Back in the day, the Dauphine was one of the most popular models in Renault’s line-up. Known for its lightweight chassis and athletic driving characteristics, it was among the first choices of drivers looking for a combination of style, performance, and practicality.
Most important of all, it was a pretty affordable car.
Today, the Renault Dauphine is a desirable classic car with a respectable value among collectors. However, they are quite rare on the road, not because of the lack of popularity at the time (this model is one of the biggest commercial successes of the French brand) but rather because of rust.
The First Generation of Renault Dauphine (1960-1964)
The development of Renault Dauphine started in the early 1950s, and it perfectly reflects the increase of the standard of living in France after WW2. The legendary 4CV was a decent car at the time but also extremely simple and not particularly advanced.
The company needed something that could be much more competitive in the segment, where some of the key players were models like Citroen CV2, Morris Minor, Mini, and VW Beetle.
The production version was launched in 1956 and remained in production until 1967. The 1961 Renault Dauphine was the first model year in Australia, where this small city car remained available until 1964.
Design
Design-wise, the Dauphine was a typical European economy car of the time. It was small yet practical, underpowered yet fun to drive. It featured a typical three-box sedan design.
As was typical for the era, the engine was mounted on the rear end, while the trunk was positioned at the front. Moreover, the trunk was quite big for a car of this size, making Renault Dauphine popular among taxi drivers.
Of course, the most notable thing about this car was its styling. It came in a 4-door sedan layout, with lots of curvy lines (typical for the Ponton genre) and a few sporty details, making it one of the most appealing cars in the class.
One of the reasons for such a successful design may be that Luigi Segre was involved in the design process. For those unfamiliar with this name, this is one of the best-known designers of the Italian company Carrozzeria Ghia, a leading design studio at the time.
Still, keep in mind that Segre designed not the whole car but only certain aspects of the vehicle, such as the engine's air intake at the rear doors.
The overall size was compact, which made Dauphine popular in various markets of the world. The wheelbase is just 2,267 millimetres, while the overall length goes around 3,937mm. The car is 1,524mm wide and 1,441mm high. Fully equipped, it only weighed 650 kg, no wonder that it had such a high level of athleticism.
Renault Dauphine Dimensions
- Wheelbase: 2,267 mm
- Length: 3,937 mm
- Width: 1,524 mm
- Height: 1,441 mm
- Weight: 650 kg
Suspension and Brakes
Besides lightweight chassis, a proper suspensions setup was another reason for the Dauphine’s remarkable driving characteristics. However, things weren't that great in the first couple of years. The main problem was the rear suspension setup, which was based on a high-pivot swing axle equipped with coil-spring/telescopic dampers. At the front was a coil-spring/wishbone layout with an anti-roll bar.
The original design provided too much oversteer, so Renault engineers revised the rear suspension in 1960. Extra rubber springs up front and auxiliary air spring units at the rear significantly increased grip in corners.
For potential buyers of this classic car, it’s good to know that this problem was solved before Dauphine was offered in Australia. So, all Australian models were equipped with the revised suspension setup.
Also, it’s good to know that all Australian models were tuned by Gordini, including various upgrades like disc brakes on all four wheels.
Interior
The Renault Dauphine looks great from the outside, but the interior design is also quite impressive. This 4-door sedan was quite comfortable, while the front seats are also adjustable. Furthermore, the list of standard equipment perfectly reflects the increased living standard of French citizens in the 1950s.
All models were equipped with bucket front seats, a heater, painted dash matching the exterior, twin courtesy lamps, a white steering wheel, twin horns (town and country), to name a few.
Things like automatic choke, steering-column lock ignition/starter, and childproof door locks were also part of the standard equipment.
Engine
All Dauphine models were equipped with the same 850cc four-cylinder engine mounted on the rear, with a rear-wheel-drive layout. As mentioned earlier, the Australian model was upgraded by Gordini, and this upgrade also included a slight power increase.
While standard versions featured a max output of 20 kW of power and 66 Nm of torque, the upgraded version featured 27 kW and 65 Nm. As a result, performances were notably better. This version needed around 30 seconds to hit 100 km/h, while the top speed was 130 km/h.
Another part of the upgrade was the transmission. While the base models were equipped with a 3-speed gearbox, this particular model featured a 4-speed unit. It’s also worth mentioning that, in certain parts of the world (not in Australia), this small sedan was also offered with the semi-automatic, dry-clutch transmission.
Renault Dauphine Engine Specs
- Engine Capacity: 845cc
- Number of Cylinders: 4 (inline)
- Fuel Type: Leaded Petrol
- Engine Power: 27kW
- Max Torque: 65Nm
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
- Acceleration (0-100km/h): 30s
- Top Speed: 130km/h
Was Renault Dauphine a Good Car?
The Renault Dauphine was a pretty popular car at the time, for a good reason. It offered many great things, starting from an excellent balance between manoeuvrability and interior space.
The boot space was also respectable, while the lightweight chassis ensured impressive handling. Add to that good fuel economy and an affordable price, and it becomes clear that the Dauphine was a pretty good car.
While you could call it a complete package, it wasn't perfect. There were a couple of drawbacks, and the biggest one is rust. The steel quality was poor, and as a result, this car rusted more than its rivals. That’s primarily why there aren’t many preserved models on the road today.
So, if you look for a classic Dauphine, the first thing to check is rust. It can be exposed, it can be deep inside, or it can be repaired incorrectly. It’s up to you to take a very close look.
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By Nebojsa Grmusa