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Renault Caravelle - showpiece becomes thoroughbred

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Created on April 15, 1962

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

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Archiv

24

Archiv

24

Renault Floride (1961) - für die grosse Freiheit

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Renault Floride (1961) - auch für den Geschäftsmann

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Renault Floride (1961) - in voller Fahrt - Aufnahme aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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Renault Floride (1961) - das Armaturenbrett mit Bandtacho

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Renault Floride (1961) - viel Platz auf der Rückbank

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Renault Floride (1961) - hübsches Design von Frua

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - mit Stoffdach und Hardtop

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - mit demontiertem Hardtop

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - der elegante französische Sportwagen in S-Konfiguration

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - mit hinteren Ausstellfenstern

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - das S-Modelle, hier als Floride S

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - von allen Seiten ein erfreulicher Anblick

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - das S-Cabriolet

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Durchsichtszeichnung erlaubt einen Einblick in die Heckmotor-Technik

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Durchsichtszeichnung - der Heckmotor erlaubte einen grossen Kofferraum vorne

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Blick in das Interieur des Cabriolets

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Interieur - viel Platz hinten

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Interieur - geräumige Rückbank

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1962

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Renault Floride S (1962) - Moderne vor Altertum - Aufnahme aus einem Verkaufsprospekt

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Witzige Werbung für den Renault Caravelle von 1964 in den USA

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Renault Dauphine (1962) - bot auch die technische Basis für den Renault Caravelle / Floride

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - der neue Motor, ähnlich aufgebaut wie der Ventoux, aber mit fünffachgelagerter Kurbelwelle

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - V-förmige Pendelachse, Getriebe vor, Motor hinter der Achse

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Summary

Although the Renault Floride had been considered an automotive beauty from the outset, it lacked the performance to be taken seriously in sporting circles. Renault corrected this with the installation of the "Ventoux" engine, creating a practical everyday sports car that fulfilled many needs, as the magazine 'hobby' stated at the time. This report summarizes the original test report from 1962 and is illustrated with archive pictures and brochures of the beautiful Caravalle and Floride S.

This article contains the following chapters

Performance boost thanks to new engine
Well-managed risk
Almost unchanged power transmission
Safe chassis
Almost a sports car
Not for sitting giants
Safe, but not practical in all respects
Two cars in one

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Actually, Billancourt had expected the Floride to be more successful. Hardly any other car in this class could match it in terms of external beauty. But in a sports car, you want beauty combined with temperament, and the Floride obviously lacked this. Exhibitions are always a kind of benchmark for the public's interest. At the Geneva Motor Show, we saw the two new models Floride S as a convertible and the Caravelle as a coupé constantly surrounded by crowds of people: the new combination of power, beauty and safety magically attracted interested parties. In recent times, the Floride was seen as a little 'feminine', as a beautiful but not very sporty car - more of a ladies' vehicle. Although the sportiness was soon helped a little with Gordini and up to 40 hp was extracted from the 850 cc engine, Billancourt finally said "rien ne va plus" and set about building a new engine, namely a 'thousand' of exactly 956 cc displacement, which was to deliver 10 hp more than the previous standard Floride engine, namely 46 instead of 36 DIN hp.

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