Renault R17

Renault 17
Renault 17
	Renault 17 (1971–1976)
Overview
Manufacturer	Renault
Also called	Renault 177 (Italy); Renault Gordini Coupé Convertible (United States)
Production	July 1971 – 1979
Assembly	France: Maubeuge
Body and chassis
Class	Midsize
Body style	3-door combi coupé
Layout	Longitudinal FF layout
Related	Renault 15
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol:; 1.6 L A2L or A2M/A3M I4
Transmission	4 / 5-speed manual; 3-speed automatic;
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,440 mm (96.1 in)
Length	4,260 mm (167.7 in)
Width	1,630 mm (64.2 in)
Height	1,310 mm (51.6 in)
Curb weight	965–1,065 kg (2,127–2,348 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Renault Caravelle
Successor	Renault Fuego

The Renault 17 (R17 for short) was a three-door station wagon coupé introduced by Renault in July 1971. The front-wheel drive vehicle was based on the Renault 12 and replaced the Renault Caravelle after three years of Renault's absence from the coupé market. The R17's engines were taken from the Renault 16.

At the same time as the R17, its sister model, the Renault 15, was launched. It differed in that it had the simple headlights of the R12, a simpler side profile, and a small 1300 cc engine producing 44 kW (60 hp), known as the R15 TL. The R15 TS featured the same engine as the R17 TL, with 1565 cc and 66 kW (90 hp). The R15 was only available as a closed coupé, meaning it did not have a folding roof. The rear side window was not split, but it could be opened. The R17 had two rear side windows: the front one was retractable, while the rear one was hidden behind a louvre grille and folded inward.

History

The R17 was manufactured at the Société des Usines Chausson plant in Maubeuge. Final assembly and painting for the first series took place at the Renault plant in Sandouville from 1971 to 1975.

Renault 17 Gordini (1976)

The Renault 17 TL had a four-cylinder inline engine with 1565 cc displacement and 66 kW (90 hp), which accelerated the vehicle to a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph). The front wheels were individually suspended on double wishbones with coil springs and equipped with hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers and stabilizers. The rigid, pressed-steel rear axle was suspended from two trailing arms with coil springs and a central wishbone. The car had disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the rear. In addition to the manually shifted TL four-speed gearbox with center shift lever, a three-speed automatic transmission was available.

In addition to the coupé version, there was also a version with a large folding roof that could be opened electrically. The top-of-the-line model, the Renault 17 TS, released at the same time, had an output of 79 kW (108 hp) thanks to a fuel injection system (D-Jetronic) and reached a top speed of 180 km/h.

In the fall of 1974, the TS and Automatic models received a slightly larger engine with a displacement of 1605 cc. With the discontinuation of the R12 "Gordini," the R17 was henceforth offered under this name.

Model Update

Renault 17 (1976–1979)

In March 1976, the front and rear sections were revised. This was evident in the wider headlights. At the same time, the TS version received a new 1647 cc engine, similar to that of the R16 TX, and – again a step back – equipped only with twin carburetors, producing 72 kW (98 hp). These achieved a top speed of approximately 175 km/h (109 mph). In addition to the manually shifted TS five-speed transmission with a center shift lever, a three-speed automatic transmission was also available.

After only three years of production, the R17 Gordini was discontinued in the summer of 1977.

The model series was discontinued in August 1979. Its successor was the Renault Fuego, introduced in the spring of 1980.

Electromod

In 2024 Renault presented a prototype electrified restomod R17 in collaboration with Ora-Ïto.^[1]

Production

During the entire production period, a total of 209,887 Renault 15s and 94,969 Renault 17s were manufactured.^[2] Due to corrosion and wear, most examples have since disappeared from the streets.

Markets

In the United States, the vehicle was also sold under the name Renault Gordini Coupé Convertible, and in Italy as the Renault 177, because 17 is considered an unlucky number there.

Powertrain


	Renault 17 TL (1971–1976)	Renault 17 TS (1971–1974)	Renault 17 TS (1976–1979)	Renault 17 Gordini (1974–1977)
Engine	4-cylinder in-line engine (four-stroke)
Displacement	1565 cm³	1565 cm³	1647 cm³	1605 cm³
Bore × Stroke	77 × 84mm	77 × 84mm	79 × 84mm	78 × 84 mm
Power in kW/hp	66 kW (90 hp)	79 kW (108 HP)	72 kW (98 HP)	79 kW (108 HP)
Mixture preparation	Register carburetor Weber 32DIR	Fuel injection Bosch D-Jetronic	Register carburetor Weber 32DARA	Fuel injection Bosch D-Jetronic
Cooling	Water cooling
Transmission	4-speed transmission, center shift 3-speed automatic transmission, center shift	5-speed transmission, center shift	5-speed transmission, center shift 3-speed automatic transmission, center shift	5-speed transmission, center shift
Brakes	Front axle: disc brakes Rear axle: drum brakes	Front axle/rear axle: disc brakes	Front axle: disc brakes Rear axle: drum brakes	Front axle/rear axle: disc brakes
Track width front/rear	1341/1313 mm	1341/1341 mm	1341/1313 mm	1341/1341 mm
Wheelbase	2440 mm
Dimensions	4259 × 1645 × 1307 mm
Curb weight	1015 kg	1050 kg	1040 kg	1055 kg
Top speed	169 km/h	180 km/h	175 km/h	180 km/h
Acceleration 0–100 km/h	not specified	9.8 s		9.8 s