The year is 1983 and for several years Renault has been exporting several models to the USA, including the Renault 18.
The ambitions are enormous, the success more modest, but it doesn’t matter. What could be more chic than making French customers believe that the Americans are snapping up the Renault sedan?
A special series to support sales
The Renault 18 began to run out of steam in France and in June 1983, the French manufacturer decided to launch a limited “American” series, inspired by the version offered to American consumers.
Except that this R18 will be intended for the average French person. The goal is simple, to make customers and the network wait while waiting for the restyling of the R18.
The idea is simple, we take inspiration from the liveries offered on the R18s sold in the United States with the two-tone paints of the most beautiful effect (gray colored lower body combined with black paint on the upper part of the vehicle) and 1.6 l engine with 73 wild horsepower!
Complete equipment
The R18 American therefore has an exclusive black-silver livery, a
rear spoiler, alloy wheels with 155 SR 13 tires, matte black side window frames, chrome door paddles, bumpers with chrome insert,
chrome strips on the rocker panel and fender edges and “American” adhesive sign on the trunk. Inside, a sports steering wheel, leather gear lever knob and tinted windows complete the range of this fake American.
American 2, the return
This limited series was a success and gave Renault ideas. In September 1984, the French manufacturer renewed the operation on the restyled Renault 18 by launching, “The American 2”.
This time several colors are offered with solid shades, silver gray or white, but also two-tone colors like Cloud/Silver Gray, or even Schist Blue/Baltic.
14,000 copies were produced and sold on the French market. Today the R18 American and American 2 are rare and among the most sought after.
