Renault 16 spare wheel

 

I had an interesting question in a comment to an article about the Renault 16. As that article was one of my earliest back in 2014 I thought I would repeat what I said here where it is more likely to be seen. The question was whether the spare wheels in the Renault models was removable.

I assume that, as the Whizzwheel was rather wider (deeper when horizontal), it would not have fitted under the bonnet of the #202 version without costly changes to the casting and so Corgi just left the old one in place and hoped no-one would mind too much. However, that's nothing to do with the question.

I hadn't thought about this before so got out the two models and took a closer look. From what I can tell they have been pushed down onto a small vertical post which is an element of the under-the-bonnet casting. I did try tugging and even a little gentle leverage at one side but nothing moved and I am always very worried about damaging the paintwork. Both the burgundy and blue are wonderful colours and a great finish but one that is all too easily separated from the mazak below.

There appears to be some space all around the tyre and the person asking the question thought that maybe only the tyre could be removed. I am not sure I see the point of that but I suspect that the tyres could be taken off in either instance but, again, I am not inclined to attempt this with either of these particular examples.

Perhaps someone out there has an old one that they might care to make a stronger effort with? Or one that has already been taken to bits. I imagine that they will come off and making the post a little narrower would enable the wheel to be taken off and replaced quite easily. Again, I am not entirely sure why we would want to do that but I guess it adds a little more play value!

Whilst on the subject of these Renaults, let me remind those who like to collect variants that there are different base texts for the #260 and these are different again to the #202 and also there are two different colour tow hook attachments.. All quite remarkable when one appreciates just how short the production period was for the #260 model. No sooner had #260 been issued in February 1969 when, just a few months later, Whizzwheels started to be fitted to many existing models. The Renault gets issued with these in May 1970, with a new catalogue number #202.

We don't know how many #260 models were sold or produced but over what was probably just a year it wouldn't have been many.