Production of this popular hatchback began in March 1965 at the company's recently completed Sandouville Plant, a few kilometers to the east of Le Havre.

The car had its formal launch in March 1965 at the Geneva Motor Show, and was made available for sale in France and most other lefthand drive markets during June 1965.

Late that year, it was first imported to the UK market in righthand drive form and quickly established itself as one of Britain's most popular imported cars.

It arrived on the UK market at a time when imported models still only accounted for a small percentage of new car sales, but was one of a string of cars from foreign brands which helped foreign cars increase their market share during the 1970s.

In 1970, racing driver Stirling Moss exclaimed: "There is no doubt that the Renault 16 is the most intelligently engineered automobile I have ever encountered and I think that each British motorcar manufacturer would do well to purchase one just to see how it is put toge...