The Dauphine was Renault's entry level model, in production from 1956 to 1967. It built on the drivetrain of the 4cv, with slightly increased displacement, but otherwise was a new design, developed to provide cheap, affordable, capable transportation for the masses.
The car was very well tested and developed, making it an ideal entry level automobile for many people and initial reception of the car was very good. Renault marketed the car worldwide, selling over 1 million cars in 4 years, being a first for any European manufacturer. In the US, it was one of the cheapest cars a person could buy. Unfortunately they didn't have the parts supply network to aid in repairs and the very thin sheet metal the car was made of to save weight didn't hold up well on salt strewn streets in the winter, all of which hurt Renaults reputation badly in the US.
The Gordini performance model was a significant upgrade over the stock Dauphine, featuring a 4 speed gearbox, some slight power upgrades to the engine, and four wheel disc brakes. Aside from the Gordini, there was a further upgraded version with a 1093cc engine, which was only produced in small numbers and sold only in France, but allowed Renault to homologate parts for racing.
I am the second owner of this low mileage Renault Dauphine Gordini, which was produced in the final year of Dauphine production. This car largely spent its life in Florida, escaping the salt of the north, and is a rust free, largely original car.
When I purchased it, it ran and drove, but the clutch pressure plate failed catastrophically almost immediately, requiring replacement. Along with the clutch disc, the motor mounts, hoses and brakes all needed rebuilding or replacement in short order, largely due to aged rubber and lack of use. Further work was required on the carburettor, and fuel pump as well to get it to run properly. These sorts of problems are typical for low mileage original cars, so the work required isn't out of the norm given the age of the vehicle.
Now that the deferred and age related maintenance is done, it does start and run well. The handling is quite nice for a rear engined car and although it really can't be called quick, the car accelerates smoothly and is certainly capable of handling modern in-town traffic. The brakes are good as is the 4 speed gearbox unique to the Gordini models, making the car reasonably useable and the interior is comfortable once you are in place.
Much of the charm of this car is its well preserved originality and period aftermarket features like the under-dash mounted transistor pull-out radio as well as the very early 3 lug alloy wheels help add to that charm.
