RENAULT FRÉGATE

In the wake of the 4CV’s post-war success, Frégate gave Renault its first grand touring car. One model, Transfluide, even came with automatic transmission.

Strong features needed to rebuild Europe

In the early 1950s, European reconstruction was in full swing and Renault was seeking to widen its lineup in the wake of the success of the 4CV. It considered a number of projects, including one for a rear-engine car. It finally chose the front-engine “project 110”, which would become Frégate. This modern 11CV came to market in 1951. Although it was not initially very reliable, it had no shortage of strong features: appealing lines, independent wheel suspension, excellent road-holding, and lots of room.

American trends in Europe

In 1956, the Etendard engine made the relatively lifeless powertrain a thing of the past, while two years later a particularly original model was unveiled. It was Transfluide, which met the demand for automatic transmission that was in vogue in American cars. With its hydraulic clutch and three-ratio gearbox (three steps: City-Road, Mountain, Exceptional), Transfluide was half-way between fully automatic transmission and simple automatic clutch. Transfluide ceased production only when Frégate did, in 1960.

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