When the garage doors open, you are overcome by a wave of nostalgia. Not only an image of the time, but also the toppers of that time. Like the French Volkswagen: a 1959 Renault Dauphine.
By: Dirk de Jong
We should not call it a garage. It is a treasure room, all the classics in the collection are cherished and are all usable. According to Sytze, there is only one way to keep all cars in good condition, and that is to drive them regularly! It soon becomes clear that we are dealing here with a passionate enthusiast with an enormous knowledge of vintage cars. From his love for classics he likes to have contact with people with the same hobby, it is nice to share knowledge and experience.
Own character
Each type of classic that Sytze owns has its own character, but there is also a special story behind each car. He is delighted with his collection built up in his hobby car life. His love for everything he rides clearly has nostalgic roots. The flame ignited in his youth, when his father started a transport company.
Sytze .'s hobby
The Sytze collection consists of various cars from various decades of the last century. Not just the 1959 Renault Dauphine, the protagonist of this article. But also a Citroën 11 Taction Avant D1955. A 33 DAF 1972, a 1977 Opel C Kadett City and a 1976 Opel C Kadett Sedan.
Renault Dauphine
Sytze: “My 1959 Renault Dauphine was installed in the Netherlands in 1998 and has been in my possession since 2018. In my younger years I had a Renault Ondine (a sports car in city outfit), wanted to drive sporty, but did not compromise on comfort. This Renault Dauphine doesn't have astonishing acceleration right now, but it doesn't need to. I can't recall the history, but the feeling that came with it can. The Renault Dauphine has always been a car to drive away with, practical and economical (1 in 17). The creation had thousands of admirers in the Netherlands and was produced millions of times. My Renault Dauphine remains for me a spirited appearance and a memory of a bygone era and can still enrapture me.”
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question now that I read this above all my sister has a yellow 1959 Renault Dauphine in a garage at home for 30 years she has driven it twice never looked back she would like to get rid of it because she is older and with a big clearing going on
if we want to sell that car how do we go about it it is completely beautiful and good but never maintained and it is in belgium in the garage under a cloth i am her brother and no experience with old car, all papers are with the car from purchase to now maybe someone can point me in the right direction to get rid of it greetings Richard Dreessen
I would like to come and have a look at this car if possible my number is 0031 653148962 Best regards Marc Bergrath
What a wonderfully beautiful specimen, this dofien.
You could even go on holiday with a caravan (net) behind the Dauphine 😉 A photo from my oldtimer archive of mopeds, motorcycles and cars. I have no further information about the photo.
I started with a Renault 4PK, anno 1950. Totally worn engine but the body was ready. One year later the engine broke down and I was tempted to buy a Renault Dauphine, only 5 years (?) old and an engine that was in perfect order. Some time later a flat tire, so the jack under the car and turn the crank. Suddenly a door at the back wouldn't open. The jack turned out to be loose through the chassis beam. Did I notice that? no, because the underside was ok at first sight, but also treated with a fiber cloth, neatly finished and with a layer of paint so that everything was new…. So I have a bad experience with a rust bucket, Renault Dauphine that is 5 years old and ready for the junkyard.
I need to make a correction.
Dauphines had turn signals in the rear pillars.
Later, these external lamps were integrated into the taillights.
Attached is a photo of the later version.
Superb cart.
But this Dauphine is an ONDINE.
The 1st Dauphine had a 3-speed gearbox and folding indicators.
The ONDINE had a 4-speed gearbox and indicators on both rear styles!
The GORDINI was the spiced up version and extra.
We've had them all.
And how do you keep an entire fleet in super condition?
With every car a list with TO DO.
And put in all the time you have.
Outsource sheet metal/spray work.
You must be in the field and have the necessary knowledge.
Stripping and balding :
Label everything and save it in a targeted way.
So discipline.
Work focused and rebuild from the ground up.
Also outsource a lot of blasting and muffle work.
Saves a lot of time.
But also have the space for it.
And addresses for parts!
You have to start that early.
And you must have grown up with oil and gasoline.
Also purchase the necessary tools over the years.
A hobby costs money.
Maintaining a woman costs more.
But a woman can still make you work
It was my first car in 1965. Had a lot of fun with it and finally on a frozen ditch
at the “Torenflat” in Naarden came to an end.
Hit by slippery road, it was Spiegel slippery. Almost 60 years
later i'm still mad about it. Here in YVR are 3 Dauphines I know I don't think
that there are more hidden, maybe in the “Interior” .
Mine didn't make any noise at all, just a cozy hum in the back.
What a nice article, I hope Sytze and family can enjoy it for a long time.
Trust me, I know the feeling.
Bass.
And I got my first driving lessons in your Dauphine when I was 15, that was a wonderful time. I was also allowed to drive alone, you said "you know where the brake is and the accelerator pedal so drive" and I have always done that with pleasure. Thank you for that
How the hell can people take care of an entire collection? I still don't manage to keep my only classic car running!
Saw a dance sans jus copy on Terschelling today.
I only remember the rust I was always working on to combat that, but all in all it was economical in use, the sound was just like any other car with the engine in the back. It only strikes me that Renault itself never wants to be reminded of it again, but of the Renault 4
Never allowed to 'enjoy' a ride in a Renault Daupine. Perhaps better for my ears too, if I read the description of the loudness like that. I didn't know these French dolphins were so noisy. In any case, I still know them from the street scene. At home (spelled phonetically) there was always talk of a 'dofientje'. Those sweet characteristic cars with the round corners. Indelible memories!
In my teenage years my uncle came with his Renault dauphine to transport me during the summer holidays to my grandparents two hours drive and three weeks vice versa two hours drive, I thought the driving was brilliant BUT my ears had to recover for two days each time of the engine noise now that I have read this story
I suddenly have problems with my ears again 😥😥