Renault Suprastella
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 25, 1899 in France |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Automobiles |
The Renault Suprastella is a prestigious large automobile launched by Renault in the spring of 1938, succeeding the Renault Nervastella and retaining much of its predecessor's mechanical framework.
During the 1930s, Renault adopted a naming convention for its models ending with "-stella," derived from the Latin term for "star," with Suprastella translating to "upper star."
Background
Conceived primarily as a spacious limousine, the Suprastella was also available in cabriolet and coupé variants. Typically, it was sold as a chassis alone, allowing coachbuilders to craft custom bodies that often extended up to 5600 mm in length. This model was intended to demonstrate France's expertise in manufacturing premium luxury automobiles. Nevertheless, it marked the final model of its category before Renault transitioned after the Second World War to state-controlled production emphasizing smaller vehicles.
Two units were produced in London, England.
A significant design revision included a front grille that wrapped around the front, featuring horizontal slats—a style element that influenced Renault’s 1939 models.
In 1938, pricing ranged from 84,000 francs for the steel saloon with a 3210 mm wheelbase to 102,000 francs for the extended eight-seater limousine measuring 3720 mm between axles. This pricing placed the Suprastella in competition with luxury brands like Delage and Delahaye, whose clientele frequently invested in even more costly custom coachbuilt bodies.
The vehicle was equipped with a flathead inline eight-cylinder engine of 5448 cc capacity, carried over from later iterations of the Nervastella. It delivered 110 PS at 2,800 rpm and achieved top speeds ranging from 135 km/h (84 mph) to 145 km/h (90 mph), depending on chassis dimensions and body configuration.
Official use
A longer version of the Suprastella measuring 6500 mm overall with a 3720 mm wheelbase became one of France’s most frequently photographed automobiles during the 1940s. This limousine with cabriolet bodywork by Franay was supplied to the government in 1943 as an official state car for Marshal Pétain. It featured elevated ground clearance and automatic folding steps beneath each door.
The vehicle served Marshal Pétain and was captured in photographs during his visit to Paris in April 1944. More prominently, in August 1944, General de Gaulle used this state Suprastella to tour Paris after entering ahead of the American army, accompanied by General Lattre de Tassigny. The car remained in official use during the era of the Fourth Republic, serving President Vincent Auriol.
Types
- ABM8 (long)
- BDP1 (extra-long)