1989 RENAULT 19 Chamade 1.9d 5MT FWD (65 HP)

Vehicle Overview

After a few years on the market, the 19 received a well-deserved facelift in 1992 for the entire range, including the sedan version, which also got the Chamade nameplate.

When the East European market opened after their revolutions, the French carmaker tried to get most of the market with affordable products. For that, Renault started producing the 19 Chamade in Turkey since it lowered its production costs.

In the former communist countries, the sedan versions were seen as upmarket vehicles, and Renault understood that quickly. So while other carmakers tried to sell just trimmed-down versions of their hatchbacks, the state-owned French carmaker came with a proper sedan.

At the front, the 19 Chamade featured a set of refreshed headlights that sported a rounded design, while the rear received smoked taillights and the chromed “Chamade” badge on the trunk’s lid. Thanks to its three-box shape, the car was well received on the East-European market but didn’t excel in front of the western customers, who were still more attracted by hatchbacks.

Inside, the dashboard was still angular-shaped but with softer materials and rounded corners. Its rectangular vents from the center stack and on the dashboard’s sides received a new design. The new, two-spoke steering wheel didn’t look that harsh as the one installed on the non-facelifted version. Hard-plastic materials and cheap upholstery helped the carmaker sell the vehicle at a very low price.

Under the hood, the carmaker placed a 1.4-liter gasoline engine paired to a five-speed manual as the base version. Then, for Western customers, it added the 1.8-liter while the 1,9-liter oil-burners were more appealing for fleet owners.