What? The Renault Dauphine is a French clown car from the clown-car generation (cheap rear-engined postwar cars). And what is the Alfa Romeo nameplate doing on it? For a number of years, Alfa built Dauphines under license from Renault for sale in Italy. They weren’t just imported, but truly put together in Italy by fine Italian craftsmen, guaranteeing the build quality you’d except from Italy. The same 27 horsepower engine from the Renault was present, offering pathetic performance. Why did Alfa agree to this? I really have no idea. Something to do with agreements with Renault, and also wanting another entry-level car. Let’s face it: the French and Italians have never been the most brilliant car product planners.
All pictures of the blue car courtesy of Auto Italia magazine, Issue 141 (Jan/Feb 2008).
Posted By: Justin Berkowitz |
Tags: Alfa Alfa Dauphine Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo dauphine Dauphine Fiat ICYHHO Italian Cars You Haven't Heard Of Renault Renault Dauphine
WOW. I had no idea this existed. It’s like the proletarian forerunner of the SM, in that it’s essentially the worst of every world in it’s parentage, yet still awesome.
For the record, the Dauphine is on the list of French cars I would never want to drive, much less own. Dauphines apparently make early Beetles seem like funny cars.