The Renault 14 at 50

23 July 2026

Original yellow Renault 14

  1. Project 121 was to bridge the gap between the 5 and the 16.
  2. Renault originally planned for the 14 to replace the 6, which continued in production until 1986.
  3. The floorpan was from the 12.
  4. The rear axle was sourced from the 5.
  5. Renault unveiled the 14 on the 25th of May 1976 at Les Invalides.
  6. The 14 was due for launch earlier in the year but was delayed by industrial disputes.
  7. The 14 was made in a new factory in Douai, south of Lille.
  8. As part of the launch ceremony, a fleet of 500 14s was driven from Douai to Paris.
  9. The 14 was Renault’s first transverse-engined car.
  10. Power was from the all-alloy “Douvrin” 1.2-litre single-overhead camshaft unit.
  11. The Dourvin engine was jointly developed with Peugeot.
  12. As with the 4 and the 16, the 14 had an asymmetrical wheelbase.
  13. Renault aimed the 14 at the European ‘Middle European’.
  14. They marketed the 14 as the "car for living”.
  15. Another early slogan was "the 7 CV of happiness”.
  16. The 14 could initially be ordered as an ‘L’ or a ‘TL’.
  17. The 14L lacked power-assisted brakes and a heated rear window.
  18. One of the 14’s objectives were to appeal to post-Fuel Crisis French motorists now considering a new car in the 5CV-7CV tax category.
  19. 58,000 14s found customers in its first year.
  20. By early 1977, the 14 was France’s 10th best-selling car.
  21. Renault GB commenced sales in 1977.
  22. The L was not available in the UK, and the TL cost £2,699.
  23. French rivals to the 14TL included the £2,471 Simca 1100 GLX Five-Door, the Peugeot 304GL for £2,728 and the Citroen GS Special for £2,448.
  24. Other FWD alternatives to the 14TL included the Volkswagen Golf Five-Door at £2,699, the Fiat 128 1300CL 4-Door at £2,219, and the Austin Allegro 1300 4-Door SDL for £2,403.
  25. RWD 14 rivals were the Ford Escort 1300GL 4-Door at £2,559, the Vauxhall Chevette GLS 4-Door at £2,631, the Chrysler Avenger S 4-Door at £2,551, and the Datsun 120Y Sunny 4-Door at £2,160.
  26. From within the Renault line-up, the 6TL was £2,387, and the 12L cost £2,334.
  27. thought the 14 gave Renault “a formidable weapon with which to widen their market”.
  28. The Telegraph> predicted the 14 would overtake 5, 12 and 16 sales in the UK.
  29. Renault GB sponsored Bruce Forsyth’s shows at Wembley Stadium, Bristol and Liverpool. Audiences had the chance to win a 14.
  30. One gem of sales copy claimed that the 14 could “cope comfortably with a family of five Continental gourmets and one greedy dog”.
  31. Parking the 14 was also “as comfortable as parking your behind.”
  32. Dealers could tell customers the 14’s cabin was as spacious as the much larger 16.
  33. “By folding away the rear seats like an estate car the Renault 14 can offer a huge 26 cu ft space for really bulky cargo”.
  34. Alternatively, folding the rear seat gave you “space for who knows how many crates of new Beaujolais”.
  35. By the end of the 1970s, the 14 was Renault GB’s second-most-popular model after the 5.
  36. In 1979, Renault introduced the GTL and the TS flagship.
  37. For 1980, the 14 received a facelift.
  38. The TL and GTL gained more power, and the TS now had a 1,360cc ‘X’ engine, as also used in the Peugeot 104S.
  39. thought that the electric front windows and central locking of the TS “should appeal to sybaritic customers.”
  40. 1982-model 14s could be specified with a five-speed gearbox.
  41. In 1981, discerning British motorists could order the limited-edition 14 ‘Regency’; a TS in Bordeaux Red with alloy wheels, rear sun blinds, a tinted glass sunroof, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a radio/stereo-cassette player.
  42. The Regency cost £5,135.32, and Renault made only 650 examples.
  43. The 11 replaced the 14 in 1983.
  44. 14 sales amounted to 1,08, 321; Renault aimed to build 2.5 million units.
  45. One problem was that some Renault traditionalists were unkeen on Douvrin engine’s association with Peugeot. Another was that the 14 developed a reputation for corrosion.
  46. To enhance sales, Renault embarked on a 1977 French-market advertising campaign, “La Poire” - the pear.
  47. Potential buyers were told: “The Renault 14 is like a pear. Minimal space in the front for the transverse engine, maximum space in the back for comfort. Try it!”
  48. Other gems included “The pear is comfortable", “A pear with a peach”, or “Let's split the pear in two”.
  49. One very unfortunate result of these advertisements was the 14 gaining the nickname “The rotten pear.”
  50. Why not order a “sports stripe” from the Renault Boutique, so that your 14TL would attract even more admiring glances?

With thanks to https://www.press.renault.co.uk/models/heritage for their time.

With thanks to https://www.press.renault.co.uk/models/heritage for their permission to use the images in this blog.