1899, just 22 years old, Louis Renault – together with his 2 brothers – founded the Société Renault Frères in Bilancourt. Short before second world the yearly production figures of the Renault plants was already more than 45000 passenger cars and more than 15000 commercial automobiles.
After liberation of Paris Louis Renault was arrested concerning supposed collaboration with the germans. Shortly after his release, he died on 24.10.1944 and was burried in Herqueville .
At this time already the nationalization for the “incorporated plants of Renault” – as a so called “company who brought the enemy an advantage – was fully in progress
The Regie National was founded 1945 and set under the lead of Pierre Lefaucheux .
During the war, Pierre Lefaucheux was part of the Resistance in Paris (Captain Gildas). Later he was captured and – in one of the last deportation – moved to Mautshausen.
With founding of the Regie he succeed to get a mandate with a wide range of authority.
At the beginnings Renault had to fight for ressources and it was only possible to produce few Juvaquatre – which was developed before the war. But the 4CV was already in the pipeline – they called her the ” little butter lump” 🙂 – her development was initiated before the war by Louis Renault himself. The 4CV production started in 1948 and was first produced with 150 units per day. 1950 the Frégate was presented .
Renault began to internationalize an gave out licences – also they reduced their inhouse production deep (production outsourcing of assembly parts like tires, spark plugs, head lamps, clutches and son on) 1955 Renault’s daily production figures was 950 vehicules – 575 4CV, 180 Frégate, 200 Colorale, plus some Juvaquatre and trucks (SAVIEM) plus tractors and rail vehicules.
On 11. 02.2955 Pierre Lefaucheux suffered a fatal traffic accident in his Frégate.
Successor was Pierre Dreyfuss.
Then, in December 1955, the Dauphine was presented – its Ventoux engine was used four years later in the first Estafette models.
1958 the Renault Floride (Caravelle) was launched – it’s auto body was delievered by Chausson . She was quite a “luxury vehicule” – inspired from prosperous America business with the Dauphine. It was a time of change and expansion.
Utilitaires: the french car companies restart verry early after the war the production of vans and minibuses for commerce and industry – for example the D3/D4 from Peugeot, 1946 -1965, already with front wheel drive or the famous Citroen HY – also with front wheel drive, 1947 – 1981.
At this time Renault’s Golette, rear wheel drive, 1945-1965, was on the market.
Maybe this was one of the reason’s why Renault started relatively late with the developement of it’s Estafette models.
1959 then the Renaut Estafette was launched – she was the first front wheel driven Renault vehicule.
The Estafette as a compact delivery van was developed for the small scale condition in the cities and because of this became very popular in France:
Following the good Dauphine business in america, Renault tried end of the fifties to launch also the Estafettes in the USA, Canada and Mexico – but they didn’t succeed . Modellnames was “Petit Panel” (“Panel”) , “High Boy”/ “Hi-Boy”, “Petit Wagon” (“Multi-Bus”) and “Petit Truck” (“Pick-Up”)
In Mai 1962 the Estafette was revised (second phase). Among others they assembled the new – for the R8 model developed – 1.1 Liter Cléon-Fonte engine. This, also Sierra called, engine had nominal 45 SAE-PS.
1968 came the third an last phase. The Estafette got the 1.3 Liter Cléon-Fonte engine from the R12 model, but with lower compression.
1972 & 1976 the Estafette got two model ugrades – model overview
1980 the Estafette production ends – succsseor was the Renault Traffic.
Further Informations
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