It used a standard 3 speed manual transmission with servo mechanisms to shift. It had a magnetic clutch which used iron particles and fingers, as the power increased the clutch engaged until at max power the clutch was totally engaged. The clutch power came from a separate generator, at idle it produced no power so the clutch was disengaged. As rpm picked up the clutch engaged. There was an analog computer behind the rear seat cushion. When a shift point was reached it closed a second throttle under the carburetor, killed the power to the clutch, made the servos shift to the next gear, then opened the throttle back up and restored clutch power. It could do this up or down for steep hills etc. At least that's the way my Aunt's was. I understand this system was developed by Jaeger. What killed it in the US was garages figuring that since it was an automatic it should have ATF in the transmission. The final nail in it was a law requiring a Park position that would engage a locking pawl in the transmission. Since it was a standard 3 speed manual transmission there was no way to meet the requirements without redesigning the transmission and the sales volume was too low to justify the expense. But it was ingeniously designed.
I owned a Renault Dauphine once. Many, many moons ago...With a 4-speed gear box, not an automatic. I never knew they were availible with an automatic transmission. I had a soft spot for those little guys ever since!
Saudade boa do Delfino hein do gordinho aqui no Brasil que saudade andei muito na década de 60 nesse carrinho para 70 um abraço aí grande Renault parabéns aí US6 tanque ver imagem parabéns👍🇧🇷👏🤜🇧🇷🤛
I had one of these. It has the damnedest shifting mechanism:: It turns off the gas, just like you let off the throttle, shifts the trans, lets out a clutch. gives it some gas. Just like you do manually. Made me laugh. Sadly it worked only a few months and even in 1973 no one had them and I've never seen another one.
***** Yes sir! It's difficult to explain to someone how it works too LOL, they look at you like your crazy when you try to explain it. Such a neat car tho. Thanks for the comment!
Cody Yost I always assumed the Dauphine "automatic" was like VW's Autostick or the old Chrysler fluid coupling transmissions... but finding your video sparked my interest, so I Googled "Ferlac clutch" and now my head is spinning!! The way this works is incredible, and I'm shocked that it operates as well as it seems to in the video. You can hear the engine "blip" when the fuel comes back on between gears, but the shifts seem smooth and quick. Fascinating machine, and a lovely one too. Thanks for posting this!
doctor zaius You're quite welcome! It has a pretty neat system in it for sure, this video was taken right after the restore was finished, so we aren't driving it to fast, had to work the bugs out lol. It will go about 65 to 70 mph and maybe 75 going down hill, we have another one in restoration that will have its own videos, but it won't be ready till next year.
Exactly, fascinating really. I wonder how much adjustment these things would need. Later Automated Manual Transmissions like the Opel Easytronic or Peugeot ETG/BMP needed constant readjustment and re-calibration. They were pretty good when properly and regularly calibrated, if not they became jerky and burnt the clutch.
My first Dauphine was a 1962 3 speed in 1965. Fell in love, been working on and restoring them every since. If you are into old cars, this Is see one you must check out. We restore, rebuild and sell Dauphines. Give us a call with questions a b d test drives. Thanks Lawrence Dooley Renault Dauphine Restoration Shop USA
Although my first car was a Dauphine, I have never heard of automatic gearbox for this car, it wasn't marketed in France. The first automatic gearbox I remember on a Renaut car was a robotized 3 speed mechanical gearbox on option for the Renault 8. But gear changes weren't fast and smooth enough and It had very little success in France.
That's the one in this, Jager 3-Speed Semi-Automatic. It's remarkable what could be done with mechanical control, the first commercial electronically controlled Automated Manual Transmissions came out in the 1980s
@@78Dipar There were two systems offered by Renault first a system by Ferlec which had a manual gearshift but no clutch in 1957. From 1963 there was a fully automated system developed by Jaeger.
@@tzeimet I remember well the Ferlec automatic clutch option on the Renault Dauphine, but I dont remember any fully automatic Jaeger option for the Dauphine, although I rember it well fot the later R8. May be was it for export only... I know well the Dauphine, I passed my driving licence with one in autumn 1960, My parents had a Dauphine as second car which I drove a lot, and my first onwn car, bought second hand in 1967 was an "Ondine" version of the Dauphine, having a four speed gearbox instead of the usual 3 speeds.
My brother blew the clutch in his.. he drove it for 3 months before replacing it. Rugged little bugger. he finally totaled it by hitting a 2in pipe holding up a street sign. he hit it between the fender and the front hood. Its a unibody so it twisted the whole thing making it worthless.
Would you please post some more driving videos of the dauphine automatic? I‘m into it, because we also own a dauphine automatic, 1964 and it’s in restauration at the moment :) can’t wait to drive it by myself!
It heats great, just like any other car lol, unlike the vw beetle, the dauphine has a radiator, it's not air cooled. It gets pretty good gas milage for a 50 year old car, it is a 4 cylinder lol. It drives great also, it takes a bit to get used to driving it with the automatic, it's quite a different setup then a traditional automatic, but it drives great, my grandpa drives his all the time.
Parts are the only bad thing about these cars, they do not make aftermarket parts for them, so if you need them, you will either have to buy a whole car, or pay epic high prices for the parts from someone that has them for sale.
I had the 1965 model and loved it.
A beautifully restored Dauphine through and through.
