Solved - NEH 5053: Renault 21 prototype

[Carnut]

What's this, based on what - for 1 point?:

Remember - solving puzzles using 'Google Search by Image' is BANNED on AutoPuzzles!

[Brock05]

 Has a Renault 21/25 feel about it

[Carnut]

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.

[Brock05]

AMC Medallion prototype?

[Carnut]

AMC Medallion prototype?

Quite so.

[oko94]

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.

[Carnut]

There's just too much incorrect info out there on the 'Net..
I'll have to look into it.

[wingroad]

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.

[oko94]

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.

[Otto Puzzell]

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

[Carnut]

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?

[oko94]

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.

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.

[Carnut]

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...!

[Djetset]

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.