Renault Dauphine

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Renault Dauphine
Manufacturer	Renault
Also called	Renault Ondine
Production	1956-1967
Predecessor	Renault 4CV
Successor	Renault 8/10
Class	Compact
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Layout	RR layout
Engine(s)	845 cc I4
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual 4-speed manual push button 3 speed automatic
Wheelbase	2267 mm (89.3 in)
Length	3937 mm (155 in) [1]
Width	1524 mm (60 in)
Height	1441 mm (56.7 in)
Curb weight	650 kg (1433 lb)
Related	IKA Dauphine Alfa Romeo Dauphine

The Renault Dauphine was an automobile produced by French manufacturer Renault from 1956 to 1967. A luxury version, badged as the Renault Ondine was sold from 1960 to 1962. The Dauphine was assembled in many countries; South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Belgium and Ireland and under license in Italy, Brazil, Spain, Argentina, USA and Japan. A sport model, the Gordini, was also available with a standard 4-speed transmission and 4-wheel disc brakes, as well as engine modifications to increase the horsepower. A factory racing model, the "1093" was homologated with about 2140 units produced in 1962/3.

The Dauphine was launched in 1956 to replace the highly successful Renault 4CV. Like the 4CV, the Dauphine used a single-shell monocoque body. It was a 4-door saloon design as was the 4CV, but it lacked the rear-hinged "suicide doors" of the 4CV. It was also heavier and 12 inches longer than its predecessor, but used the same engine, albeit a version increased in size and power from 760 cc to 845 cc and 19 hp to 32 hp (14 kW to 24 kW) (the Dauphine was infamously slow: Road & Track magazine measured the Dauphine's 0-60 mph acceleration time as 32 seconds). The Dauphine was originally intended to be called the Corvette, but was changed to Dauphine (the female form of the French feudal title of Dauphin) to avoid confusion with the recently-launched Chevrolet Corvette.

Two limited editions of the Dauphine tuned to get more power from the engine were launched during its lifetime: firstly, Renault performance guru Amédée Gordini (who was to later produce high performance versions of the Renault 8, Renault 12 and Renault 15 among others) engineered a version of the Dauphine tuned to 37 hp (27.2 kW), which was sold as the Dauphine Gordini. Also, the final run of Dauphines, a limited edition of 2140 called the 1093, were similarly tuned to 55 hp (41 kW) and featured a twin barrel carburettor, rear track rods, four-speed manual transmission and tachometer, and had a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph). The 1093 was only available in white with two blue stripes down each side.

2,150,738 Dauphines were produced in its production run of 10 years.^[2] In the United Kingdom, it was one of the first imported cars to sell in large numbers, in a market that had, until then, been dominated by British manufacturers.

The Dauphine's legacy is largely dominated by both its infamously poor performance and bad handling, as well as its poor reliability: in many markets (particularly the United States and the United Kingdom) the car became notorious for mechanical problems and rust issues.^[3] In 2002, the auto enthusiasts' website Car Talk voted the Dauphine the 9th Worst Car Of The Millennium, calling it "truly unencumbered by the engineering process".^[4]

[edit] International production

In Italy Alfa Romeo built under license an Alfa Romeo Dauphine between 1959 an 1964. The Italian Dauphine was manufactured on the same production line as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.

It was also produced in Brazil, under license, by Willys-Overland do Brasil, between 1959 and 1968, in the following versions: Dauphine: 23,887 units (1959-1965); "Gordini" 41,052 units (1962-1968); "Renault 1093": 721 units (1963-1965); "Teimoso" (simplified model, without accessories): 8,967 units (1965-1967). A total of 74,627 units was produced in Brazil.

An IKA Dauphine was produced 97,209 units in Argentina by Industrias Kaiser Argentina.

In Spain Renault's subsidiary F.A.S.A built Dauphine FASA between 1958-1967 (125,912 units).^[5]

In Japan the Dauphine was built under license with different body and named as Hino.^[6]

Among the many aftermarket options available for the Dauphine were a supercharger designed by United States company Judson Research & Mfg. Co.; this sold in 1958 for US$165, and was designed to be installed in about two hours without any chassis or body modifications.

The Dauphine was used as the basis for the electric Henney Kilowatt.

[edit] Engine specifications

Engine	Fuel	Displacement cc	Power hp (kW)	Torque N·m (ft·lbf)	Top speed	0-60 mph seconds	Power to weight ratio W/kg (hp/tonne)
Type 670-1	Gasoline	845	27.0 (20.1) at 4000 rpm	66 (49)	112 km/h (70 mph)	37	38.43 (41.54)
Gordini	Gasoline	845	36 (26.8) at 4000 rpm	65 (48)	130 km/h (81 mph)	30	40.68 (54.55)

[edit] Notes

v • d • e Renault car timeline, 1940s–1980s — next »
Type	1940s					1950s										1960s										1970s										1980s
	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Economy car																	3 / 4
Supermini																												5 / 7													Super 5
Small family car		4CV										Dauphine						8/10						6								14						9/11
Large family car	Juvaquatre																							12										18								21
Executive car							Frégate														16										20/30								25
Gran Turismo																						Torino
Coupé																											15/17									Fuego
Roadster														Caravelle
Off-roader																									Rodeo 4/6												Rodeo