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Renault Vivastella

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Renault Vivastella
Overview
ManufacturerRenault
Production1929–1939
AssemblyÎle Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris
DesignerLouis Renault
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car (E)
Body style4-door saloon
LayoutFR layout
RelatedRenault Vivasport
Renault Suprastella
Renault Primastella
Powertrain
Engine1929-1934
(PG4/PG5/PG7) I6, 3180 cc, 52 HP, 65HP
(ZA2) I6,
1924-1939
3620 cc, 85 HP
(ACR1/ABD) I6, 4085 cc, 100HP
Dimensions
Wheelbase3,110–3,260 mm (122.4–128.3 in)
Length4,450–4,930 mm (175.2–194.1 in)
Width1,700–1,800 mm (66.9–70.9 in)
Chronology
PredecessorRenault Vivasix
SuccessorRenault 20/30
First generation
Overview
Production1929–1934
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car (E)
Body style4-door saloon
RelatedRenault Vivasix
Powertrain
EngineI6 3180 cc, 65HP
Transmission3-speed manual
Second generation
Overview
Production1935–1939
Body and chassis
ClassExecutive car (E)
Body style4-door saloon
Powertrain
EngineI6, 4085cc, 100HP
Transmission3-speed manual

The Renault Vivastella was an executive car introduced by Renault in October 1928 and produced for the model years 1929 - 1939.

The car was modified and changed with unusual frequency even by the standards of Renault in the 1930s, and following its evolution in retrospect is rendered more complicated by the way that the Renault catalogue frequently listed two succeeding generations of the model simultaneously, but the Vivastella always occupied a place in the manufacturer's line-up a little below the slightly longer Renault Reinastella. In Latin, "stella" means "star", and viva means "live long".

Evolution

[edit]

The Vivastella was introduced at the 22nd Paris Motor Show in October 1928 as a more luxurious version of the Renault Vivasix.[1]

First generation

[edit]
  • 1929 The "Renault Vivastella Type PG2" had an engine of 3180cc (16CV) with claimed output of 52 HP
  • 1930 The "Renault Vivastella Type PG4 was 15 cm larger than the previous model.
  • 1932, a 65 horsepower engine was introduced.
  • 1933, the new series Type PG5 (5 seater) and PG7 (7 seater) were introduced
  • 1934 The "Renault Vivastella Type ZA2" was introduced; it had a radiator behind the engine, which was enlarged in Spring 1934 to 3620cc, now giving a maximum output of 80HP.[2] The 6-cylinder units shared the same 120mm cylinder stroke length, but the bore (cylinder diameter) on the larger engine was increased by 5mm to 80mm.[2] Although a new more modern Vivastella was introduced for 1934, the earlier model continued to be listed, at an attractively lower price, in the catalogue. It incorporated most of the new mechanical elements of the new car, but used the older much more vertical looking bodywork.[2] Derivative models, the Renault Vivasport and the sporting Renault Viva Grand Sport were also introduced.

Second generation

[edit]
  • In 1935, the new Vivastella (Type ACR1) was introduced with a new aerodynamic body.
  • From 1936, several new Vivastella versions were introduced at approximately six monthly intervals, one after another, Types ADB1, ADB2 (October 1936-March 1937), ADB3 (March 1937-October 1936),[3] ADB4 (October 1937-April 1938),[4] ADB5 (April 1938-) and BDZ1 with a new engine of 4085cc and 100HP, and an (even) more aerodynamic body.

Types

[edit]
Model Project code Cylinders/
engine capacity
Power
HP @ rpm
Top speed (approx) Production period
month/year
Units produced Price at
launch (FF)
Note
Vivastella PG2 6/
3,180
60 @3,000 110 km/h
(68 mph)
09/1928-09/1929 - 60,000
PG3 08/1929-09/1930 1,091 60,000
PG4 115 km/h
(71 mph)
09/1930-08/1931 869 - Light-weight chassis
PG5 07/1931-11/1932 2,223 52,000
PG7 65 @ 3,100 120 km/h
(75 mph)
09/1932-05/1933 1,440 -
PG7 SA 05/1933-10/1933 383 -
PG9 09/1933-04/1934 746 - First "aerodynamic" bodied version
PG11 - - - 11/1933-12/1933 6 -
ZA2 6/
3,620
85 @ 3,000 125 km/h
(78 mph)
09/1933-10/1934 895 33,800 22 were "Sahara" bodied cars
ZA3 09/1934-05/1935 895 -
ACR1 6/
4,085
95 @ 3,000 130 km/h
(81 mph)
01/1935-08/1935 609 38,000 smaller 3,620cc engine available on request
ACR2 08/1935-01/1936 358 -
ADB1 09/1935-01/1937 804 38,000
ADB2 09/1936-06/1937 191 36,900
ADB3 06/1937-10/1937 192 -
BCH1 Sahara 05/1937-09/1937 17 - "Colonial" version
ADB4 09/1937-10/1937 30 49,000
ADB5 10/1937-07/1938 269 - Plus 13 of the British market BDN1 version
and one of the British market BDN2 version
BDZ1 09/1938-10/1939 358 56,000 Plus 2 of the British market BDY1 version

Notes and sources

[edit]
  1. ^ "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1929 (salon [Paris, Oct] 1928). 84s. Paris: Histoire & collections: Page 76. 2006.
  2. ^ a b c "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1934 (salon [Paris, Oct] 1933). 22. Paris: Histoire & collections: Pages 60, 62 & 64. 2002.
  3. ^ "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1937 (salon [Paris, Oct] 1936). 3. Paris: Histoire & collections: Pages 75 & 79. 1997.
  4. ^ "Automobilia". Toutes les voitures françaises 1938 (salon [Paris, Oct] 1937). 6. Paris: Histoire & collections: Pages 72 & 78. 1998.