Early 1930s Renault commercial vehicles

Renault early 1930s commercial vehicle series

Company type	Division
Industry	Automotive
Predecessor	Renault "coalscuttle" bonnet style commercial vehicles
Founded	1930
Successor	ACx and ADx light vehicle range, ABx medium class, ZP series buses and coaches
Headquarters	Boulogne-Billancourt , France
Area served	France
Products	Trucks, buses, coaches, tractor units

The early 1930s Renault commercial vehicle series consisted of a modular chassis lineup produced by Renault, primarily marketed as trucks, buses, and coaches. This collection represented Renault's initial adoption of diesel engines and a shift away from earlier design conventions. Beginning in 1935, this series was progressively superseded by the ACx and ADx light vehicle range, the ABx medium class, and the ZP series for buses and coaches.

Origins of the early 1930s lineup

By the end of 1930, Renault discontinued its commercial vehicles featuring the "coalscuttle" bonnet style, moving towards designs with more upright grilles and positioning the radiator in front of the engine compartment. At the same time, Renault introduced its first diesel powerplants for road vehicles: a 7-litre inline-four and a 10.5-litre inline-six, both equipped with direct injection systems. The inline-four powered heavy-duty trucks starting in 1930, while the inline-six was introduced in 1931. These engines were developed over a two-year span, drawing on Renault’s marine diesel expertise to create proprietary technology instead of relying on foreign suppliers, which was common among many French manufacturers.

The production approach focused on modular construction using standardized components to improve economies of scale, optimize mass production quality, and facilitate easier servicing.

The 1931 light and medium-duty commercial vehicle models were derived from earlier types: RY and KZ (payloads below 1 tonne), OS (1.3 to 1.8 tonnes), PR (2 tonnes), SX (2 tonnes), and SZ (3 tonnes). The heavier segment combined both new introductions and updated versions: TL (4 tonnes), TR (5.5 tonnes), TS (7.5 tonnes), TI, along with tractor units SY and TT.

Expansion of the range

In 1932, Renault upgraded its lower-tier vehicles by fitting them with inline-four petrol engines—except for SX and SZ models—and equipped SX and SZ with inline-six petrol engines. The upper-tier models primarily featured diesel engines alongside two petrol variants: a 6-litre inline-four and a 9.1-litre inline-six. Payload capacities varied within the range: TI (5.5 tonnes) and UD (7.5 tonnes) were available with all four engine options; TS (8 tonnes) utilized only inline-fours; VT (12 tonnes) was powered exclusively by inline-sixes. The lineup also included two tractor units: TT capable of hauling up to 15 tonnes with upper-range engines, and SY designed for loads up to 6 tonnes using the SX-SZ engine configuration.

Between 1931 and 1932, Renault introduced the C-90 diesel engine—an inline-four with a displacement of 3.8 litres—for forthcoming models. Additionally, they launched short-lived petrol-powered 6×4 trucks featuring articulated suspension: UC (with a payload capacity of 7 tonnes or serving as a tractor up to 15 tonnes) and UR (4 tonnes capacity).

The 1933 model year brought new additions such as the lightweight YP (0.75 tonnes payload), a chassis variant KZ tailored for commercial use, and saw the TS model discontinued. New petrol and diesel variants included the YF replacing SZ, as well as the YG tractor taking over from SY. In 1934, the SX model was phased out in favor of the ZY series (ZYAC with an inline-four petrol engine offering a 2.5-tonne payload), while the PR was gradually retired to be replaced by the tax-efficient ZJ chassis rated for 2 tonnes. Engine updates were applied across diesel and petrol variants; specifically, TI ceased using its inline-six petrol engine, TT eliminated all inline-four options, and a heavy-duty truck ZF based on VT was introduced.

Certain commercial vehicles such as the UD, YF, TI, and PR models were also procured by the French armed forces.

Conclusion of the early 1930s lineup

In response to French government regulations on commercial vehicles by 1934, Renault transitioned to forward control designs, moving away from the traditional cabin layouts previously utilized. At the 1934 Paris Salon, the company unveiled two forward control models for the 1935 range: the ABF, a truck with a 5-tonne payload capacity, and the ZP coach. Additionally, at the Brussels Salon, Renault presented a third model, the ABG tractor unit capable of hauling up to 10 tonnes. Petrol-powered versions of the TT and VT models were discontinued. That same year, Renault eliminated flathead petrol engines from its commercial vehicle offerings, modernized its diesel engines, and introduced a new coach model based on the YF chassis, designated as the ZI.

