The Renault Suprastella is a large car introduced by Renault in spring 1938 as a replacement for the Renault Nervastella, from which it inherited its mechanical elements and many other essential characteristics. It was the last of Renault’s luxury Stella line.
Renault Suprastella at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Introduced | spring 1938 |
| Replaces | Renault Nervastella |
| Type | large limousine, cabriolet and coupé also listed |
| Length | typically 5,600 mm |
| Bodies | bare chassis for dedicated coachbuilders |
| New feature | wrap-around front grille of horizontal bars |
| Name | suprastella means ‘star above’ |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Suprastella.
History of the Renault Suprastella
The last of the Stellas
In the early 1930s Renault introduced several models whose names ended in ‘-stella’, a conscious reference to the Latin word for star, and ‘suprastella’ means ‘star above’. The Suprastella replaced the Nervastella in spring 1938, inheriting its mechanical elements and much of its character.
A coachbuilder’s car
The car was intended primarily as a large limousine, although cabriolet and coupé versions were also listed. Renault planned to supply it as a bare chassis on which specialist coachbuilders could fit their own bespoke bodies; typically it was 5,600 mm long. A new feature was a wrap-around front grille of horizontal bars, regarded by some commentators as a move towards a more modern look.
The end of an era
The Suprastella was intended to show that France could still build high-end luxury cars, but because of the way history turned out it was the last of this line, and Renault emerged from the Second World War as a state-owned maker of small cars. Two cars were assembled in London, England.
Design and features
- Last Stella: the final model of Renault’s luxury line.
- Limousine and coupés: offered as a large saloon, cabriolet or coupé.
- Bare chassis: supplied to coachbuilders, typically 5,600 mm long.
- Wrap-around grille: horizontal bars marking a new front-end look.
Renault Suprastella versions
- Suprastella limousine: the main body style.
- Suprastella cabriolet and coupé: listed as alternative bodies.
- Bare chassis: supplied for bespoke coachwork.
The Suprastella replaced the Renault Nervastella, and it was the last of the line that began with the Renault Reinastella. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Sources
- Renault Suprastella, English Wikipedia: origins, bodies, dimensions, end of the line
