The Renault Celtaquatre is a small family car produced between 1934 and 1938, with styling cues borrowed from American cars of the time. Its rounded shape earned it the nickname ‘Celtaboule’.
Renault Celtaquatre at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1934–1938 |
| Presented | April 1934, production from May |
| Engine | 1,463 cc four-cylinder side-valve, 34 hp at 3,500 rpm |
| Gearbox | three-speed |
| Suspension | rigid axles front and rear |
| Price | 16,900 francs for the saloon in October 1934 |
| Built | 44,000 |
| Replaced by | Renault Juvaquatre |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Celtaquatre.
History of the Renault Celtaquatre
Launch and price
The Celtaquatre was presented in April 1934 and went into production a month later, arriving at the same time as Citroën’s Traction Avant, whose launch and heavy publicity overshadowed the Renault’s. It was powered by a 1,463 cc four-cylinder side-valve engine claiming 34 hp at 3,500 rpm, driving the rear wheels through a three-speed gearbox. The suspension used rigid axles front and rear, which looked minimalist when rivals such as the Peugeot 301 had independent front suspension; but the 8CV Celtaquatre was much cheaper: at the October 1934 Paris Motor Show a standard saloon was listed at 16,900 francs against 20,500 for the Peugeot 301 ‘berline normale’.
Year by year
In 1935 the bonnet was changed, with horizontal chrome-lined openings replacing the earlier three shutters; two-tone paint was standard, with a supplement of 400 francs for a single colour. In 1936 the car lost its roundness for a more aerodynamic shape and two new bodies appeared, a cabriolet and a coupé cabriolet. In 1937 it received an American-inspired V-shaped grille that stayed for the rest of production. In 1938 a new bumper with straight slats appeared and the coupé was dropped.
The end
In 1939, after 44,000 cars, the Celtaquatre was replaced by the Renault Juvaquatre.
Design and features
- Low price: the 8CV saloon undercut the Peugeot 301 by 3,600 francs.
- American-influenced styling: rounded at first, aerodynamic from 1936 and with a V grille from 1937.
- Two-tone paint: standard equipment, with a supplement for single colour.
- Simple chassis: rigid axles front and rear with a three-speed gearbox.
Renault Celtaquatre versions
- Celtaquatre saloon (1934): the original berline.
- 1936 range: aerodynamic body with cabriolet and coupé cabriolet.
- 1937 model: V-shaped grille.
- 1938 model: straight-slat bumper, coupé discontinued.
The Celtaquatre was replaced by the Renault Juvaquatre, and its sister models include the Renault Monaquatre and Renault Vivaquatre. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Celtaquatre ZR2
Video by philoucars on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Celtaquatre, English Wikipedia: engine, price, yearly changes, production
