Berliet Dauphine 11CV
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Vénissieux , France |
| Products | Automobiles, trucks, buses |
The Berliet Dauphine was a family automobile manufactured by Berliet at their Vénissieux facility near Lyon between 1934 and 1939. Initially, it came with a 1990cc engine falling into the 11CV tax category, soon supplemented by a 1600cc (9CV) version, while a 14CV model was available upon special request.
Throughout most of its manufacturing period, the Dauphine served as Berliet’s primary passenger vehicle and ultimately became the company’s final car model before it shifted its focus to trucks and buses after the Second World War.
Chassis
The Dauphine utilized a chassis design featuring longitudinal bars that curved upwards, resulting in a lower body position compared to conventional "overslung" frames. Its front suspension was independent, employing a transverse leaf spring paired with rack and pinion steering, whereas the rear suspension consisted of a traditional rigid axle supported by longitudinal leaf springs.
Bodies
The range included a four-door “Berline” sedan, a two-door “Coach,” a sportier “Roadster,” and a two-door five-seat “Cabriolet.” Production of the Roadster and Coach ceased in 1935, leaving only the Berline and Cabriolet variants available.
Body construction involved timber frameworks covered with steel panels—a method increasingly considered outdated when compared to competitors such as the Peugeot 402, Renault Primaquatre, and Citroën Traction Avant, which featured all-steel bodies shaped using heavy pressing machinery. Due to Berliet’s relatively low production volume—fewer than 10,000 units—the investment required for expensive steel pressing equipment was not economically viable, leading to continued use of traditional body-building techniques.
Engines and transmission
The 11CV model housed a 1,990cc four-cylinder water-cooled engine producing maximum power at 4,000 rpm, transmitted to the rear wheels through a standard 4-speed manual transmission. The smaller 9CV 1600cc engine generated power at the same rpm but was discontinued after the 1937 model year. A 14CV engine option appeared briefly in mid-1937 as a special order but was withdrawn by October that year.
Evolution
From 1933 to 1938, modifications were minor. In 1937, the wheelbase of the 11CV increased to , while the 9CV’s wheelbase grew from to , addressing customer feedback regarding interior space.
By the time of the October 1937 Paris Motor Show, both body styles and engine choices had been significantly reduced, with only four paint colors remaining: black, blue, green, and grey. The Vénissieux factory experienced frequent labor strikes throughout this period, which disrupted production schedules. Meanwhile, the Dauphine’s aging body design and expensive manufacturing approach rendered it less competitive in the market.
Inspired by rival Peugeot’s innovative 402 model, Berliet introduced a redesigned Dauphine at the October 1938 Paris Motor Show featuring curved pressed steel panels consistent with contemporary industry standards. Only four of these rebodied vehicles appeared at the event and were initially omitted from official price lists. Production commenced slowly in early 1939. However, due to insufficient passenger car output to justify investment in steel pressing dies for all-steel bodies, Berliet halted in-house body production later that year.
The final Dauphine models combined Berliet chassis and mechanical components with Peugeot 402 bodies, substituting Peugeot’s grille for a distinctive modern Berliet design. This approach mirrored strategies adopted by other low-volume manufacturers who sought cost reductions by utilizing competitor body shells—examples include La Licorne employing Citroën Traction Avant bodies and German automakers sourcing Ambi Budd panels. The Peugeot-bodied Dauphine debuted at the March 1939 Lyon Trade Fair but saw limited production of approximately 200 units, many of which were redirected for military purposes as World War II commenced.