The Renault Celtaquatre is a

small family car The C-segment is the 3rd category of the European segments for passenger cars and is described as "medium cars". It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "small family car" size class, and the compact car category in the United States. In 2011, the C ...

produced by the French manufacturer

Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufacture ...

between 1934 and 1938. Although French, it took some of its styling cues from American cars of the time. Its rounded silhouette gave it the nickname “Celtaboule” ("Celtaball").

Details and evolution

The Celtaquatre was presented to the public in April 1934 and entered production a month later. Its arrival coincided with that of Citroën's

Traction Avant Traction may refer to: Engineering *Forces: ** Traction (engineering), adhesive friction or force ** Traction vector, in mechanics, the force per unit area on a surface, including normal and shear components * Traction motor, an electric motor ...

, and the

's launch was overshadowed by Citroën's powerful publicity machine. The car was powered by a four-cylinder 1463 cc side-valve engine, for which a maximum of @ 3,500 rpm was claimed. Power passed to the rear wheels via a classic three speed transmission. The suspension was based on rigid axles front and back, which was seen as a rather minimalist at a time when competitor vehicles from volume automakers such as the

Peugeot 301 The Peugeot 301 is a Subcompact (B-segment) sedan produced by the French automaker Peugeot since 2012. It was announced to the public in May 2012, with an official launch that took place at the Paris Motor Show in September. The 301 is built at ...

were being delivered with independent front suspension. However, the 8CV Celtaquatre was also much more aggressively priced than the 8CV 301: At the

Paris Motor Show The Paris Motor Show (french: Mondial de l'Automobile) is a biennial auto show in Paris. Held during October, it is one of the most important auto shows, often with many new production automobile and concept car debuts. The show presently take ...

in October the list price for a Celtaquatre with a standard "berline" ( saloon) body was given as ₣16,900 francs, while the

"berline normale" was priced at ₣20,500 francs. In 1935, adjustments were made to the

bonnet A Bonnet is a variety of headgear, hat or cap Specific types of headgear referred to as "bonnets" may include Scottish * Blue bonnet, a distinctive woollen cap worn by men in Scotland from the 15th-18th centuries And its derivations: ** Fea ...

, with horizontal chrome-lined openings in place of the earlier three shutters. Two-tone paintwork was standard. A supplement of ₣400 francs was required for a single colour. In 1936, the Celtaquatre lost its roundness to acquire a more aerodynamic shape. Appearance of two new body types: a

Cabriolet A convertible or cabriolet () is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary among eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving expe ...

and a Coupé Cabriolet. In 1937, the Celtaquatre received an American-inspired V-shaped grill which was retained throughout the rest of the model's production. In 1938, a new bumper design appeared with straight slats. The coupé was discontinued. In 1939, after production of 44,000 units,Odin, L.C. ''World in Motion 1939 - The whole of the year's automobile production''. Belvedere Publishing, 2015. ASIN: B00ZLN91ZG. the Celtaquatre was replaced by the Juvaquatre. By 1940, most of the Celtaquatre cars remaining in stock were delivered to the French Army. In July 1941, the last 13 Celtaquatre cars were transformed into a small series of Novaquatre.

Characteristics

* Consumption: 8 liters per 100 km * Speed: * Power: (8 CV) * Brakes: cable-actuated drums front and rear * Battery: 6 V

Types

* ZR1 * ZR2 * AEC1 (led commercial) * ADC1 * ADC2 * ADC3 * BCR

Classification in the French tax and insurance system

The car was taxed at 8 CV.

References

Notes

{{Early Renault vehicles Celtaquatre Cars introduced in 1934 1930s cars Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Compact cars Sedans Convertibles Coupés