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Renault Caravelle and R8 from 1963 in the (historic) test - Dynamic duo as heirs to the 4 CV and Dauphine

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Created on April 15, 1963

Text:

Claus Wilhelm Senbeck

Photos:

Archiv

41

Archiv

41

Renault Caravelle (1963) - the four-seater coupé

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Renault R8 (1963) - as part of the Renault range from 1963

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Renault R8 (1963) - the 1963 model can hardly be distinguished from the previous year's model

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Renault R 8 (1963) - main model in the Renault small car range, disc brakes on all wheels

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Renault R8 (1962) - Thanks to the rear engine, no radiator grille was needed at the front

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Renault R8 (1962) - angular body design

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Renault R8 (1962) - rear view

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Renault R8 (1962) - Holidays for four - no problem with the R8

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Renault R8 (1962) - four wide-opening doors

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Renault R8 (1962) - ... there's still something to see, let's go there

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Renault R8 (1962) - no, these suitcases don't have to stay put

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Renault R8 (1962) - modern car in front of an old building

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Renault R8 (1962) - finished playing, Juan, come home, we're having supper

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Renault R8 (1962) - in everyday life

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Renault R8 (1964) - outwardly unchanged, but now with 50 hp - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Renault R8 (1962) - there is a surprising amount of space in the front trunk

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Renault R8 (1962) - the spacious trunk

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Renault R8 (1962) - While the men examine the fascinating technology ...

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Renault R8 (1962) - View into the engine compartment

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Renault R8 (1964) - called Sierra, 1.1-liter engine with five crankshaft bearings - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Renault R8 (1962) - Interior with open door

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Renault R8 (1963) - plenty of space in the rear, not just for small children - photos from sales brochure

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Renault R8 (1962) - everything you need for driving

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - at the 1962 Geneva Motor Show

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Renault Caravelle 1100 S (1965) - now 52 hp thanks to Weber twin carburetors, at the 1965 Paris Motor Show

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - the elegant French sports car in S configuration

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - with dismantled hardtop

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - a pleasing sight from all sides

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - the S model, here as Floride S

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - the S-Cabriolet

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - with rear hinged windows

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - as a four-seater coupé

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Interior - plenty of space in the rear

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - View of the interior of the convertible

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - Interior - spacious rear seat

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Funny advertisement for the 1964 Renault Caravelle in the USA

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - see-through drawing - the rear engine allowed a large trunk at the front

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - see-through drawing provides an insight into the rear engine technology

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Renault Caravelle 1100 (1964) - four-speed gearbox

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - the new engine, similar in design to the Ventoux, but with a five-bearing crankshaft

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Renault Caravelle (1962) - V-shaped swing axle, gearbox in front, engine behind the axle

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Summary

The Renault Caravelle and R8 models had a lot to offer in the early sixties. The Caravelle coupé came with four disc brakes, while the R8 offered very good interior space and four doors in relation to its compact exterior dimensions. Both were also given a lively engine despite their small displacement. Of course, these two French cars were not immune to flaws either... The test drivers of the time took a closer look, as this report with the wording of the time and many historical illustrations shows.

This article contains the following chapters

Typical rear-engined car
Equipment
Exemplary seats
Reliable automatic starter
Astonishing performance from 956 cc
Service and after-sales support
Are they worth the money?
Test results and technical data

Estimated reading time: 17min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The process of first building a small-series coupé version of a new model and then the actual large-series model seems to have become increasingly popular in recent times. There is probably something to be said for starting off an automotive innovation gently with a less popular and considerably more expensive "special version". In this way, the factory gains a great deal of experience before it is faced with decisions for large-scale production that can no longer be changed. BMW followed this principle with the 700, Glas did the same with the 1004/1204 and many other plants will certainly do the same in the future.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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