It used a standard 3 speed manual transmission with servo mechanisms to shift. It had a magnetic clutch which used iron particles and fingers, as the power increased the clutch engaged until at max power the clutch was totally engaged. The clutch power came from a separate generator, at idle it produced no power so the clutch was disengaged. As rpm picked up the clutch engaged. There was an analog computer behind the rear seat cushion. When a shift point was reached it closed a second throttle under the carburetor, killed the power to the clutch, made the servos shift to the next gear, then opened the throttle back up and restored clutch power. It could do this up or down for steep hills etc. At least that's the way my Aunt's was. I understand this system was developed by Jaeger. What killed it in the US was garages figuring that since it was an automatic it should have ATF in the transmission. The final nail in it was a law requiring a Park position that would engage a locking pawl in the transmission. Since it was a standard 3 speed manual transmission there was no way to meet the requirements without redesigning the transmission and the sales volume was too low to justify the expense. But it was ingeniously designed.
I owned a Renault Dauphine once. Many, many moons ago...With a 4-speed gear box, not an automatic. I never knew they were availible with an automatic transmission. I had a soft spot for those little guys ever since!
They have quite the following! This one turns heads everywhere it goes, we even had a guy in a 62' Beetle play around with us on the street lol.
Me too! Could it be that there is one for sale in the U.S.?
Yes ,mine was a stick
Your car's beautiful-as well preserved as Liz Taylor was.
Saudade boa do Delfino hein do gordinho aqui no Brasil que saudade andei muito na década de 60 nesse carrinho para 70 um abraço aí grande Renault parabéns aí US6 tanque ver imagem parabéns👍🇧🇷👏🤜🇧🇷🤛
I had one of these. It has the damnedest shifting mechanism:: It turns off the gas, just like you let off the throttle, shifts the trans, lets out a clutch. gives it some gas. Just like you do manually. Made me laugh. Sadly it worked only a few months and even in 1973 no one had them and I've never seen another one.
***** Yes sir! It's difficult to explain to someone how it works too LOL, they look at you like your crazy when you try to explain it. Such a neat car tho. Thanks for the comment!
Cody Yost I always assumed the Dauphine "automatic" was like VW's Autostick or the old Chrysler fluid coupling transmissions... but finding your video sparked my interest, so I Googled "Ferlac clutch" and now my head is spinning!! The way this works is incredible, and I'm shocked that it operates as well as it seems to in the video. You can hear the engine "blip" when the fuel comes back on between gears, but the shifts seem smooth and quick. Fascinating machine, and a lovely one too. Thanks for posting this!
doctor zaius You're quite welcome! It has a pretty neat system in it for sure, this video was taken right after the restore was finished, so we aren't driving it to fast, had to work the bugs out lol. It will go about 65 to 70 mph and maybe 75 going down hill, we have another one in restoration that will have its own videos, but it won't be ready till next year.
I believe these automatics are essentially manual transmissions operated by solenoids rather than human arms and feet.
Exactly, fascinating really. I wonder how much adjustment these things would need. Later Automated Manual Transmissions like the Opel Easytronic or Peugeot ETG/BMP needed constant readjustment and re-calibration. They were pretty good when properly and regularly calibrated, if not they became jerky and burnt the clutch.
A very nice driving 👌😊
My first Dauphine was a 1962 3 speed in 1965. Fell in love, been working on and restoring them every since. If you are into old cars, this Is see one you must check out.
We restore, rebuild and sell Dauphines.
Give us a call with questions a b d test drives.
Thanks
Lawrence Dooley
Renault Dauphine Restoration Shop USA
Car is no longer for sale, SORRY
Although my first car was a Dauphine, I have never heard of automatic gearbox for this car, it wasn't marketed in France. The first automatic gearbox I remember on a Renaut car was a robotized 3 speed mechanical gearbox on option for the Renault 8. But gear changes weren't fast and smooth enough and It had very little success in France.
That's the one in this, Jager 3-Speed Semi-Automatic. It's remarkable what could be done with mechanical control, the first commercial electronically controlled Automated Manual Transmissions came out in the 1980s
@@tzeimet On the Renault Dauphine, it was only an optional automatic clutch, gear change remained fully manual.
@@78Dipar There were two systems offered by Renault first a system by Ferlec which had a manual gearshift but no clutch in 1957. From 1963 there was a fully automated system developed by Jaeger.
@@tzeimet I remember well the Ferlec automatic clutch option on the Renault Dauphine, but I dont remember any fully automatic Jaeger option for the Dauphine, although I rember it well fot the later R8. May be was it for export only...
I know well the Dauphine, I passed my driving licence with one in autumn 1960, My parents had a Dauphine as second car which I drove a lot, and my first onwn car, bought second hand in 1967 was an "Ondine" version of the Dauphine, having a four speed gearbox instead of the usual 3 speeds.
My brother blew the clutch in his.. he drove it for 3 months before replacing it. Rugged little bugger. he finally totaled it by hitting a 2in pipe holding up a street sign. he hit it between the fender and the front hood. Its a unibody so it twisted the whole thing making it worthless.
Would you please post some more driving videos of the dauphine automatic? I‘m into it, because we also own a dauphine automatic, 1964 and it’s in restauration at the moment :) can’t wait to drive it by myself!
Sorry but I don't have anymore video's of this particular car.
Cody Yost oh ok, thank you for your answer!
Made in Spain? it seems that the center of the steering wheel has the shield of the FASA factory in Valladolid
In Spain it was called "the widows' car."
How will does that Renault heat? Is it good on gas? Are the parts easy to get?
It heats great, just like any other car lol, unlike the vw beetle, the dauphine has a radiator, it's not air cooled. It gets pretty good gas milage for a 50 year old car, it is a 4 cylinder lol. It drives great also, it takes a bit to get used to driving it with the automatic, it's quite a different setup then a traditional automatic, but it drives great, my grandpa drives his all the time.
Parts are the only bad thing about these cars, they do not make aftermarket parts for them, so if you need them, you will either have to buy a whole car, or pay epic high prices for the parts from someone that has them for sale.
The steering sounds like it's on a ratchet.
Compared to American cars, it,s a toy....
HF Livares ; but four door, four place !
four doors, more whores