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Photo of a Dacia 1310

Dacia 1310

Renault 12 roots, four headlights, and a Romanian production run from 1979 to 2004.12

Researched October 30, 2026 from 25 sources

Also called

  • Zâmbetul lui IliescuThe CN4's headlights and grille recalled President Ion Iliescu's smile; workers made the joke during protests over low pay.3
  • cu ușă scurtăRomanian for 'with a short door': the Sport's 1981–1985 version used the shorter doors.14
  • cu ușă lungăRomanian for 'with a long door': the later Sport used lengthened doors from 1986 to 1992.14

At a glance

0100200
48–72 hpPower
01020
16.2–18 s0–100 km/h
0100200
135–154 km/hTop speed
0150300
80–123 N·mTorque
05001,000
880–980 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.149

Engine
1.2–1.6 L OHV gasoline inline-fours; carbureted or fuel-injected1
Layout
Front-mounted engine, front-wheel drive1
Gearbox
4-speed manual (TL); 5-speed manual (TLE, Sport from 1985)1
Built at
Mioveni plant, Romania; Sport: IATSA, Ștefănești, Romania17
Units built
1,959,730 across Dacia 1300 and 1310, excluding pickups8

The story

1979: 1310 bows at Bucharest Auto Show19791981: Sport 1310 takes the TIB stage19811983: Model year 1984 gets a 1.419831985: Sport gains a fifth gear19851987: 1320 hatchback joins the family19871991: 1325 Liberta reaches showrooms19911998: Fuel injection reaches the range19981999: CN4 brings the final facelift19992004: Last sedan leaves Mioveni2004 Renault 12: 1969–1980 (France)Renault 12Dacia 1300: 1969–1979 (original run)Dacia 1300Dacia 1310 (original): 1979–1984Dacia 1310 (1984 facelift): 1984–1990Dacia 1320: 1987–1990Dacia 1310 (CN1) (CN1): 1991–1994CN1Dacia 1325 Liberta: 1991–1996Dacia 1310 L: 1995–1999Dacia Berlina / Break (CN4) (CN4): 1999–2004CN4 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones13581417
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1969–1980 (France)Renault 12
1969–1979 (original run)Dacia 1300
1979–1984Dacia 1310 (original)
1984–1990Dacia 1310 (1984 facelift)
1987–1990Dacia 1320
1991–1994Dacia 1310 (CN1) (CN1)
1991–1996Dacia 1325 Liberta
1995–1999Dacia 1310 L
1999–2004Dacia Berlina / Break (CN4) (CN4)
19791310 bows at Bucharest Auto Show
1981Sport 1310 takes the TIB stage
1983Model year 1984 gets a 1.4
1985Sport gains a fifth gear
19871320 hatchback joins the family
19911325 Liberta reaches showrooms
1998Fuel injection reaches the range
1999CN4 brings the final facelift
2004Last sedan leaves Mioveni
  1. 1979

    1310 bows at Bucharest Auto Show

    Introduced as the Dacia 1300's successor, the 1310 wore a redesigned nose with four round headlights.1

  2. 1981

    Sport 1310 takes the TIB stage

    Following the 1979 Brașovia prototype, TIB 1981 previewed the Sport 1310; its body was 24 cm shorter, with 20 cm cut from the wheelbase.4

  3. 1983

    Model year 1984 gets a 1.4

    Shown in October 1983, the 1984 update had a 64 hp 1.4-liter engine; steady-speed consumption was 6.1–6.4 L/100 km at 90 km/h.1

  4. 1985

    Sport gains a fifth gear

    The Sport gained a 5-speed option. Regular-range TL models had four speeds; TLE models had five and were aimed almost entirely at export.1

  5. 1987

    1320 hatchback joins the family

    The 1310-derived 1320 adopted rectangular headlights and a revised dashboard. Just 2,567 sold, with most becoming taxis.1

  6. 1991

    1325 Liberta reaches showrooms

    Sales of the 1325 Liberta began in 1991. Production ended in 1996 after just over 5,200 cars.5

  7. 1998

    Fuel injection reaches the range

    An injected 1.6-liter arrived late in 1998, with a 1.4-liter a year later. Final versions met Euro 2 using injection and a catalytic converter.13

  8. 1999

    CN4 brings the final facelift

    The final facelift brought CN4's new headlights. In 2002, the 1310 name disappeared, leaving Berlina and Break.13

