Renault Estafette
| Company type | Commercial vehicle |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Renault Colorale (van version) |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | 1980 |
| Successor | Renault Trafic |
| Headquarters | France , France |
| Products | Lightweight commercial van (minibus, van, pickup, chassis cab) |
Renault Estafette
The Renault Estafette is a lightweight commercial van featuring front-wheel drive, manufactured by the French company Renault from 1959 until 1980 in France, with continued production in Algeria, Romania, and Mexico. Initially equipped with the water-cooled Renault Ventoux engine and later upgraded to the Cléon-Fonte engine, it was available in various configurations such as minibus, van, pickup, and chassis cab versions. The model was eventually succeeded by the Renault Trafic.
At its debut, Renault distinguished itself as the sole global manufacturer producing vehicles with all three prevalent drivetrain layouts: front-engine/front-wheel drive (Estafette), rear-engine/rear-wheel drive (Dauphine), and front-engine/rear-wheel drive (Frégate). This approach enabled Renault to offer a wide range of products across both commercial and passenger vehicle markets.
History
In 1944, the French Ministry of Industrial Production introduced the Plan Pons, which limited Peugeot, Renault, and Chenard & Walcker to manufacturing vans weighing between 1000 and 1400 kg, while Citroën was designated to produce small trucks ranging from 2 to 3.5 tonnes. Defying this directive, Citroën's Pierre-Jules Boulanger launched the innovative front-wheel-drive Citroën H Van in 1947, featuring a unibody construction and a low loading floor, which achieved significant commercial success.
Renault adhered to the plan by creating the 206 E1 model with a conventional fixed chassis and metal panels mounted on a wooden frame. Although this design was cost-effective during material shortages, it failed to match the market appeal of Citroën’s H Van. To fill the gap between its smaller Juvaquatre (300 kg capacity) and the larger 1000 kg 206 E1, Renault aimed to develop a new front-wheel-drive van as a successor to the discontinued Colorale van.
Despite focusing on rear-engined vehicles like the 4cv and Dauphine, Renault permitted engineer Fernand Picard to design a front-wheel-drive van utilizing existing components, including adapting the Dauphine’s engine for front-wheel drive paired with a newly designed gearbox optimized for van operation. Initial doubts regarding the suitability of the 845 cc engine were alleviated after performance comparisons with the German Gutbrod Atlas, which carried a 1000 kg load using an even smaller engine.
Introduced in June 1959, the Estafette—its name derived from the Italian word Staffetta, meaning courier—emphasized efficiency and functionality rather than power. It debuted in four body styles: a standard van featuring unique three-part rear doors (with an upward-hinged top section and two lower halves that opened sideways), sliding side and driver’s doors; a high-roof variant with a translucent plastic roof providing standing space; a pickup model equipped with a tubular frame canopy and removable tailgate doubling as a loading ramp; and an eight-seat minibus. Available factory colors included grey, blue, yellow, and orange.
The Estafette’s low floor height combined with wide rear access effectively addressed commercial requirements, particularly favoring businesses handling bulky cargo with its high-roof version. It also became widely used as a mobile retail outlet at markets, establishing itself as an emblematic vehicle within French trade.
Evolution
In 1961, Renault introduced the Alouette edition—a simplified minibus featuring removable seats—which gained popularity among French camper conversion firms. Subsequently, a chassis-cab version was launched to accommodate various custom body types.
By May 1962, the Estafette became Renault’s first vehicle fitted with the new "Sierra" series 1,108 cc water-cooled four-cylinder engine later utilized in the Renault 8 released that June.
In 1968, Renault won a contract supplying 70 vans for police use during the Grenoble Winter Olympics, which helped secure ongoing orders; PTT (the French postal and telephone service) emerged as its largest client. That same year saw an upgrade to a 1,289 cc engine sourced from the upcoming Renault 12 model, increasing payload capacity to 1000 kg. A grille redesign followed in 1973 to modernize its appearance. Production persisted until 1980 after more than half a million units had been sold before being replaced by the Trafic.
Between 1975 and 1978 in Romania, Automobile Dacia manufactured an Estafette variant specifically for use by the Romanian Post, producing approximately 642 vehicles.
Revival
During the 2024 IAA Show held in Hanover, Renault introduced the Estafette concept as part of its newly formed Flexis Group collaboration with Volvo Trucks. This vehicle marks the launch of the 'FlexEVan' platform, which is planned to enter production within two years.
Designed to succeed the Renault Trafic, the Estafette is intended to represent the next generation of electric commercial vehicles, as stated by Flexis CEO Philippe Divry.
Versions
- R2130/31
- Manufactured: May 1959 – May 1962
- Engine: 845 cc, , type 670
- Payload capacity:
- R2132/33/34/35
- Manufactured: May 1962 – Nov 1968
- Engine: 1,108 cc, , type 688
- Payload capacity: , reaching up to for the "Estafette 1000"
- R2136/37 (The R2137 includes "Plateau" and "Base Carrossable" open-bed pickup variants)
- Manufactured: Sep 1968 – Jun 1980
- Engine: 1,289 cc, , type 810
- Payload capacity: (R2136), (R2137)