Why R16? Technical My sweet sixteen Interactive Links Home
The Renault 16 bodywork
The body concept of the R16 was the basis to its success. For the first time in this class there was a hatchback with rear door and variable interior space. So the advantages of conventional passenger cars and estates could be combined. Equipped with five doors as standard, the car was very family - friendly. In comparsion to modern vehicles the R16 was no "space wonder" because of the engine arrangement. In the sixties it set the standards, and it took years for the rival manufacturers to copy this concept.
The body and underframe of the R16 is an all-steel, four-door unitary construction. But the body wasn´t constructed in one piece, but body and underframe were built seperately and later welded together. This construction principle came fron the R4, where the upper and lower part are screwed together. result is that on some parts up to four layers of tin were welded together, which can lead to difficult body repairs due to the complex welding job.
This is the sadest chapter of the R16, the reason why such a little number survived: rust! The complex construction, bad rust protection and bad steel quality sent a lot of R16 to their early grave. In the seventies, as result of the steel crisis, very bad steel was used, so that models of the sixties are mostly in a better shape then such of the seventies
Who takes a look at a R16 today should focus on the following parts:
- *the open side member with the rear axle suspension
- * the A-post
- * the front and rear chassis mebers
- * the damper fittings
- the rest of the underframe
- the front wall of the passenger cabin near the ventilation system drain
- the inner front wings
- the edges of doors and rear door
- the area around the rear door lock holder on the inner rear wing
- the boot floor around the rear wall
- the front wings, especially around the headlamps
- if the R16 is equipped with a sunroof, the funtion of the drain system has to be checked
The critical parts are marked with an astericks - if corrosion is found there, a very good welder has to to the job, especially because many repair tin kits are no longer available. The other parts are easier to repair, but sometimes not good accessable.