  9. 2004

    Last sedan leaves Mioveni

    Mioveni completed the final 1310 sedan on July 21, 2004. The Logan replaced the 1300/1310 line that year.16

Every generation

  • Renault 12
    Renault 121969–1980 (France)
  • Dacia 1300
    Dacia 13001969–1979 (original run)
  • Dacia 1310 (original)
    Dacia 1310 (original)1979–1984
  • Dacia 1310 (1984 facelift)
    Dacia 1310 (1984 facelift)1984–1990
  • Dacia 1320
    Dacia 13201987–1990
  • Dacia 1310 (CN1)
    CN11991–1994
  • Dacia 1325 Liberta
    Dacia 1325 Liberta1991–1996
  • Dacia 1310 L
    Dacia 1310 L1995–1999
  • Dacia Berlina / Break (CN4)
    CN41999–2004

Power over the years

From 56 hp to 72 hp in 14 years.

020406080 19801985199019952000 hp 1980 · 56 hp · 1310 1.3, 1980 model1983 · 54 hp · 1.3 (1983–1994)1983 · 65 hp · Sport 1410 1.41984 · 64 hp · 1.4, 1984 model1994 · 63 hp · 1.4 (1994–2001)1994 · 72 hp · 1.6 (1994–2001)2001 · 62 hp · 1.4 i (2001–2004)2001 · 72 hp · 1.6 i (2001–2004) 72 hp 1.6 (1994–2001) 56 hp 1310 1.3, 1980 model
110
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1980561310 1.3, 1980 model
1983541.3 (1983–1994)
198365Sport 1410 1.4
1984641.4, 1984 model
1994631.4 (1994–2001)
1994721.6 (1994–2001)
2001621.4 i (2001–2004)
2001721.6 i (2001–2004)

Versions

9 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • 1310 MS / MLS / S

    Standard

    1310 MS / MLS / S

  • Standard

    1310 TL / TLE / TX / TLX / TS

  • Standard

    1310 L / CL Break / Li / CLi Break

  • Standard

    1210

    48 hp

  • Standard

    1410

    65 hp

  • Standard

    1325 Liberta

    1991–1996

  • 1310 Sport / 1410 Sport

    Performance

    1310 Sport / 1410 Sport

    1981–1992

    5,500 built

  • Standard

    1320

    1987–1990

  • Special

    1310 Canadian export

How to spot one

Look for

  • Early cars have four round headlights around a black center grille.114
  • Early chrome bumpers have black end pieces.9
  • Period three-stud wheels can wear Dacia-lettered center caps.15
  • The sedan has a conspicuously downward-sloping trunk lid.1516
  • The final CN4 nose has a smiling headlight-and-grille outline.3

Year by year

  1. 1979

    The first restyle brought four round headlights, taller bumpers incorporating turn signals and combined rear lamp clusters.1

  2. 1984 model year

    A replacement grille, reshaped headlight surrounds and a trunk spoiler marked the restyle.1

  3. 1987 TX Break

    Period TX wagons have thick plastic grille-and-headlight surrounds projecting beyond the fenders, plus front and rear side markers.9

  4. 1991 (CN1)

    Rectangular headlights and plastic bumpers arrived; sedans gained a spoiler integrated into the trunk lid.1

  5. 1999 (CN4)

    A new headlight-and-grille face produced the look nicknamed Iliescu's smile.3

Don’t confuse it with

  • Dacia 1300

    Early 1310s have a four-lamp nose and black center grille; their rear lights also differ from the predecessor's.114

  • Renault 12

    US-market examples also have four headlights; look for their hood bulge, which clears a larger engine and emissions equipment.8

Against its rivals

  • 1310 vs Wartburg 353 (1970)

    Trunk capacity

    1310420 L
    Wartburg 353 (1970)525 L
    16

  • 1310 vs Škoda 105 S (1977)

    Top speed

    1310140 km/h
    Škoda 105 S (1977)130 km/h
    16

  • 1310 vs Lada 1200 S (1984)

