The IKA Torino, later renamed the Renault Torino, was a mid-sized car built in Argentina between 1966 and 1981 under an agreement with American Motors, and sold by Renault after it bought IKA in 1975. It has been called Argentina’s national car, and 99,792 two- and four-door examples were built.
IKA-Renault Torino at a glance
| Built by | Industrias Kaiser Argentina, then Renault Argentina |
|---|---|
| Production | 1966–1982 |
| Bodies | two-door hardtop, four-door sedan |
| Design | restyled by Pininfarina from the Rambler American |
| Engines | Tornado Special, Tornado Interceptor, Torino 233 |
| Debut | 30 November 1966, at the Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez |
| Built | 99,792 |
| Racing | fourth place in the 1969 Marathon de la Route |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the IKA-Renault Torino.
History of the IKA-Renault Torino
A car for Argentina
In 1961 Industrias Kaiser Argentina was looking for a car that could combine American reliability with European elegance. The company sent two 1965 Rambler Americans, a hardtop coupé and a sedan, to Pininfarina for restyling; the new design kept the general shape of the Rambler but had a completely new interior and a ‘European’ grille and rear end. The car was presented on 30 November 1966 at the Autódromo Juan y Oscar Gálvez racing circuit and marketed as the quintessential Argentinian car. It proved popular through the 1960s and 1970s and stayed in production after Renault bought IKA in 1975 to form Renault Argentina.
Tornado engines
All engines were made in Argentina. The Tornado Special, with four main bearings, was available only in the 300, whose four-door version was the 300S. The Tornado Interceptor, also with four main bearings, went into the 380, 380W, TS, SE and GS200, and the 380S was the four-door 380; the ‘W’ in 380W stood for three Weber 45 DCOE carburettors. The GS200 replaced the 380W and was the first Argentine car able to exceed 200 km/h, with a top speed of 203 km/h. The later Torino 233 engine had a new block and cylinder head and seven main bearings, and was used in the SE, GR, TS, TSX, GS and ZX; a Tornado Interceptor 241 was prepared for the Torino 380W TC racing car.
Racing
IKA set up a marketing effort known as the Argentine Mission of 1969, coordinated by engineer Oreste Berta under the leadership of Juan Manuel Fangio. Three factory cars were lightened from 1,407 to 1,365 kg and tuned to 250 hp at 5,200 rpm for a top speed of 230 km/h, with wider tyres and revised suspension, and shipped to Germany for the Marathon de la Route; they were numbered 1, 2 and 3 for Fangio’s renown in Europe. The best Torino finished fourth.
The end
Renault kept the Torino in production into the early 1980s. In 1978 the Argentine market slowed sharply, trade restrictions were relaxed and foreign cars arrived; the Torino could not compete with newer, cheaper and more reliable imports, and production ended in 1982.
Design and features
- Pininfarina body: the Rambler American shape restyled for Argentina, with a new interior and grille.
- Tornado engines: four- and seven-main-bearing units, including the triple-Weber 380W.
- Speed record: the GS200 was the first Argentine car over 200 km/h.
- Racing pedigree: a factory entry in the 1969 Marathon de la Route led by Juan Manuel Fangio.
IKA-Renault Torino versions
- Torino 300 and 300S (1966): Tornado Special engine, two- and four-door.
- Torino 380 and 380W: Tornado Interceptor, the W with three Weber carburettors.
- Torino GS200: replacement for the 380W, 203 km/h top speed.
- Torino 233 range: SE, GR, TS, TSX, GS and ZX with the new seven-bearing engine.
- Renault Torino: the same car after Renault took over IKA in 1975.
The Torino came from the same AMC family as the Renault Rambler, and more cars are in the Renault collection. Other racing Renaults are in Renault in Formula One.
Video: Renault Torino
Video by lucas urso on YouTube.
Sources
- IKA-Renault Torino, English Wikipedia: history, engines, racing, production
