The Renault Reinastella is a luxury car manufactured between 1929 and 1933, the first of Renault’s Stella series of high-end automobiles. It was unveiled at the 1928 Paris Motor Show as the Renault Renahuit.
Renault Reinastella at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1929–1933 |
| Type | luxury car, first of the Stella series |
| Shown | Paris Motor Show, 1928, as the Renault Renahuit |
| Length | 5.3 m |
| Width | 2 m |
| Badge | star riveted above the Renault diamond |
| Rivals | Hispano-Suiza, Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Lincoln, Packard, Cadillac |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Reinastella.
History of the Renault Reinastella
Named after Reina
The car was named after Gianni Reina (1908–2001), a prominent Milanese industrialist and engineer who designed it after successful early business ventures in his twenties and commissioned its production from Louis Renault. It was unveiled at the 1928 Paris Motor Show as the Renault Renahuit.
The Stella family
The original Reinastella was the first of Renault’s Stella series, high-end luxury cars meant to compete with Hispano-Suiza, Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Lincoln, Packard and Cadillac. The Stellas, or Grand Renaults, carried a star riveted to the radiator grille above the famous Renault diamond, a reference to the model names ending in ‘-stella’, itself a conscious reference to the Latin word for star; ‘reina’ is Spanish for queen.
The biggest Renault
At 5.3 metres long and 2 metres wide, the Reinastella was the biggest car Renault had ever produced when it reached the market.
Design and features
- Stella flagship: the first of Renault’s luxury Stella models.
- Huge size: 5.3 m long and 2 m wide, the largest Renault of its time.
- Star badge: riveted to the grille above the Renault diamond.
- International rivals: aimed at Hispano-Suiza, Rolls-Royce and Cadillac.
Renault Reinastella versions
- Renahuit (1928 show car): the name under which the car was unveiled.
- Reinastella (1929–1933): the production luxury car.
The Reinastella was followed by the smaller Renault Nervastella, and its radiator layout change is described on the Renault Monastella page. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault Reinastella, English Wikipedia: name, debut, Stella series, dimensions
