Pictures: The official handover of the Renault Floride to Princess Gracia (copyright Monaco Top Cars Collection).

The production version of the Renault Floride debuted at the Paris motor show in October 1958. Although the car used the platform of the compact Dauphine, Italian designer Frua provided it with larger dimensions. Still it took another while before the first Florides ran off the production line. Renault outsourced production to coachbuilder Brissonneau & Lotz of Creil, where the finishing touches to the production line were not finalized before April 1959. Renault announced the final sales prices in July of that year. The production was then calculated to grow to 220 copies a day within one year.

Princess Gracia of Monaco received a Floride in a Borneo green paint colour directly from the Régie Renault in late 1959. The model was a hit with the ladies at the time. Remarkably, though, publicity material from the handover is hard to find. The motor museum in Monaco, where this car has been on display for such a long time, provided us with two photographs of the delivery. The January issue of the internal Renault Magazine also mentions it, though.

The original documents are still with the car. And in the instruction book it is clearly stated that this was a non-definitive delivery (‘Edition provisoire’). Also included with the car, and neatly tucked away in the glove compartment, is the original warranty booklet that has been stamped by the ‘Marché et Ventes Directes’ department in Billancourt.

The fact that the warranty card has been stamped at 1,000 kilometres may well indicate that the car has been run to this mileage on beforehand to prevent any coincidence. The current mileage reads 6,762 kilometres only. And the total distance that the princess herself has covered in the car is possibly even less. The director of the Musée de l'automobile de Monaco knows that Grace Kelly, as the film star turned princess was actually known, did not like to drive herself. That makes it even sadder that she was killed in a car accident on September 14, 1982.

The low mileage does explain the perfect condition of the car. On the outside the paint shows some discolorations. Not much though, especially when you consider that early metallic paints were prone to losing their shine as well as their metal effect. This car will hardly have seen any rain and will never have been stored in damp conditions. All the brightwork and aluminium are in perfect condition and the same applies to the Aerostable decal at the rear. The original whitewall tyres, on which the car was delivered to the princess 60 years ago, still look excellent, too.

We also get that feeling of excellency when opening the boot, which also teaches us something about the identity of this Floride. The car wears chassis number 0002365. The production number 1.150 on the oval plate under the type name R1092 indicates manufacture in early September 1959. This is therefore the 1.150th Floride after production had started in April that year.

As with all early examples, the interior comes in contrasting colours. In this case it’s light green with dark green. The light green’s hue comes close to that of the car’s paint, which is also applied to the dashboard and the tops of the doors. Almost everything on the car appears to be in an as-new condition, which automatically makes this vehicle a particularly interesting one. Many dream of ever finding an original copy in this condition. It also makes you wonder how often the lady-owner left the coupé roof at home to leave the palace with the Floride as a convertible. The windscreen still shows a somewhat yellowed decal on which the gearbox pattern is explained. This also shows that the Floride is equipped with the optional four-speed gearbox, while some of the cars still left the factory with a three-speeder. The immaculate set of instruments on which all letters and numbers are still perfectly present will also appeal to Floride and Caravelle owners. The font used tends to ‘sink in’ or even (partially) disappear over the years.

The engine compartment ensures the same ‘excitement’ as all other parts of this Renault. Again, things here look as if they have just left the factory. The 845cc four-cylinder engine is immaculate in its familiar green paint. But it goes also for the car’s wings, chassis beams and even the inside of the bonnet, which have all stood time without any problems thanks to the special treatment it received. A funny detail strikes us at the radiator filler cap. It is suspended movably with the underlying hose and follows the bonnet when opened on a cable.

One thing that can be remarked is that glue was used generously in those years. This can be seen, for example, on the sheet metal in the boot compartment, which are left uncovered. The last special feature that should really be mentioned when describing this Floride is that of the two mirrored letters ‘G’ on both doors. They represent the Grimaldi family and adorned all the family’s vehicles for a long time.

En detail..

Renault Floride (R1092)

Engine: 

Type 670-1, bore x stroke 58 x 80 mm, cylinder capacity 845 cc, power 34.5 DIN hp at 5,500 rpm, torque 6.6 m.kg at 3,300 rpm, single carburettor Solex 32 PIBT.
Maximum speed 125 km/h.
Gearbox:
Manual, fully synchronized three speed gearbox with one reverse gear. Option: four-speed gearbox with unsynchronized first gear.
Brakes:
Hydraulic brake system (Lockheed) with drum brakes front and rear. Handbrake on the rear wheels. Wheel size 4 J, tyre size 145 x 380 or 5.5 x 15 with white sides.
Dimensions:
Length 4,260 m, wheelbase 2,270 m, height 1,300 m, width 1,580 m, track width 1,250 m, ground clearance 0,145 m, vehicle weight convertible 712 kg (without liquids, with spare wheel), fuel tank capacity 32 litres, amount of engine oil 2,5 litres, cooling system capacity 4,6 litres including heating.