Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Greeney in France]

I Was in the centre of Limoges today and in the carpark I saw a Renault Ondine, it looked like a dauphine but i hadnt heard of the name
I had a good chat with the bloke whom owned it and found out it was a luxury version of the Dauphine, I definitely want one it was so cute

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[Rick]

never heard of that one before!!! and it does look like a little bobby dazzler doesn't it (is there a French version of 'Bobby Dazzler' I wonder??). So the Ondine was the plush version, and the Gordini the pepped up one?

R
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[Greeney in France]

yes exactly I had never seen that name either and apparently it was only made for about 18months so is quite rare, leather interior I noticed too quite a bit of chrome too
Very nice indeed

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[Old-Nail]

I have seen the occasional one for sale, I like the Dauphine in all it's variants as it's another affordable 'character' car from France.

[Penman]

Hi
Presumably French built unlike the majority of RHD ones which were Slough built.
I wonder if they did an equivalent in Slough.

Incidently there was a Dauphine at Tatton on Sunday which has either been very well refurbed or has never been rolled
I can remember a time when it seemed as if you couldn't arrive at a roundabout without find one on it's roof, simple job to roll it back on to it's wheels though, almost as if it was made that shape deliberately.

I think it was something to do with the sudden changes from one lock to the other on Rbts that upset the balance, apart from the Beetle and Renault CV4 there were few other rear engined cars about.

[GAV]

More pictures of an Ondine can be found here: http://www.forum-auto.com/automobiles-mythiques-exception/section5/sujet352908.htm

The Ondine, built from late 1960 until 1962, was available with either the 30 BHP Dauphine engine or the 38 BHP Gordini engine. Both 845 cc engines were supplied with a fourspeed transmission in the Ondine, whereas Dauphines had a 3 speed gearbox. Seats and interior were a little bit different and on the outside there were some detail changes.
I don't know if the Ondine was built in Slough as well, but I doubt it very much.

A more interesting version was the "1093" which had a further tuned 845 engine (55 BHP). This car accelerates much better and reaches 85 mph.

The Dauphine was produced from 1956-1968, the Gordini from 1957-1969.

[Old-Nail]

Thanks for the info Gav, I had no idea they were 3 speed gearboxes! I saw one on ebayFr recently which was in very clean unrestored condition and it sold for the equivalent of £1150 ish which is a very inexpensive way to start classic motoring!
I think many of the old 50's 60's French cars don't get the attention they deserve on the classic scene today.

[poodge]

"The Ondine, built from late 1960 until 1962"

If this is in fact an Ondine,it has to be a later model,as the slotted wheels and dished hubcaps were fitted from 1964,when disc brakes were fitted to the Dauphine and it's variants.Also,earlier ondines had a small chrome strip under the number plate,instead of the tubular guard shown on this car.Some Ondines were also fitted with rubber pointed "dagmars"on the bumper,a la Cadillac!
All the same,a lovely car.
There is a stash of several Renaults,including a very rare(in NZ)early Floride locally ,but they appear to be pretty much beyond redemption

[Greeney in France]

I think you are right ON "comme d'hab"
I dont know whether it was propaganda on behalf of the UK but I find them very good, well designed, cars with robust engines, unfortunately they fell foul of the cheap Russian steel like everyone did and the reason they last longer here is because of cause the slightly different weather but no salt on the roads either and the attitude he to servicing and repair.
I always found the brit attitude to servicing as "its going fine" it doesnt need it but here they seem to be almost obsessive about it.
In the UK also you lost the "main dealer village" mechanic. Nearly all village garages here are linked to one of the 3, Peugeot Citroen, Renault.
One of the many reasons there are still so many around in France
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[Greeney in France]

poodge the picture was just a stock internet photo as I couldnt find a decent Ondine photo, thats why I added the name script
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[Old-Nail]

No road salt...

[Greeney in France]

No they never salted the roads feeling it stupid as it rots cars!!
I have mentioned it before too but I think being a "poorer' nation in Europe their vehicles were a part of their family as were there houses, they still question me about WHY in the UK people buy and sell their houses all the time?
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[Old-Nail]

I think that's a much healthier attitude to have, we Brit's are encouraged into a rampant consumerism we can't really afford..net result - debt and misery!
I do like the no salt thing though, again explaining why so many French relics look so save-able.