RARER THAN RARE – THE RENAULT 20 TX

According to How Many Are Left?, just 15 examples of the Renault 20 TX Automatic remain on the road in the UK. Forty years ago, they were regarded as desirable transport – well-appointed, versatile, extremely comfortable and with a certain degree of panache. More importantly, this example, co-owned by Chris Salter and Reg Duffett, was once the daily driver of a great friend to the classic community.

The origins of the 20 date back to 1975 when Renault unveiled the 30 TS, their first large “executive” car in 15 years. In 1976, Le Regie replaced it with the cheaper 1.6-litre 20 TL, while the 2-litre 20TS debuted in July 1977. The range was facelifted in 1980, and summer 1981 saw the launch of the 20 TX. Power was from a 2,165cc fuel-injected engine, and the lavish array of standard fittings included PAS, cruise control, electric front windows, central locking and alloy wheels.

When Autocar tested the TX in 1981, they lauded its performance, road-holding and ride – ‘there is no doubt that the Renault lives up to its potential’. In short, this was a more than worthy rival to the Audi 100 Avant and the Rover 2300S. If you ever saw such a Renault on the mean streets of Lee-on-Solent circa 1982, you instantly knew that its owner also possessed a Commodore C64 home computer. And probably the latest in SodaStreams as well.

Production of the 20/30 family ceased in 1983 with the introduction of the 25, and recently Chris became the joint-custodian of the TX – ‘it drove like a dream when I collected her’. For many years, the Renault was the late Andy Mitchell’s property, where it partnered his gold and silver 30TX. Anyone who had the privilege of meeting Andy at the NEC will never forget his personality’s sheer warmth.

The 20TX was Andy’s “daily driver” around Portsmouth, and back in 2012, he described to Classics Monthly how he adapted the Renault to suit his needs:

As Andy has recently undergone an operation resulting in the removal of his stomach and damaged nerves in his legs, this means that he needs a walking stick and a surgical corset – and so he made some seemingly minor extremely practical modifications to his TX. The first alteration is the control knob fitted to the steering wheel, which prevents Andy from having to lean forward and allows him to drive the Renault one-handed. Meanwhile the elaborate ‘fairy lights’ in the side doors serve a very vital purpose – “I need to be able to throw open the doors as wide as possible when leaving or climbing into the car and as this is not a quick process I could have been at real risk of being hit or worse by another vehicle”. Andy initially fitted the lights to the rear doors – “I store my sticks on the back seat” – but similarly equipped the front doors as the street lighting where he lives “is not always of the best”.

Andy recently passed away, and his 20TX is now in the very best of hands – a tribute to a classic enthusiast and a true gentleman.

With Thanks To: Chris Salter and Reg Duffet

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