On this day, March 6, 68 years ago in Paris, at the Palais de Chaillot (Palaise de Chaillot), a presentation of a new product took place – the Renault Dauphine car. It is noteworthy that this event, which ultimately attracted more than 20 thousand visitors, opened four days before the start of the Geneva International Motor Show. Apparently, Renault decided to take the lead: after all, at a foreign exhibition, its brainchild could get lost among other premieres.
The work on creating the model took a long time and carefully. The first prototype began testing on July 24, 1952. The car was tested using the latest equipment developed by Renault itself. For the sake of secrecy, test rides were carried out only at night. Then, over the course of three years, the car was perfected and its prototypes clocked up a total of over 3 million km.
And only at the end of 1955, mass production of the machine began at the newly built plant in the city of Flaine. But even here they were in no particular hurry to highlight it and delayed the presentation until March next year.
It is curious that at first they wanted to call this car Corvette. But here the Americans were ahead of the French: they gave this name to one of the new products from Chevrolet. And then the Renault management turned to domestic history. The choice was made on the word Dauphine. This was the title that at one time was borne by the direct heir to the royal throne. And it just so happened that the car with this historical name itself went down in history – as the first French car, which was produced in a “circulation” of more than 2 million units.
What was the Renault Dauphine model? It was a small-class car with a monocoque body, which, characteristically, was produced in only one version – a 4-door sedan. The design, unlike its predecessor, the Renault 4CV, was very modern, with pleasant rounded shapes and a characteristic air intake in front of the rear wing.
Like the previous model, the 4-cylinder liquid-cooled engine was located at the rear. But its working volume was larger – 845 cm3. instead of 748 cm3 The power also increased accordingly, quite significantly – from 21 to 30 hp. With. The “maximum speed” has also increased – it rose from 95 km/h to 115 km/h. It must be said that a sports version, the Dauphine Gordini, was also produced in small quantities. Its engine was boosted to 49 hp. s., which provided a maximum speed of 145 km/h.
All Renault Dauphine cars had a manual 3-speed gearbox. Interestingly, to make working with it easier, it was possible to order an electromagnetic automatic clutch of the Ferlec brand. The suspension of all wheels was independent, lever-spring, drum brakes.
Renault Dauphine cars were produced for more than ten years – from 1956 to 1967. During this time, 2 million 120 thousand 220 vehicles were manufactured.