Produced from 1956 to 1967, the Renault Dauphine was a compact rear-engine sedan designed for affordability and practicality. Though originally intended as a city car, it became a surprising force in international rallying through both factory-prepped and privateer efforts. Its light weight, simple mechanics, and rear-wheel traction made it a strong competitor in the sub-1.0L class during the early to mid-1960s.
Special rally variants, such as the Dauphine Gordini and 1093, featured high-compression heads, dual-barrel carburetors, close-ratio gearboxes, and uprated brakes, allowing the car to perform beyond its economy car roots.
Although not a top-tier threat, the Dauphine was consistently strong in its displacement class and often outlasted faster but less reliable competitors.
The Dauphine helped establish Renault’s motorsport presence at the grassroots level. Its Gordini-tuned variants inspired the creation of future performance models, and its rallying underdog story became a key part of Renault’s identity throughout the 1960s.
Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.
Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back
Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.