Renault 12TL

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By the late 1960s Renault needed to replace their ageing rear-engined 8 and 10 models with something more contemporary.

There was a worrying gap in the range between the front-wheel drive Renault 16 and the recently introduced hatchback 6, and the new Renault 12 of 1969 was the solution they came up with. Using a number of concepts developed prior to the launch of successful 16 in 1965, the new car had a more conventional front-drive layout with the gearbox mounted behind the engine rather than in front. This meant that a conventional floor-mounted gearstick could be used but also gave much improved engine accessibility.

Over 2.5 million were eventually produced by Renault before they ceased production in 1980, with thousands more continuing to emerge from factories around the world where they were built under licence, most notably in Iran and Romania where they were sold as Dacias until 2004.

This 1976 TL model has undergone extensive restoration over the last 18 months. Emerging from some 10 years in hibernation, its owner went to town – finding two new front wings, replacing the front lower door-skins, fitting two new rear upper wheel arches and giving the car a comprehensive respray.

A replacement engine was fitted from a car which had covered just 56,000 miles, along with a new clutch, brake calipers, exhaust and reconditioned radiator. He managed to source a new-old-stock front bumper and added a fresh carpet set and a set of new tyres, even managing to find a genuine replacement aerial from Greece.

Its MOT expires in April 2016 and with just 110 Renault 12s of all types currently registered with the DVLA, you're unlikely to find another for sale any time soon, let alone one as good as this.