Charbonneaux proposed a more traditional saloon body but the project never went past prototype stage. One surviving prototype is permanently on display at the Musée Automobile Reims Champagn in Reims, France. Renault 16 coupé cabriolet A coupé cabriolet version was in development, but due to most of the body parts being unique to those used on the saloon, production would have been too costly and the project was shelved. Commentary 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 together". Pre-launch publicity was extensive, with semi-authorized media leaks. L'Auto-Journal reported details of the car, at this stage in an exclusive report, towards the end of 1963. During October 1964, timed to coincide with the Paris Motor Show, Renault distributed photographs of its innovative new family car, still at this stage described simply as the forthcoming "Renault 1500", for publication as "scoop" pictures in various magazines. It was only two months later that the car, now officially named a "Renault 16", was approved for sale by the French homologation authorities. Legacy The Renault 16 was voted European Car of the Year by a board of European motoring journalists late in 1965. It was the third winner of the award, and the Renault 16 was the first French winner - the first two winners had been British. Timeline August 1964 – First official pictures of the R16 are released to the media. December 2, 1964 – The first R16 is completed at the factory in Sandouville, near Le Havre, a facility purpose-built for the R16. January 5, 1965 – The Renault 16 is introduced to the world and the press in a presentation on the Côte-d'Azur. April 1965 – The R16 is made available to the public, in two specifications: Grand Luxe and Super, both powered by a 1470 cc engine Autumn 1965 - The R16 is launched in right-hand drive form for the UK market. 1967 – Ventilation and heating are both improved, and the dashboard is redesigned. An automatically operated choke is also made available. 1968 – The R16 TS is introduced. It features a new 1565 cc engine, an all-new instrument panel that includes a tachometer and water temperature gauge, and many