The Renault Vivastella is an executive car introduced by Renault in October 1928 and produced for the model years 1929 to 1939, always just below the slightly longer Renault Reinastella.
Renault Vivastella at a glance
| Maker | Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Introduced | 22nd Paris Motor Show, October 1928 |
| Production | model years 1929–1939 |
| Name | from ‘viva’ (live long) and ‘stella’ (star) |
| 1929 PG2 | 3,180 cc, 16CV, 52 hp |
| 1930 PG4 | 15 cm longer |
| 1933 | PG5 five-seater and PG7 seven-seater |
| 1934 ZA2 | 3,620 cc and 80 hp from spring 1934 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Vivastella.
History of the Renault Vivastella
A luxurious Vivasix
The Vivastella was introduced at the 22nd Paris Motor Show in October 1928 as a more luxurious version of the Renault Vivasix, and it always occupied a place in the range a little below the slightly longer Reinastella. In Latin ‘stella’ means star and ‘viva’ means live long.
Frequent changes
The car was modified with unusual frequency even by Renault’s standards in the 1930s, and following its evolution is made more complicated by the way the catalogue often listed two succeeding generations at once. The 1929 Type PG2 had a 3,180 cc engine rated 16CV with a claimed 52 hp. The 1930 Type PG4 was 15 cm larger than the previous model, a 65 hp engine arrived in 1932, and in 1933 the new PG5 five-seater and PG7 seven-seater series were introduced.
The ZA2
In 1934 the Type ZA2 appeared with its radiator behind the engine, enlarged in spring 1934 to 3,620 cc and now giving a maximum of 80 hp from the six-cylinder engine.
Design and features
- Below the Reinastella: the executive Renault of the Stella family.
- Growing six: from 3,180 cc and 52 hp to 3,620 cc and 80 hp.
- Body choices: PG5 five-seater and PG7 seven-seater types.
- Frequent updates: two generations sometimes listed side by side.
Renault Vivastella versions
- PG2 (1929): 3,180 cc, 16CV.
- PG4 (1930): 15 cm longer.
- PG5 and PG7 (1933): five- and seven-seat versions.
- ZA2 (1934): 3,620 cc and 80 hp.
The Vivastella sat below the Renault Reinastella and supplied its engine to the Renault Vivasport and Renault Primastella. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Video: Road test of a 1936 Renault Vivastella
Video by Thierry Thomas – TECHNI-TACOT on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Vivastella, English Wikipedia: types, engines, bodies, naming
