Morning everyone! Time to wake up and be reminded that the Renault Torino exists! These were, under their Pininfarina-designed skin, Rambler Americans, of all things. Yes, humble little Ramblers, dressed to the nines and kicking it in Argentina. That’s sort of how they ended up as Renaults–they started as IKA (Industrias Kaiser Argentina) which had a deal with AMC to build Rambler-derived vehicles, then Renault bought them out in 1975 when they took their stake in AMC, so now they’re Renaults.
I chose this for today because I saw one and was struck by how the front end looks like it has a smaller car parked in the middle there, if you look at it the right way.
See what I mean? The inner headlights and grille connect so it looks like there’s one of those ’70s era Austin Allegros or (if you’re looking at the badge) a Renault 12 parked under the hood of the bigger car.
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Anyway, I like these. See you out there.
Please do an article on the engines of these cars. I have a ’63(? Not exactly certain) HRM article on the Willys engine when first developed. Absolutely fascinating: single cam lobe for both intake and exhaust, semi-hemi, 90-day-wonder sort of vibe.
Then later as an IKA/Renault, to develop seven main bearings, triple carbs and a stupendous following and pedigree from humble Willys origins… just makes the story better.
What caught my eye were the flipper-style door handles that AMC adopted for the rest its cars in 1968 but never saw fit to give to the lowly American for its last two years on the U.S. market. Good to know Renault righted that wrong.
Once you see, you can’t unsee. However remains a tasteful update. Something that cannot be said from extensive facelifts for the Torino concoted at about the same time (luckily, never brought into production).
To me, it looks like an overweight Renault 18, with a 77′ Chevelle face… Truly the best of both worlds!
https://www.autoweb.com.ar/2020/03/27/los-torino-que-no-fueron/
I like it. Sorry.
It’s like its trapped. “Help, im just a little guy trapped in an ancient american car!”
Triumph TR6 swallowed a 1980 Westmorland Rabbit.
No sir, I don’t like it.
Reminds me of that alien in Men in Black which wore a human suit and controlled the thing from behind the face.
Nope.
Gives me a case of the jibblies.
You’re absolutely right. I learned to drive in a Renault 12, and though I haven’t seen one in person in over 30 years, this looks like my dad’s car drove down a Rambler’s throat, digested its guts, and is now driving around wearing the suit like a skinwalker (skindriver?) while it hunts me down to wreak some terrible vengeance for how badly I mistreated its clutch in 1986.
I may never sleep again.
David Garwin’s Dad had an R8 w/ a push-button automatic when he was single digit age in Cleveland….
It´s like the Alien creature from movies. When it opens its mouth there´s another creature coming from inside.
Will nevermore unsee this…
That is really messing with my head.
Sort of like how the BMW i8 rear end looks like it is enveloping another car’s rear end!
I’m pretty sure that is just a car wearing an oversized mascot outfit like the Capital City Goofball.
This is like a Magic Eye. Once it’s seen, your mind is blown.
After an in depth learning experience about casting and forging aluminum, I read this excellent fluff piece and broke out laughing!
Way to balance the content on the site!
As the owner of an Austin Allegro and a loyal subscriber to Quartic magazine I am outr… Well, no, actually that’s a fair point. Well spotted.
I see Datsun B 210 in that grill. Maybe its the mushrooms.
Once seen it cannot be unseen. It looks as though a MK1 Golf GTI was swallowed by a Nissan Skyline of the same era.
What a curious creature. Any idea what the performance stats were on these?
Interesting cars. Fangio took them to compete to Europe. Interesting read the Nurburing adventure. Wikipedia link below
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IKA-Renault_Torino
I see that but I also see the front of an old Civic and the back of a Falcon.
The GR had 180 HP, while the ZX coupé had 200 HP. The previous version of 1976 with the 200 HP had a top speed of about 195 km/h, and 0/100 of 10,8 sec. They had the 3.8 Tornado engine, perhaps this sedan was a bit tamer than the coupé, though.
Source: https://testdelayer.com.ar/torinotsx.htm. It’s a rabbit hole, I warn you.
Yep – the rear section is definitely Rambler American
Latin American rebadgings are the best thing since sliced cheese. Next up: Volkswagen 1500.
The Rambler American was a good, simple, honest, dependable and economical car. This is a slightly updated version. What’s not to like?!
The other side of the coin is that Latin America also gets all sorts of automotive cast-offs, leftovers and Chinese half-assery. That makes for some interesting sights for us spectators, but new and outdated garbage for drivers in the Third World.
Then again… I could be wrong.
Maybe you will get it.
dropped the kids off at school, wife’s not in the car so she won’t complain, rolled down the windows and opened the sunroof on a cool spring morning
i’d rather walk.
What if it’s raining?
Hasn’t stopped me in the past.