Dacia 1300, the ‘other people’s car’

This emblematic model made it possible to move all of Romania in the 70s and 80s

In Romania there is no Volkswagen or Beetle that is worth having. There is the ‘volkswagen’, the Dacia 1300. This vehicle was the vehicle that set the country on wheels in the 1970s and 1980s and the vehicle that helped the youth of
Michael, who works in the technical center of Titu as an architect for Renault Technologies. Mihai is proud to have restored his father’s Dacia 1310 and is now passionate about the model. Today he introduces us to his ‘pretty boy’ and his story.

In reality, it was the vehicle of all families, the taxi always available in the cities of the country… and the protagonist of many experiences that inscribed him forever in the emotional heritage of Romanians. As Mihai explains: “The Dacia 1300 is a robust, simple and comfortable vehicle, with all the qualities that are part of Dacia’s DNA.”

The Romanian economy soon embraced it, and so did customers rushing to buy what was the most modern vehicle in Eastern Europe in the early 1970s and one of the most affordable,
with a price equal to 3,200 euros

Mihai owns a Dacia 1310 1.3 L petrol TLX that his father bought in 1992. Originally an identical copy of the French Renault 12 model, the commonly called “Dacia 1300”, it was produced under this name from 1969 to 1979 and then under the name Dacia 1310 until 2004. “The two main differences between the 1300 and 1310 are a completely redesigned front with four headlights and a black central grille, and modified taillights,” says this enthusiast.

In the mid-1980s, Dacia reached 98% of locally produced components, which later made it easier to restore old models with original parts. Thus, Mihai restored his Dacia 1310 TLX as it was in its time, thanks to the mutual help of the community of collectors formed in his country: “Every year there are more Dacia 1300 enthusiasts. Romanians are rediscovering this model”.

Mihai often drives it. This Dacia 1310 was the vehicle of his family vacations and his first driving lessons, and the countless memories on board give it invaluable sentimental value. But beyond that, Mihai is proud to circulate in Dacia as he considers his Dacia 1310 a family heritage to be passed on.

Like Mihai, more and more Romanians are proud of and value their national automotive heritage. It must be said that the Dacia 1300 gave access to mobility and freedom to the whole of Romania, making it a special place in the childhood memories of an entire generation of Romanians like Mihai.

The Dacia 1300 (and its variants) is also part of Romanian history
for its commercial success (2 million copies sold) and
production life (35 years, from 1969 to 2004). It went through no less than six evolutions during its career and was marketed until 2006, six years after Logan production began. «The Dacia 1300 is the emblematic car in Romania. Its affordable price made it a true Volkswagen,” explains Mihai.

The projection of the Dacia 1300
was not limited to the borders of Romania because it was widely exported to Eastern countries and also some countries in Africa, Middle East and Latin America.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.