In 1965, the Romanian government decided to build an automotive industry in the country. A year later, the Uzina de Autoturisme Pitești plant was established, where they planned to create a domestic vehicle called Mioveni. In 1968, these plans were abandoned and a partnership with Renault was established to capitalize on the French manufacturer’s extensive experience in this industry. The first car to roll off the production line at the newly established factory was a licensed version of the Renault 8, called the Dacia 1100. After Renault presented the new R12 model at the Paris Motor Show in October 1969, production of the Romanian version of the vehicle began almost immediately, the base model being called the Dacia 1300. This vehicle remained in production at the Romanian plants until 1984, while other versions based on the R12 continued until 2004 (Dacia 1310). This car played a significant role in the development of the Romanian automotive industry. Initially constructed using parts imported from France, by the mid-1980s, demand for approximately 98% of the car’s parts was covered by domestic Romanian production. It was exported to countries in both the Eastern Bloc and Western Europe, and enjoyed considerable popularity. A total of nearly 2 million units were produced in various versions, an impressive figure compared to the 2.5 million Renault 12 cars produced. The car was also available on the Polish market. In 1973, the price of a Dacia 1300 at Motozbyt was 170,000 złoty, or $1,880.
4-cylinder 1.3-liter in-line engine, 91289 cm3 OHV
Maximum power: 54 hp
Maximum speed: 145 km/h
Drive: front-wheel drive
Unladen weight: 920 kg
