60 Years of Renault Floride
Coupés and Convertibles are always popular with car enthusiasts. This applies to new cars as well as classic cars. In 1958 Renault presented a prototype at the Geneva Motor Show and finally at the Paris Motor Show the production version of the new Floride as a 2+2-seater based on the Dauphine. In addition to the Coupé with fixed steel roof and the Cabriolet with fabric top Renault also offered the Floride Convertible, which received next to the folding roof a removable hardtop, which was often ordered in contrasting paint. Due to great sales successes of the Dauphine and related dealer inquiries, Renault had the United States as their main sales market for the Floride in mind, which was named ‘Caravelle’ there. This model name was finally taken over for all other countries in 1963. The US premiere took place after the start of production in the spring of 1959 at the New York International Auto Show. Due to manufacturing difficulties, however, there were significant delivery delays for the waiting US customers. Ultimately it was possible to increase production from 30 to 200 cars a day.
Visually you can easily see that the Renault Floride has a rear engine concept and therefore doesn’t need a large grille at the front. Designer Pietro Frua took advantage of this circumstance to clad the chassis of the 2+2-seater elegantly and skilfully. It was one of the first designs he drew after the sale of his own design studio to Ghia and starting to work as Head of Design for their design department. At the Renault styling department, the shape got a little bit of refinement before it was ready for series production. The bodywork was produced at ‘Société des Usines Chausson’, a part of the Renault Group normally specialized in the construction of buses.
In the rear of all three variants the familiar four-cylinder engine from the Dauphine Gordini with 845 cubic centimeters and, from today’s perspective, humble 40 hp. Due to the relatively good air resistance and the low curb weight of only about 800 kilograms, the Floride still reaches a topspeed of 125 kph. For the power transmission to the rear wheels a four-speed manual gearbox was fitted, with an unsynchronised first gear in the European version until 1963. When the name was changed from Floride to Caravelle, the car also got a new engine with 44 hp from 965 cubic centimeters, which also responsible for the deletion of the side air intakes. The radiator was now mounted behind the engine and drew air through ventilation slots in the hood. From October 1965, the engine capacity finally grew to 1.1 liters, from which the technicians scooped 52 horsepowers.
Already at the world premiere in Paris Renault received heaps of pre-orders for the Floride and Caravelle. This popularity continued until the production stopped in July 1968. In tota 117,113 copies were made. Especially women were enthusiastic for the sharp French car. In order to arouse desires also with the other sex, Renault started various publicity campaigns with beautiful women in and on the pretty shaped metal – among others with film star Brigitte Bardot.
Images: Renault
