go gordini!
R12 GORDINI
IN THE GORDE’S
FOOTSTEPS
IN THE GORDE’S
FOOTSTEPS
In 1970, Renault 12 Gordini was successor to a myth: Renault 8 Gordini, then its heyday. Although it featured the blue colour and the white stripes that belong to the legend, Renault 12 Gordini did not convey exactly the same philosophy. In fact, R12 Gordini is a front-wheel drive with the engine in front, while for its predecessor it was located in the back. So it was a breakthrough. More powerful, more reliable and safer, it has all the assets to take up the challenge.
spirit
WATCH
YOUR
WEIGHT
WATCH
YOUR
WEIGHT
Renault presented its sporty three-box saloon, R12 Gordini, to the public at the Paris Motor Show in October 1970. Since R12 Gordini was designed for competition, Renault had to streamline it as far as possible for group 1 certification. The bumpers were removed, the front seats were tubular with fabric stretched by elastic, and the rear seat was in reality simple blocks of foam covered with anthracite sheet.
interior
FRONT-WHEEL
POWER
FRONT-WHEEL
POWER
Renault 12 Gordini was the first front-wheel drive to enter competition with such a high level of power. In fact its 4-cylinder 1565 cc engine derived from the Renault 16 TS engine develops 113 hp DIN at 6250 rpm. With these attributes and front ventilated disc brakes, it is a formidable machine. Its top speed reaches 185 kph.
original soundtrack
LISTEN TO
THIS PLAYLIST
LISTEN TO
THIS PLAYLIST
A cult vehicle like the one before it, Renault 12 Gordini offers sounds evocative of sports and racing.
archives
G-DAY
G-DAY
On 19 July 1970, Renault organised G-Day, where all Renault Gordini, Renault Dauphine and Renault 8 owners were invited to the Le Castellet track to a big Renault owner gathering. Attended by Amédée Gordini himself and many drivers, this gathering ended with the presentation of the brand new Renault 12 Gordini. Often compared to Woodstock, this meeting will be remembered as thousands of cars arrived from Europe to attend what will always be the 1st race on the new Paul Ricard track.
style
LEADING ROLE
LEADING ROLE
In 2021, Renault 12 Gordini made a remarkable cinema appearance in the French film “OSS 117: Alerte rouge en Afrique noire” (From Africa with Love), driven by Jean Dujardin in the role of secret agent Hubert Bonnisseur de la Bath, known as “OSS 117”.
exploits
HISTORIC
RECORD
HISTORIC
RECORD
Renault 12 Gordini broke the Cape Town-Algiers speed record. In 71, the Marreau brothers and Yves Garrin set off from Cape Town in South Africa, heading to Algiers in Algeria. But they didn't take a gentle road trip! Their goal was to cover the 10,000 km separating the two cities as fast as possible. It took them just 8 days, 22 hours and 18 minutes. A record! To achieve this feat, they barely got out of their hardy Renault 12. They didn’t even stop to share driving duties, instead changing places while the car was still moving (sometimes at 170 kph!), and didn’t stop at the borders either ... which saw them being shot at a few times! It was crazy, but the record still stands today.
technical features
113 HP
113 HP
- production
5188 units out of 4 million
- Performance and engine
1565 cc petrol engine developing 113 hp DIN
185 kph
- dimensionsLength 4,33 mWidth 1,60 mHeight 1 ,44 m
- architecture
three-box saloon
front engine, front-wheel drive
The Originals Store
BLUE AND WHITE
SIGNATURE
BLUE AND WHITE
SIGNATURE
Like all the models from the sporty line, Renault 12 Gordini stands out with its blue colour and white stripes; come discover the style.