The Renault Monastella, Type RY1, is a compact luxury car manufactured between late 1928 and 1933. It shared the mechanical parts and body options of the Renault Monasix but was distinguished by better finish and equipment.
Renault Monastella at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Production | late 1928–1933 |
| Type | compact luxury car |
| Engine | 1,476 cc straight six |
| Tax class | 8CV |
| Released | October 1928 motor show, for 1929 |
| Based on | Renault Monasix |
| Badge | carrosserie STELLA |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Monastella.
History of the Renault Monastella
A more luxurious Monasix
The Monastella was a more luxurious version of the Monasix, which had itself appeared at the 1927 Paris Motor Show. The 8CV Monastella was released for 1929 at the October 1928 motor show with the small 1,476 cc six-cylinder engine. Beyond its better equipment it was distinguished from the Monasix by a plate reading ‘carrosserie STELLA’, a badge that stressed Renault’s determination to separate the two models at a time when car names rarely went beyond engine size and type.
Radiators and grilles
At first the radiator sat behind the engine, the normal Renault layout of most of the 1920s. But from the massive new Reinastella at the end of 1928, Renault moved the radiator ahead of the engine, and by the next motor show in October 1929 every Renault, the Monastella included, had lost the old grille-free ‘wind-cutter’ front panel in favour of a conventional front grille reflecting the new radiator position.
Design and features
- Luxury trim: better finish and equipment than the Monasix.
- Stella badge: a plate reading ‘carrosserie STELLA’.
- Shared mechanics: the same 1,476 cc six as the Monasix.
- Front grille from 1929: following the Reinastella’s radiator layout.
Renault Monastella versions
- Monastella RY1 (1928): the original, with the radiator behind the engine.
- 1929 Monastella: conventional front grille after Renault’s layout change.
The Monastella was the luxury version of the Renault Monasix, and the radiator change came from the Renault Reinastella. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault Monastella, English Wikipedia: equipment, engine, badge, radiator change
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