The TX was the fastest and most luxurious 16 ever. It came equipped with a 1647 cm³ 68 kW engine (essentially an enlarged TS engine), and it had a five-speed gearbox. The TX version had a specific front, with four, rectangular headlights, and large indicators/parking lights under those. The TX had Gordini wheels, a spoiler above the hatch and a rearwindow wiper. It also had a laminated windscreen, automatic seatbelts, different steering wheel, electrical windows, central locking. Air conditioning was available as an option. The system to open the bonnet was changed also.
For the other models and the TX: dissapearance of the Renault name on the rear wings and new layout of the name and version text on the back of the car. Reversing lights are now white instead of yellow
TS: Dissappearance of supplementary iodium headlights. The car is now equiped with «Kangourou» lights, with iodium lights incorporated
April 1974: Introduction 16 TX Automatic

1975
October 1974: L, TL, TS: Aluminium grill replaced by black plastic type, new upholstery The L version looses its hub caps, but an interior rearview mirror with day-night position now standard

1976
Commerciale versions discontinued L, TL, TS: Automatic transmission stopped being an option. Introduction of a TL Automatic with the 1647 cm³ engine with 50 kW (R1155) L: Engine compression reduced from 8,6 : 1 to 8,0 : 1. Engine power drops from 48 to 40 kW. Its now possible to use normal petrol (R1157)

1977
September 1976: L and TS discontinued TL: buyers get the option between the 48 kW engine (R1152) and the 40 kW (R1157) from the late L. Other changes: renewed dashboard design, carburettor indéréglable, automatic choke TX: New seats, Chrome in interior replaced by black plastic. New windscreen wiper switch.

1978
Reversing lights standard on all models. Quartz clock on TX. February 1978: TL with 40 kW engine discontinued

1979
All versions get orange indicator lights instead of white. Three point seatbelts at rear seats. July 1979: TL Automatic discontinued

1980
January 1980: After 1.845.959 cars, the production of the TL and TX, the last available models, ends.

Some countries, other than France, where the R16 has been produced:
Algeria
South Africa
Australia
Canada
Côte d'Ivoire
Ireland
Madagascar
Malaysia
Marocco
Phillipines
Portugal
Trinité
Venezuela
Yugoslavia

From: The observer's book of AUTOMOBILES 1966
Edited by L.A. Manwaring, Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., London