The car model that inspired the production of the first Romanian car. Romanians copied one by one a cheap car from the West

The first car produced in communist Romania was the Dacia 1100, a faithful copy of Renault 8. Compared to the French patent, the Romanian “Renault” was made more economically, with indigenous additions.

Renault 8, the car that inspires the production of Dacia 1100 Photo Wikipedia

In 1965, Nicolae Ceausescu became the first secretary of the Romanian Communist Party, after the death of Gheorghe Ghiorghiu Dej. Ceausescu had other ambitions on the Romanian “socialism”. He wanted the Socialist Republic of Romania to become a great industrial power. An area on which he bent in particular was the automotive industry, non -existent in us in the country. In Romania 1965 there were only 50,000 vehicles, most of them produced in Russia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Ceausescu wanted cars produced in Romania.

The first Romanian car, the arrival of a French model

In Romania of the 1960s there was no, or the little one was not known, the original project of a car model. Under these conditions Ceausescu's only chance was to pay for a manufacturing license at a brand already consecrated. Ceausescu has launched an international request for offers. Renowned car manufacturers have registered. Including Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Renault, Fiat and Mini Morris. Ceausescu chose the first car produced in Romania to be under Renault license. On September 6, 1966, in Bucharest, the contract between Romania and the National Usines Renault was signed. The contract was valid for 10 years. On September 16, only 10 days after the conclusion of the contract, Ceausescu ordered the construction of a car factory near the Colibași car parts plant, arranged in some 1943 aviation hangars.

In January 1967, the actual works began and on August 3, 1968, the first cars built in Romania are coming out on the factory gate. It was about the Dacia 1100. Although Ceausescu boasted of the first Romanian car, she was the faithful copy of Renault 8 Major. According to the agreement, the French sent all the pieces and the Romanians only enveloped them. Later, in order to economize, the Romanians began to produce a number of components in the country. For example, windows, tires, electrical installation and radiator. Initially, the representatives of Romania opted for the Renault 16 model, but it was too expensive. Renault 8 major model was more accessible.

Dacia, the arrival of a French family car

The Renault 8 model was inaugurated in France in 1962. It resisted on the market for about a decade. In 1973 the production was ceased. The Renault 8 model represented an intermediate step between Renault Dauphine and Renault 10 (which appeared in 1965). Renault 8 was a family car with rear -wheel drive. In fact, he had the engine located on the rear axle. It was a cheap model for the French working class, which many families could afford.

“The R8 model was launched in June 1962 and was based on the Renault Dauphine model, dividing with it the basic architecture. It was made by Philippe Carbonneaux within a short short term (….) R8's engine followed the pioneer example of Renault 4 recently introduced by incorporating a tight cooling system. A distinctive innovation of cars produced in France was the mounting of four -wheel disc brakes, a premiere for a car of this size ”specifies the specialists from Net Car Show. Initially, Renault 8 had a 1456 cubic centimeters. A car for the city walks and family exits, without sports or high power. For the ordinary French, however, it was all it needed, a small car, easy to maintain, without high consumption and on the cheap purchase. Besides, he was doing his job well. In 1964, Renault improved the R8 model with a 1408 cubic centimeters.

This variant bore the name of Renault 8 major. It is, in fact, the model produced in Romania under the name of Dacia 1100. The name of the car made by Romanians was inspired by Ceausescu's obsession for searching for glorious roots, but also from the cylindrical capacity of the engine. Dacia 1100, initially, was the faithful copy of the Renault 8 major model. All the components were brought from France and mounted by Romanians based on the sketch and based on the license contract. This model, Renault 8 was very popular in the Balkans, but also in South Europe. “They were produced in Bulgaria until 1970 and a version was adapted and produced in Spain until 1976. In Romania, the Renault 8 version was under license between 1968 and 1972, under the name of Dacia 1100. 37,546 by Dacia 1100 were produced”the specialists from the net car show shows.

A cheap model, made even cheaper by Romanians

The popularity of this model in the Balkan countries was of course. It was cheap and easy to maintain. Renault 10 and Renault 16 models were a little more luxurious, stronger and more expensive. In addition, for communist Romania the consumption of Renault 8 major was the most important. Only 7 percent. And this under the conditions in which a volg exceeded 11 percent of kilometers.

According to official technical specifications, the Dacia 1100 was a traction and rear motor, in four cilindi of 1100 cubic centimeters. Developed 46 horsepower and had a maximum speed of 133 kilometers per hour. The consumption varies between 6.8 and 7 percent of kilometers. “Since the first editions, the Pitești car manufacturers have imposed their maximum demand criteria.specified the propaganda materials of the time. The engine was mounted logitudinally and cooled with water. A Dacia 1100 costs about 55,000 lei. And this under the conditions in which the average net salary, of a Romanian from 1965, was 1,139 lei.

Dacia 1100 Photo Automobile Dacia

That is, a Romanian with an average salary had to collect the salary for four years to afford a Dacia 1100. Renault 8 major and Dacia 1100 were actually identical. The roads of the two models separated in 1969. The Dacia wanted an even cheaper car. So they preferred to make tires, radiator, windows, but also electrical installations, upholstery and chairs in Romania. Obviously, the quality of the car has decreased.

The French improved it through a Cleon Fonte 14 1255 cubic centimeters and the Renault 8 Gordini sports model. Romanians have tried an improvement for rallies. The new model of Dacia 1100 had 65 horsepower, wide tires, two pairs of headlights and caught about 145 kilometers per hour. However, he could not compete with Renault 8 Gordini, to the nearly 100 horsepower. Dacia 1100 was replaced in production by Dacia 1300, a slightly cheaper version of the Renault 12.