1959 Renault Dauphine
At its 1959 sales peak (102,000 units), the Dauphine became the second best-selling import in the United States behind the Volkswagen Beetle (288,000 units), outselling it in some states (a remarkable achievement for a small French economy car that had only reached American showrooms a few years earlier).
Introduced by Renault in 1956 as a successor to the 4CV, the Dauphine shared its predecessor’s rear-engine layout but offered a more conventional three-box body (four-door sedan) on a slightly larger platform.
The four-door configuration and reasonable interior space made it practical for everyday use, while the low price positioned it squarely against the growing wave of European economy imports.
Power came from an 845cc four-cylinder engine producing around 30 horsepower (32 hp), mounted in the rear alongside a three or four-speed manual gearbox. Performance was modest, though a Gordini-tuned variant offered closer to 40 horsepower (37 hp) for drivers wanting a livelier experience.
American enthusiasm for the model cooled considerably by the early 1960s, as reliability concerns and the car’s vulnerability in accidents drew criticism. Production continued in France until 1967, with total output exceeding two million units worldwide.
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