At the 1935 Paris Salon, Renault largely retained its range for 1936. However, by 1936, commercial vehicles with payloads up to 3.5 tonnes from the early 1930s were withdrawn and succeeded by the more aerodynamic Renault ACx and ADx series. Most conventional-control trucks above 3.5 tonnes were also phased out, with the exception of the UD model which remained available until 1937. A military version of the TI model (TI 4 AE) continued production until 1938.

1931 range

In 1931, Renault's commercial vehicle portfolio included rigid trucks with gross combined weights reaching up to 8.5 tonnes and tractor units rated up to 16 tonnes. Bus and coach variants offered seating capacities ranging from 10 passengers in the OS model to as many as 40 passengers in the TI and TI N versions.

Model	Chassis code	Engines					Payload	Chassis lengths	Gearboxes	Type
		Fuel	C.	Displacement	Fiscal power	Power
Mona 6	RY2	Petrol	6	1,463 cc	8 CV	26 PS (19 kW)	400 kg	1	3-speed manual	Light van
KZ	KZ		4	2,120 cc	11 CV	33 PS (24 kW)	600 kg	2
OS	OS3						Payload between 1,300 and 1,800 kg	1	4-speed manual	Light truck and bus/coach
PR	PR3						Rated at 2,000 kg
SX	SX3		6 cylinders	3,180 cc	Between 15 and 18 CV	53 PS (39 kW)	Payload from 2,000 to 2,500 kg	2
SZ	SZ3				Fiscal power of 12 CV		Payload capacity of 3 tonnes	1
TL
	-		Inline-four cylinders	Engine size of 6,082 cc	Fiscal rating of 23 CV	60 PS (44 kW)	Payload of 4 tonnes			Truck and bus/coach
		Diesel variant		Engine displacement of 7,060 cc	Fiscal power rated at 27 CV	57 PS (42 kW)
TR
	TR petrol version	6,082 cc		23 CV	60 PS (44 kW)	Payload capacity of 5.5 tonnes	Truck

1932 lineup

In 1932, Renault's commercial vehicle lineup included roughly twelve different chassis options, with maximum gross combined weights reaching up to 14 tonnes for rigid trucks and as much as 20 tonnes for tractor units. The bus and coach models varied in capacity, seating from 12 passengers in the OS variant to 45 passengers in the TI version.

Model	Chassis code	Engines					Payload	Chassis lengths	Gearboxes	Type
		Fuel type	Cylinders	Displacement	Fiscal power	Power output
Mona 4	UY	Petrol	4	1,300 cc	7 CV	25 PS (18 kW)	500 kg	1	3-speed manual	Light van
Prima 4	YB			2,120 cc	11 CV	35 PS (26 kW)
Viva 4	KZ						800 kg	2
OS	OS4 OS5						1,300 kg	1	4-speed manual	Light truck and bus/coach
PR	PR4 PR5						2,000 kg
SX	SX4 SX5		6	3,180 cc	15/18 CV	53 PS (39 kW)		2
SZ	SZ4				12 CV		3.5 tonnes
TI
	TI 4		4	6,082 cc	23 CV	69 PS (51 kW)	5 tonnes	3		Truck and bus/coach
	TI 6		6	9,120 cc	35 CV	100 PS (74 kW)
	TI D4	Diesel	4	7,060 cc	27 CV	57 PS (42 kW)
	TI D6		6	10,590 cc	40 CV	87 PS (64 kW)
UD
	UD 4	Petrol	4	6,082 cc	23 CV	69 PS (51 kW)	7.5 tonnes	1		Truck
	UD 6		6	9,120 cc	35 CV	100 PS (74 kW)

1933 Model Range

The 1933 lineup of Renault commercial vehicles retained the previous top gross combined weight classifications, while certain bus and coach models incorporated enhancements to their chassis and suspension systems.

