JardenJoe Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Came across this in Florida. Ant help to identify the model, make, year? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Renault Dauphine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JardenJoe Posted March 14, 2021 Author Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) You're right. Are these worthy of any attempt to restore? Looks like they were problematic. In fact, I found this on Hemmings...... quote: "In 2007, Time named the Dauphine one of the 50 worst cars of all time, declaring, ''The fact that the ultra-cheap, super-sketchy Dauphine sold over 2 million copies around the world is an index of how desperately people wanted cars. Any cars.'' Hilariously, Renault seemed to agree: In the latter half of the '60s, Renault ran a print ad apologizing for previous models that weren't up to snuff. This is the car they were apologizing for." Edited March 14, 2021 by JardenJoe (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 33 minutes ago, alsancle said: No. Correct. However, the Renault's reliability seems to be on par with Jaguar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 There were certainly lots sold. Even Floyd Clymer did repair manuals for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) My 1958 Renault Dauphine was a great car for commuting to college, and later for driving in the snow, and for Ice Racing - Far more comfortable and fun than the era-comparable VW. A few tweaks made it a great handling sport sedan, and for a young guy, having that back seat (and 4 doors) made dating more reasonable. ... at least until I blew the engine exceeding any reasonable driving. I was trying to make it back to the Jersey Shore very late on a Saturday night after a weekend gig at a swanky resort hotel in NY's Catskill Mountains - the Borscht Belt (or Yiddish Alps). Turned out it was a warped head from a blown headgasket, and water doesn't lube the engine very well at "warp" speed on the Wurtzboro Hill. The hotter version of the Dauphine, my '62? Gordini, was an absolute BLAST to drive, to Autocross, to race in SCCA Sedan Class, and to just drive the winding backroads of the Eastern USA. The Gordini was absolutely UNBREAKABLE - at least mine was, and the Dauphine frequently got a "BAD RAP" because of improper maintenance Edited March 14, 2021 by Marty Roth (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Carl Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 (edited) Hi Marty ! I love members anecdotes from road days of yore. Particularly enjoy your sharing of road adventures right up to present days ! Wanted to say that way back in the early-mid ‘60s, my experience with the wonderful world of Continental imports consisted of a ‘59 Peugeot 403. Talk about a European “datemobile” !!! Major league hitters with a pretty good batting average just loved the reclining seats. She and I have fond memories of that dark blue sedan, albeit dim and distant. I recall that the car was fun even when it was NOT parked, too. - Carl Edited March 14, 2021 by C Carl Reversed order of two words (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1912Staver Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 (edited) They have a small cult following , along with the bigger brother Caravelle. And the slightly newer R8 is also developing a following . R8 Gordini's have been sought after for at least 3 decades. There are a couple of people in my area quite interested in Dauphine's , and survivors are surprisingly scarce. Just not all that valuable. One of the ones near me runs a hot Type 4 VW engine and transaxle combo. Actually a pretty decent car. Greg Edited March 15, 2021 by 1912Staver (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 1 minute ago, 1912Staver said: They have a small cult following , along with the bigger brother Caravelle. And the slightly newer R8 is also developing a following . R8 Gordini's have been sought after for at least 3 decades. There are a couple of people in my area quite interested in Dauphine's , and survivors are surprisingly scarce. Just not all that valuable. Greg Caravelle was a "sporty" version of a Dauphine, kinda' like the Karrmann-Ghia was to a VW, but with a more pliant - absolutely French ride quality, and the Caravelle had a removeable hard roof, as I recall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickelroadster Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 This is the first time I have seen anybody mistake a Renault Dauphine. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Don't try this with the engine running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 A Nash Ambassador for smaller people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike6024 Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fleek Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 I had one when in high school and ran a large newspaper route with it for a couple of years because it was cheap to operate. Had no problems with it and probably a good thing because I had the only one in West Texas at the time as far as I know. And as a teen I did not show it any mercy. Good car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldcarfudd Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 That ad looks as though the ladies are about to put their groceries in the rear trunk. They're in for a surprise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryB Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 An early electric car based on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTR Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 20 hours ago, JardenJoe said: Are these worthy of any attempt to restore? Financially speaking, over 90% of vintage cars aren't "worthy of any attempt to restore". On the other hand, many may be "worthy" to fix up, repair (enough ?), etc., especially if cost-effectiveness of the adventure is not defining concern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Dependent upon who one ask, the Renault Dauphine was either the best car ever built or the worst car ever built...no middle ground. The folks who subscribe to the former may have been better at necessary maintenance and reasonable driving techniques and the latter treated the car as most Americans tended to, i.e. little maintenance and harsh, aggressive treatment. Poor, spotty parts and service undid Renault in the U.S. as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lump Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Never had much experience with a Renault Dauphine. But a high school friend had the newer "econo" model, the Renault 10, as I recall. The local dealer ran TV ads offering them brand new for $50 down, and $50 per month. I rode in his car often (better than walking a mile home from school), but even though he generally kept the pedal glued to the floorboards, it still wouldn't keep up with a good Toro self-propelled mower. LOL. As I recall, the Renault 10 cars in our area were known to be problematic, and within about 2-3 years of service, I never saw one of them on the road again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard1 Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 I will be bringing mine to Florida once I get papers in order for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Douglas Gilmore Brown Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 Was the Henney electric made by the same Henney company that made hearses on Packard Chassis? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozstatman Posted December 14, 2021 Share Posted December 14, 2021 10 hours ago, Douglas Gilmore Brown said: Was the Henney electric made by the same Henney company that made hearses on Packard Chassis? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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