Renault Caravelle '68

• Italian design by Pietro Frua, world-famous car designer
• One of the last ever built
• Drives well, but could serve as a good base for restoration
• Unique car that is close to extinct, nevertheless finding replacements parts is no big deal at all

The Renault Caravelle, which is also partly known as the Floride, made its debut at the Paris Motor Show in 1958. It became apparent that it was prepared in order to conquer the world, and in hindsight, it had the potential to thrill the car industry. Initially, there was some dispute over the name of this elegant convertible, and then conflicts arose between the renowned design firm Ghia and the true man that created it, Pietro Frua, to whom the design had been double-outsourced.

Mechanically, the Caravelle brought everything that the Renault Dauphine had already offered. However, the Caravelle came with a more luxurious and stylish exterior that was available in either convertible or coupe, designed by Pietro Frua. Originally, the design had been commissioned to Ghia, which in turn outsourced it to Pietro Frua, who later claimed the design as his own, despite initially working on it under Ghia's commission. Frua eventually decided to break up with Ghia to establish his own design studio, due to the Caravelle dispute. Then, there was the confusion over the name of the Caravelle, the Floride. In fact, both eventually were correct. Rumour has it that the car was advertised in the US as the 'Caravelle' because the European name 'Floride' was considered discriminatory to all US states except Florida. From 1962 on, all variants were known as Caravelle, and the name 'Floride' disappeared.

This convertible possessed the same basic engine as the Renault Dauphine, with a water-cooled four-cylinder engine boasting a modest 845 cc capacity. Over the years, the displacement increased to 1108 cc to provide more power. Besides its modest, though fitting power, its well-thought-out Italian design proved that the Brits were not the only who knew how to build extravagant roadsters. With an Italian touch, the Caravelle truly hit the mark. Renault produced a total of 117,000 Caravelle models in four variants during its production period from 1958 to 1968.

Caravelle 1100 S

The Caravelle 1100 S was introduced in 1966 and served as the swan song to the Caravelle period. It differed from its predecessor, which was the 'Caravelle 1100' - 1100 referring to the engine displacement - by being equipped with a Weber carburettor that enhanced the engine's power to 58 hp.

Among the Caravelle variants, the 1100 S is the most recent and therefore best-designed version. It has become a rare classic that offers a splendid driving experience and it comfortably accommodates four passengers.

Technical information:

Body work

• Length (cm): 426 (168 inch)
• Width (cm): 158 (62 inch)
• Height (cm): 134 (53 inch)
• Wheelbase (cm): 227 (89 inch)
• Weight (kg): 810 (1786 lbs)

Mechanics

• Engine: 1108 cc straight-four rear-engine
• Valve gear: 8
• Fuel system: 1 Weber carburettor
• Gear box: 4-speed manual
• Transmission: RWD
• Left-steered
• power: 50 hp (37 kW) at 5400 t/m
• torque: 78 Nm at 3300 t/m
• Top speed: 145 km/h (90 mph)

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