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Puzzles, Games and Name That Car => Solved AutoPuzzles => 2016 => Topic started by: Carnut on December 15, 2016, 06:52:03 AM

Title: Solved - NEH 5053: Renault 21 prototype
Post by: Carnut on December 15, 2016, 06:52:03 AM
What's this, based on what - for 1 point?:

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Title: Re: NEH 5053
Post by: Brock05 on December 15, 2016, 11:24:46 AM
 Has a Renault 21/25 feel about it
Title: Re: NEH 5053
Post by: Carnut on December 16, 2016, 04:02:20 AM
Quote from: Brock05 on December 15, 2016, 11:24:46 AM
Has a Renault 21/25 feel about it

It's actually Renault 25-based, so I'll lock it for you to see what you can find.
Title: Re: NEH 5053
Post by: Brock05 on December 16, 2016, 07:21:23 AM
AMC Medallion prototype?
Title: Re: NEH 5053
Post by: Carnut on December 16, 2016, 07:29:08 AM
Quote from: Brock05 on December 16, 2016, 07:21:23 AM
AMC Medallion prototype?

Quite so.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: oko94 on December 16, 2016, 08:13:07 AM
The Medallion was the US version of the Renault 21. It's the Premier that was based on the Renault 25.

I reckon the puzzle picture is just an early Renault 21 mockup, as it's completely devoid of any US-spec item, down to the plain Renault 18 steel wheels and Euro-spec license plate holder.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: Carnut on December 16, 2016, 02:04:45 PM
There's just too much incorrect info out there on the 'Net..
I'll have to look into it.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: wingroad on December 16, 2016, 02:57:46 PM
Quote from: oko94 on December 16, 2016, 08:13:07 AM
The Medallion was the US version of the Renault 21. It's the Premier that was based on the Renault 25.

I reckon the puzzle picture is just an early Renault 21 mockup, as it's completely devoid of any US-spec item, down to the plain Renault 18 steel wheels and Euro-spec license plate holder.

Thats what I thought because I don't recall seeing any designs for a federalised Renault 21.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: oko94 on December 16, 2016, 06:37:10 PM
This 1984 Renault 21 running prototype has vertical taillights, pretty much like the puzzle picture. Later versions switched to the horizontally stacked taillights of the production Renault 21, used as the basis for the full-width taillights of the Medallion.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: Otto Puzzell on December 17, 2016, 04:41:10 AM
Another nit to pick: while AMC (briefly) sold them, the Medallion was badged Renault, not an AMC; after the AMC takeover by Chrysler, they were sold as the Eagle Medallion
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: Carnut on December 17, 2016, 11:17:06 AM
That's interesting Otto, thanks, particularly as the picture is quite close to my original puzzle picture, esp the shape of the windows.
The rear lights are different but my puzzle picture could still be a prototype for the Renault Medallion, despite its lack of federalised features?
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: oko94 on December 17, 2016, 03:24:17 PM
Quote from: Carnut on December 17, 2016, 11:17:06 AM
That's interesting Otto, thanks, particularly as the picture is quite close to my original puzzle picture, esp the shape of the windows.

The Renault Medallion and the Renault 21 have exactly the same windows so that's not a way to tell them apart.

Quote from: Carnut on December 17, 2016, 11:17:06 AM
The rear lights are different but my puzzle picture could still be a prototype for the Renault Medallion, despite its lack of federalised features?

I would argue that a Renault Medallion without any US-spec feature is just a Renault 21  ;)

On the original puzzle picture there's even a French license plate, which doesn't make sense if it's meant to be a US-only product.
Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: AMC Medallion prototype
Post by: Carnut on December 19, 2016, 04:41:11 AM
Since the picture didn't come from any kind of official site you could well be right, and the site is wrong.
However, the truth could be a bit murky.
All the development for the Medallion was done in France, so it being French-registered wouldn't necessarily mean it wasn't a Medallion. All Medallions were made in France too weren't they?

However, since the Medallion idea was a later brainwave and the rear lights are not what any of the production cars had it could well be this is an early 21 prototype - pre-dating the Medallion idea!

I don't know that the lack of federalisation features is any kind of an indicator, since they looked so similar anyway.  Pity we can't read the badges, if indeed they say anything...!

Title: Re: Solved - NEH 5053: Renault 21 prototype
Post by: Djetset on December 19, 2016, 08:14:04 AM
If it helps (it probably doesn't) I can vaguely recall seeing your original Puzzle photograph in a launch article for the Renault 21 in one of the car design magazine (Style Auto, Car & Design, etc.) which included an interview with Giugario about his design for this car. I probably still have it somewhere, but it will take me many years to find!

For what it's worth, the front-end of the Federal US-spec AMC Renault (which became Eagle) Medallion was quite different to the European and South American R21.