Description
I bought this car in February 2024. I had wanted one for years, but I am very involved in the classic Citroen world and have not had the time to make best use of the Renault so am selling it.
I bought it from the secretary of the Renault Classic Car Club, who is also the Dauphine Registrar, and it was recommissioned by his son, who runs Retro Renault Services.
The Ondine version (R1090a) of the Dauphine is quite rare being the upmarket version of the Dauphine and as such has adjustable front seats, door pockets and a black dashboard. I think there were some other ‘upmarket’ features but they escape me now. The car came off the production line on 28 September 1961.
It is left-hand-drive, has a four speed gearbox and drum brakes on all wheels.
After the car had been recommissioned and passed an MOT it was noticed that it was running hot and a decision was made to rebuild the engine. With the engine out of the car it seemed the right time to upgrade the engine and I asked Duncan Topliss (Retro Renault Services) to fit a 904cc kit (increasing the size from 845cc to 904cc) a Gordini cylinder head, road camshaft and carburettor, inlet and exhaust manifolds as per the Gordini version. This makes it much more driveable in modern traffic conditions.
The car is registered as a historic vehicle and so is exempt from road tax and the requirement to have a modern MOT. It was last MOT’d on 8 December 2023 at 77, 785 km and has now covered 79, 136 km. That is only 1351 km (840 miles) since the car was recommissioned and the engine rebuilt and upgraded.
The less good things - There are a few blemishes in the paintwork (see photos) and the speedometer needle gets stuck and then (sometimes) springs into life.
Included with the car is a Renault Dauphine Service Manual, a Workshop Manual and a Parts Catalogue, an Owner’s Handbook in English and an Owner’s Handbook in French and a few period sales brochures.
