Renault Suprastella
Encyclopedia
The Renault Suprastella was a large car presented by Renault
in 1939 as a replacement for the Renault Nervastella from which it inherited its mechanical elements. It was intended primarily as a large limousine, although cabriolet and coupe versions were also listed. In practice the intention will have been to produce the car in “bare-chassis” form for dedicated coachbuilders to fit their own bespoke bodies: typically the car was 5600mm long. The car was intended to demonstrate that France could still build high-end luxury cars, but because of the way history turned out the Suprastella was the last of this line, and Renault would emerge from the Second World War as a state owned manufacturer only of small cars.
The Suprastella was powered by a traditional 8 cylinder in-line engine of 5448cc which had already appeared, towards the end of its production run, in the Nervastella.
A massive 6500mm long version of the Suprastella, its wheelbase lengthened to 3720mm, became one of the most photographed cars in France during the 1940s. This was a cabriolet bodied limousine with coachwork by Franay, delivered to the government in 1943 after it was decided that Marshal Pétain
needed a new state car. The car had high ground clearance and one unusual feature was the step beneath each door that folded out automatically when the door was opened. Although the car performed its function for Pétain, and in April 1944 was photographed containing him on his first visit as leader to Paris, the better known images of the state Suprastella date from August 1945 when General de Gaulle
, having succeeded in entering Paris
ahead of the American army, toured the city, standing straight in the rear part of the car, accompanied by the war hero General Lattre de Tassigny
. The car survived to serve the Fourth Republic
, taken into government service by President Auriol
.
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
in 1939 as a replacement for the Renault Nervastella from which it inherited its mechanical elements. It was intended primarily as a large limousine, although cabriolet and coupe versions were also listed. In practice the intention will have been to produce the car in “bare-chassis” form for dedicated coachbuilders to fit their own bespoke bodies: typically the car was 5600mm long. The car was intended to demonstrate that France could still build high-end luxury cars, but because of the way history turned out the Suprastella was the last of this line, and Renault would emerge from the Second World War as a state owned manufacturer only of small cars.
The Suprastella was powered by a traditional 8 cylinder in-line engine of 5448cc which had already appeared, towards the end of its production run, in the Nervastella.
A massive 6500mm long version of the Suprastella, its wheelbase lengthened to 3720mm, became one of the most photographed cars in France during the 1940s. This was a cabriolet bodied limousine with coachwork by Franay, delivered to the government in 1943 after it was decided that Marshal Pétain
Philippe Pétain
Henri Philippe Benoni Omer Joseph Pétain , generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain , was a French general who reached the distinction of Marshal of France, and was later Chief of State of Vichy France , from 1940 to 1944...
needed a new state car. The car had high ground clearance and one unusual feature was the step beneath each door that folded out automatically when the door was opened. Although the car performed its function for Pétain, and in April 1944 was photographed containing him on his first visit as leader to Paris, the better known images of the state Suprastella date from August 1945 when General de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, having succeeded in entering Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ahead of the American army, toured the city, standing straight in the rear part of the car, accompanied by the war hero General Lattre de Tassigny
Jean de Lattre de Tassigny
Jean Joseph Marie Gabriel de Lattre de Tassigny, GCB, MC was a French military hero of World War II and commander in the First Indochina War.-Early life:...
. The car survived to serve the Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic may refer to:* French Fourth Republic * Fourth Republic of the Philippines * Fourth Republic of South Korea * The Fourth Republic of Niger...
, taken into government service by President Auriol
Vincent Auriol
Vincent Jules Auriol was a French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He also served as interim President of the Provisional Government from November to December 1946, making him one of only three people who were heads of state of the French...
.