Renault Caravelle

Renault
Renault Caravelle (1959-1968)
Caravelle and Floride
Production period:	1959-1968
Class :	Small car
Body versions :	Cabriolet , coupé
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.85–1.1 liters (26–38 kW)
Length:	4260 mm
Width:	1570-1578 mm
Height:	1310-1350 mm
Wheelbase :	2270 mm
Empty weight :	780-800 kg

Convertible rear view

Renault Caravelle convertible with hardtop

Renault Caravelle convertible with hardtop

Renault Caravelle Coupe

Renault Floride S (1963)

The Renault Caravelle is a passenger car made by Renault with a water-cooled four - cylinder in - line engine and rear-wheel drive based on the Dauphine model . The vehicle was built from the beginning of 1959 to mid-1968 as a 2 + 2-seater convertible and a 2 + 2-seater coupé ("sports sedan").

Primarily designed for the US market, it became known outside North America as the Renault Floride for the first four years , but was then also called the Caravelle in Europe .

An early prototype was seen at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1958. In October of the same year the final car was unveiled in Paris and production started in early 1959. It was presented to the American public at the New York International Auto Show in early 1959 . However, American buyers had to wait a long time for their car due to delivery problems.

The design of the body came from Pietro Frua , whose company was taken over by Carrozzeria Ghia in 1957 . The Société des Usines Chausson , which in 1959 became part of the Renault Group and primarily known as a manufacturer of buses, built the body.

The rear engine in connection with the rear swing axle caused a tendency to oversteer . The first engine had a displacement of 845 cm³ and produced 34 hp and an average consumption of 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers. Amédée Gordini revised the engine in 1960, so that it finally produced 40 hp.

When the new Renault 8 came on the market, the Caravelle was largely redesigned in mid-1962 and received the R8 engine with 956 cc and 44 hp. From 1964, the 1.1-liter engine of the new R8 Major , which developed 47 hp, was used. From August 1965 rose by a Weber - Register gasifier performance on 52 HP.

Production stopped in July 1968. The Renault 15 and 17 models introduced in the summer of 1971 acted as indirect successors .

Technical specifications

Renault Floride / Caravelle	1960/61	1963/64	1967/68
Engine:	Four-cylinder in - line engine ( four-stroke ) in the rear
Displacement :	851 cc	956 cc	1108 cc
Bore × stroke:	-	65 × 72 mm	70 × 72 mm
Performance at 1 / min:	26 kW (36 hp) at 5000	32 kW (44 PS) at 5500	38 kW (52 hp) at 5400
Max. Torque at 1 / min:	58 Nm at 3300	68 Nm at 3500	77 Nm at 3300
Compression:	8: 1	9.5: 1	8.5: 1
Valve control:	underlying camshaft , overhead valves
Cooling:	Water cooling
Transmission:	Four-speed gearbox with center shift (first gear not synchronized on the Floride model), rear-wheel drive
Front suspension:	Double wishbones with coil springs
Rear suspension:	Pendulum axle with coil springs
Body:	All-steel body
Track width front / rear:	1250/1220 mm	1256/1226 mm
Wheelbase :	2270 mm
Tires:	5.50-15	135/15	145 SR 15
Dimensions L × W × H:	4260 × 1570 × 1310 mm	4260 × 1574 × 1315 mm	4260 × 1578 × 1350 mm
Empty weight (without driver):	780 kg	790 kg	800 kg
Top speed:	130 km / h	135 km / h	145 km / h
Price:	-	Coupé: DM 8,750 Cabriolet: DM 9,500	Coupé: 7400 DM Cabriolet: 7890 DM

Web links

Commons : Renault Caravelle  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Renault Caravelle 1100 - Sunshine between everyday life and elegance Article with original brochure, sound recording and historical pictures on Zwischengas.com (last accessed October 26, 2016)