Renault Juvaquatre
Encyclopedia
The Renault Juvaquatre is a small family car / compact car
automobile
produced by the French
manufacturer Renault
between 1937 and 1960, although production stopped or slowed to a trickle during the war years. The Juvaquatre was produced as a sedan/saloon until 1948 when the plant switched its full attention to the new Renault 4CV. During the second half of 1952 the plant restarted producion of the Juvaquatre sedans/saloons for a period of approximately five months.
In 1948 a Juvaquatre based panel van appeared and two years later a van based station wagon
body joined the range; later models of the station wagon (from 1956 on) were known as the Renault Dauphinoise. The sedan/saloon found itself overshadowed and massively outsold after the appearance in 1946 of the Renault 4CV
(which was France's top selling car in the post-war years). However, both the 4CV and its successor, the Renault Dauphine
, were rear engined and unsuitable for simple station wagon adaptation, which is why the Juvaquatre "Dauphinoise" station wagon remained in production until effectively replaced by the Renault 4
in 1960.
as a small, affordable car designed to fit in the Renault range below the existing more upmarket models such as the Primaquatre or Celtaquatre. The company was focused on creating new customers who would not otherwise buy Renaults, and on appealing to the new class of lower-income consumer created by changing labor conditions and the rise of the Popular Front
in France in the 1930s (which ironically had adversely affected Renault considerably). The Juvaquatre was heavily inspired by the German
Opel Olympia
, a car which Louis Renault had been impressed by during a 1935 visit to Berlin
(consequently the Juvaquatre, particularly early models, bore a strong resemblance to the Olympia). The Juvaquatre was showcased at the 1937 Paris Motor Show and the 2-door sedan/saloon went on sale the following year. A van version was developed soon afterwards for commercial usage and was used extensively by La Poste
, while public demand for four-door cars (and the introduction of affordable 4-door models from French rivals Peugeot
and Simca
) resulted in a 4-door Juvaquatre in 1939. A station wagon
model based on the van was launched only in 1950.
, but remained high compared to other European marques who had switched over almost entirely to production of military equipment. After France was taken over by Nazi Germany
, Juvaquatre production slowed to a trickle, with only a few hundred cars built 1941. This is the end of official production (until after the war) but a very small series was still turned out until 1942, and in 1943, 1944, and 1945, the occasional car was assembled for the occupation forces or for French government use.
plant the emphasis was now on massive investment in tooling for mass production of the new 4CV
, soon to become France's top selling car, and at this location production of the Juvaquatre stopped at the end of 1948. The final saloon/sedan bodied cars were produced at the manufacturer's new plant at Flins
where the Juvaquatre was the first model to be assembled. Production of the Juvaquatre saloon at Flins finally ended in November 1952.
The "Break Juva 4" (station wagon) remained in production, between 1950 and 1953 retaining the dashboard and side-valve 1,003 cc engine (albeit now enhanced by an air filter) of the prewar cars. For the second half of the decade the old station wagon was rebranded as the Renault Dauphinoise, continuing to be listed until 1960, and in its final years sharing its engine with the Renault Dauphine
.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
produced by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
manufacturer Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
between 1937 and 1960, although production stopped or slowed to a trickle during the war years. The Juvaquatre was produced as a sedan/saloon until 1948 when the plant switched its full attention to the new Renault 4CV. During the second half of 1952 the plant restarted producion of the Juvaquatre sedans/saloons for a period of approximately five months.
In 1948 a Juvaquatre based panel van appeared and two years later a van based station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body joined the range; later models of the station wagon (from 1956 on) were known as the Renault Dauphinoise. The sedan/saloon found itself overshadowed and massively outsold after the appearance in 1946 of the Renault 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
(which was France's top selling car in the post-war years). However, both the 4CV and its successor, the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
, were rear engined and unsuitable for simple station wagon adaptation, which is why the Juvaquatre "Dauphinoise" station wagon remained in production until effectively replaced by the Renault 4
Renault 4
The Renault 4, also known as the 4L , is a hatchback economy car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and 1992. It was the first front-wheel drive family car produced by Renault....
in 1960.
Origins
The Juvaquatre was originally conceived in 1936 by Louis RenaultLouis Renault (industrialist)
Louis Renault was a French industrialist, one of the founders of Renault and a pioneer of the automobile industry....
as a small, affordable car designed to fit in the Renault range below the existing more upmarket models such as the Primaquatre or Celtaquatre. The company was focused on creating new customers who would not otherwise buy Renaults, and on appealing to the new class of lower-income consumer created by changing labor conditions and the rise of the Popular Front
Popular Front (France)
The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
in France in the 1930s (which ironically had adversely affected Renault considerably). The Juvaquatre was heavily inspired by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Opel Olympia
Opel Olympia
The Opel Olympia is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel from 1935 to 1940, from 1947 to 1953 and again from 1967 to 1970.The 1935 Olympia was Germany's first mass-produced car with an all-steel unitized body . This revolutionary technology reduced the weight of the car by 180...
, a car which Louis Renault had been impressed by during a 1935 visit to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
(consequently the Juvaquatre, particularly early models, bore a strong resemblance to the Olympia). The Juvaquatre was showcased at the 1937 Paris Motor Show and the 2-door sedan/saloon went on sale the following year. A van version was developed soon afterwards for commercial usage and was used extensively by La Poste
La Poste
La Poste may refer to:* La Poste, the postal service of France* La Poste Suisse, the French name for Swiss Post* La Poste, the French name for De Post - La Poste - Die Post of Belgium* La Poste Tunisienne, the Tunisian postal service...
, while public demand for four-door cars (and the introduction of affordable 4-door models from French rivals Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
and Simca
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
) resulted in a 4-door Juvaquatre in 1939. A station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
model based on the van was launched only in 1950.
During the war
The rate of Juvaquatre production decreased considerably with the onset of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but remained high compared to other European marques who had switched over almost entirely to production of military equipment. After France was taken over by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, Juvaquatre production slowed to a trickle, with only a few hundred cars built 1941. This is the end of official production (until after the war) but a very small series was still turned out until 1942, and in 1943, 1944, and 1945, the occasional car was assembled for the occupation forces or for French government use.
After the war
Juvaquatre production formally restarted in 1946, with Renault now owned and controlled by the French government. However, at Renault's BillancourtBoulogne-Billancourt
Boulogne-Billancourt is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. Boulogne-Billancourt is a sub-prefecture of the Hauts-de-Seine department and the seat of the Arrondissement of Boulogne-Billancourt....
plant the emphasis was now on massive investment in tooling for mass production of the new 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
, soon to become France's top selling car, and at this location production of the Juvaquatre stopped at the end of 1948. The final saloon/sedan bodied cars were produced at the manufacturer's new plant at Flins
Flins Renault Factory
Flins Renault Factory is a car factory in France, straddling the towns of Flins and Aubergenville in Yvelines, around 40 km downstream of Paris...
where the Juvaquatre was the first model to be assembled. Production of the Juvaquatre saloon at Flins finally ended in November 1952.
The "Break Juva 4" (station wagon) remained in production, between 1950 and 1953 retaining the dashboard and side-valve 1,003 cc engine (albeit now enhanced by an air filter) of the prewar cars. For the second half of the decade the old station wagon was rebranded as the Renault Dauphinoise, continuing to be listed until 1960, and in its final years sharing its engine with the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
.
External links
- Renault Juvaquatre Renault Home Page (in French)
- Renault Juvaquatre on the Renault site (in French)