    Curb weight lower is better

    1310920 kg
    Lada 1200 S (1984)955 kg
    16

Prices

Price when newAuction sale
$0$2K$4K$6K$8K 1990200020102020 1983 · $4,849 · UK base, approx. $1.52/£1983 · $6,528 · UK GLX, approx. $1.52/£2004 · $5,084 · Romania Berlina, approx. $1.24/€2004 · $5,270 · Romania Break, approx. $1.24/€ 1983 · £3,190 · UK base, 1983; approx. $1.52/£ 2022 · $6,000 · 1983 sedan, refurbished, 40k km shown, Bring a Trailer $6.0K Bring a Trailer, 2022
122325
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
1983Launch price$4,849UK base, 1983; approx. $1.52/£
1983Price when new$4,849UK base, approx. $1.52/£
1983Price when new$6,528UK GLX, approx. $1.52/£
2004Price when new$5,084Romania Berlina, approx. $1.24/€
2004Price when new$5,270Romania Break, approx. $1.24/€
2022Auction sale$6,0001983 sedan, refurbished, 40k km shown, Bring a Trailer

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 9 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Trofeul Dacia Sport began in 1988”
    • “Borat's Kazakhstan scenes were Romanian”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 9 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 25 sources
  1. Dacia 1310 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  2. Always Acceptable - The Dacia Denem | Lancaster Insurance lancasterinsurance.co.uk
  3. FOTO Istoria „Zâmbetului lui Iliescu” / Ultimul facelift al Dacia 1310 a fost produs la Mioveni până în 2004 - TechRider.ro techrider.ro
  4. Dacia Sport - ZIUA CARGO ziuacargo.ro
  5. Istoria mărcii Dacia a Grupului Renault - Dacia Romania dacia.ro
  6. Dacia 1300 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  7. Cum au ajuns echipajele de raliu IATSA, producătorul Daciei Sport, să domine aproape un deceniu campionatul intern. Rivalitatea cu Uzina Dacia | adevarul.ro adevarul.ro
  8. Renault 12 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  9. A legjobb keleti kombi lehetett volna - Dacia 1310 TX Break (1987) - ORIGO origo.hu
  10. Dacia 1310 | Technical Specs, Fuel consumption, Dimensions auto-data.net
  11. DACIA 40 | Simbolul marcii: Dacia 1310 - AutoMarket automarket.ro
  12. Nostalgie - cine își amintește de Dacia 1310 Dedicație - AutoExpert autoexpert.ro
  13. VIDEO EXCLUSIV - Plimbarea pe „aleea amintirilor” de la Dacia. Ce mașini clasice am văzut Centrul Tehnic Titu? promotor.ro
  14. Dacia 1300: the car that brought automotives to Romania renaultgroup.com
  15. Dacia 1310 TX teszt (1988) – kalandban tart - Tesztelok.hu – Autó tesztek tesztelok.hu
  16. Best of Merkur – Lada 1200 S (1984), Škoda 105 S (1977), Wartburg 353 (1970) és Dacia 1310 (1986) – Autó-Motor automotor.hu
  17. Autót 100 000 forint alatt? - Vezess vezess.hu
  18. Dacia Sport, cel mai exotic model din istoria automobilismului românesc. „Configuraţia din proiect se rezolva manual, prin lovirea tablei“ | adevarul.ro adevarul.ro
  19. Despăgubire de la Dacia pentru inventatorul eleronului – Ziarul Argeşul - ediţia online ziarulargesul.ro
  20. Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: 1990 Dacia 1310 TLX - The Near-Immortal Borat-Mobile - Curbside Classic curbsideclassic.com
  21. 10 mașini din filmele românești de care ți-e jenă acum c-ai fumuri în cap și visezi doar Ferrari vice.com
  22. Dacia 1310, o comoară pentru cei nostalgici după comunism. Cu cât se vinde un model din 1989 - Evenimentul Zilei evz.ro
  23. No Reserve: 1983 Dacia 1310 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $6,000 on September 7, 2022 (Lot #83,781) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  24. Z archiwum Auto Świata: Dacia - "rumunka" z francuskimi korzeniami auto-swiat.pl
  25. Dacia 1310 For Sale & Price Guide | The Classic Valuer theclassicvaluer.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • lancasterinsurance.co.uk
  • techrider.ro
  • ziuacargo.ro
  • dacia.ro
  • adevarul.ro
  • origo.hu
  • auto-data.net
  • automarket.ro
  • autoexpert.ro
  • promotor.ro
  • renaultgroup.com
  • tesztelok.hu
  • automotor.hu

Photo credits

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