rowSpan ="5" TT TT 4 petrol six cylinders six thousand eighty two cubic centimeters twenty three fiscal horsepower sixty nine metric horsepower five point five to fifteen tonnes hauling capacity five speed manual transmission truck type TT six A petrol six cylinders seven thousand nine hundred eighty three cubic centimeters thirty fiscal horsepower one hundred five metric horsepower five point five to fifteen tonnes hauling capacity five speed manual transmission truck type TT D four diesel four cylinders seven thousand sixty cubic centimeters nineteen fiscal horsepower fifty seven metric horsepower five point five to fifteen tonnes hauling capacity five speed manual transmission truck type TT D six diesel six cylinders ten thousand five hundred ninety cubic centimeters twenty eight fiscal horsepower eighty seven metric horsepower five point five to fifteen tonnes hauling capacity five speed manual transmission truck type

Model	Chassis code	Engines					Payload	Chassis lengths	Gearboxes	Vehicle type
		Fuel	C.	Displacement	Fiscal power	Power
YP	YPB	Petrol	4	1,463 cc	8 CV	32 PS (24 kW)	750 kg	1	3-speed manual	Light van
KZ	KZB (KZ12)			2,120 cc	11 CV	35 PS (26 kW)
OS	OSB						1,300 kg		4-speed manual	Light truck and bus/coach
PR	PRB						2,000 kg
SX	SXB		6	3,180 cc	15/18 CV	53 PS (39 kW)		2
YF
	YFAB		4	4,050 cc	15 CV	65 PS (48 kW)	3.5 tonnes
	YFDB	Diesel		4,345 cc	12 CV	45 PS (33 kW)
TI
	TI 4 B	Petrol		6,082 cc	23 CV	69 PS (51 kW)	5.5 tonnes	3	5-speed manual	Truck and bus/coach
	TI 6 B		6	7,983 cc	30 CV	105 PS (77 kW)
	TI D4 B	Diesel	4	7,060 cc	19 CV	57 PS (42 kW)
	TI D6 B		6	10,590 cc	28 CV	87 PS (64 kW)
UD
	UD 4 B	Petrol	4	6,082 cc	23 CV	69 PS (51 kW)	7.5 tonnes	1		Truck
	UD 6 B		6	7,983cc	30CV	105 PS (77 kW)
	UD D4 AB	Diesel	4	7,060cc	19CV	57 PS (42 kW)				Bus/coach and delivery vehicle
	UD D6 B	6	10,590cc	28CV	87 PS (64 kW)	Truck
VT
	VT 6 AB	Petrol	6	7,983cc	30CV	105 PS (77 kW)	12 tonnes			6x2 truck
	VT D6 B	Diesel		10,590cc	28CV	87 PS (64 kW)
YG
	YGAB	Petrol	4	4,050cc	15CV	65 PS (48 kW)	6 tonnes (hauling)			Tractor unit
	YGDB	Diesel		4,345cc	12CV	45 PS (33 kW)

1935 lineup

In 1935, Renault's commercial vehicle portfolio included approximately 23 different chassis variants, supporting gross combined weights up to 20 tonnes. Passenger capacities for buses and coaches ranged from 14 seats in the OS model to as many as 36 seats in the ZP model. Certain chassis were adapted specifically to comply with French legal standards.

Model	Chassis code	Engines				Payload	Chassis lengths	Gearboxes	Type
		Fuel	Cylinders	Displacement	Power
YN	YN1	Petrol	4	1,463 cc	34 PS (25 kW)	450 kg	1	3-speed manual	Light van
YP	YPE					750 kg
KZ	KZE			2,120 cc	43 PS (32 kW)
OS	OSC					1,200 kg		4-speed manual	Light truck and bus/coach
ZJ	ZJC					2,000 kg
ZY
	ZYAE			Diesel	4,050 cc	77 PS (57 kW)	2.5 tonnes			2
	ZYDE	Diesel		4,345 cc	47 PS (35 kW)	Light truck
YF
	YFAE	Petrol		4,050 cc	77 PS (57 kW)	3.5 tonnes	Truck and bus/coach
	YFDE	Diesel		4,345 cc	47 PS (35 kW)		Truck
ABF
	ABF	Petrol		5,900 cc	85 PS (63 kW)	4.5–5 tonnes	Forward control truck
	ABFD	Diesel		8,350 cc
TI
	TI 4 AE	Petrol		5,900 cc		5.5 tonnes	5-speed manual	Truck
	TI 4 DE	Diesel		8,350 cc
UD
	UD 6 AE	Petrol	6	7,983 cc	112 PS (82 kW)	7.5 tonnes