Renault's Dauphine from 1956-1967.
Never let it be said that I don't put French classics on the site! shown below is just such a vehicle, now a very rare sight in the UK - Renault's Dauphine 4dr saloon, replacement for the earlier (again rear-engined) 4CV. The Dauphine, against usual form, actually sold well in the UK. Power came from a 32bhp engine, based on that found in the earlier Renaults, but enlarged slightly to 845cc. If 32bhp wasn't enough, a few lucky buyers left Renault dealerships with the keys to a 'hot' version, either the Gordini - with more power and disc brakes on all four corners - or the 1093, which was a factory offering built between 1962 and 1963.
In France during the 1960s, the Dauphine was as much a part of daily life as the Minor and Mini were to us in the UK, a quick look at this movie database site shows how many times these small Renaults appeared in film, intentionally or just in the background.
The car shown here, registration 1327 DK, looks like a standard model to me, fitted with just a few personal touches (radio aerial, single foglamp, and driver's wing mirror).
Return to Old Photographs of Cars - Page 4.
|
