Early 1930s Renault commercial vehicles

The early 1930s Renault commercial vehicles were a range of modular chassis produced by Renault, sold under various configurations, primarily trucks, buses and coaches. The range was the first from Renault to get diesel engines and it abandoned previous design styles from the company. The range was gradually replaced from 1935 onwards by the ACx and ADx light range, the ABx medium range and the ZP bus/coach.

Early 1930s Renault commercial vehicles
A Renault OS (OSB model for 1933)
Overview
TypeVarious
ManufacturerRenault
Production1930–1936
AssemblyBoulogne-Billancourt, France
LayoutFront-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Transmission
Chronology
PredecessorLate 1920s Renault commercial vehicles
Successor

History and overview

Beginnings of the early 1930s range

At the end of 1930, Renault ended production of its last "coalscuttle"-bonneted (with the radiator behind the engine) commercial vehicles, adopting more vertical grilles and, in some models, vertical slits on both sides of the engine compartment, as the radiator was moved ahead.[1] At the same time, it was introducing its first diesel engines for road transport. These engines were a 7-litre inline-four and a 10.5-litre inline-six, both with direct injection.[2][3][4] The inline-four was initially used on Renault's heavy trucks from 1930,[3] and the inline-six was introduced in 1931.[2] The engines had been extensively tested for two years and its development had as base Renault's experience on diesel marine engines, which allowed the company to create its own diesel engine technology instead of purchasing it to foreign manufacturers, as most of its French competitors did. The production of Renault's commercial range at the time was heavily modularised,[4] with many standardised pieces,[4][5] improving economies of scale, quality on mass production and also simplifying parts replacement.[4]   The light and mid-range commercial vehicles for 1931 were largely made up from evolutions of existing models: the RY and KZ (both with payloads under 1 tonne), the OS (1.3-1.8 tonne payload), the PR (2 tonnes payload), the SX (2 tonnes payload), and the SZ (3 tonnes payload).[1] The upper ranges had a mix of new and updated but old models, including the TL (4 tonnes payload), TR (5.5 tonnes payload), TS (7.5 tonnes payload), TI, and two tractor units (SY and TT).[4][6] 

Range expansion

Some trucks for 1932. Clockwise from the top left: SZ, TS, TS short, and TI.

For 1932, the lower range consisted on further upgraded vehicles, using inline-four (all except SX and SZ) and inline-six (SX and SZ) petrol engines. Most of the upper range used the already mentioned diesel engines and two petrol ones: a 6-litre inline-four and a 9.1-litre inline-six. The TI (5.5 tonnes payload) and the UD (7.5 tonnes payload) mounted the four engines, the TS (8 tonnes payload) only the inline-four ones,[7][8] and the 6x2 VT (12 tonnes payload) only the inline-six. The range was completed by two tractor units: the TT (hauling capacity of up to 15 tonnes), using the four upper range engines; and the SY (hauling capacity of up to 6 tonnes), using the engine mounted on the SX-SZ.[7]

About 1931–1932, Renault unveiled a new 3.8 inline-four diesel engine called the C-90, to be used in future vehicles. It also introduced short-lived 6×4 petrol-engined trucks with articulated suspension: the UC (7-tonne payload or tractor unit up to 15 tonnes) and the UR (4-tonne payload).[9]

VT chassis for 1933 without bodywork

For the 1933 models, there were some changes compared to the ones for 1932: a new light vehicle called YP (0.75 tonnes payload), a new KZ chassis more focused on commercial use, the discontinuation of the TS. Renault also introduced vehicles with new diesel and petrol engines: the YF, replacing the SZ, and the YG tractor unit, replacing the SY.[10] For 1934, Renault removed the SX, replacing it with the ZY (ZYAC, inline-four petrol, 2.5 tonnes payload) and started to phase out the PR, exchanging it for most uses with a new 2-tonne chassis, the ZJ, which was subject to less taxes and restrictions. A ZY version (ZYDC) received a new diesel engine, and both petrols and diesels for all the models were updated. The TI lost its inline-six petrol engine and the TT all its inline-four ones. A VT-based heavy truck, the ZF, was added to the lineup.[11]

The French military commissioned various vehicles from Renault's commercial range, including the UD, the YF, the TI, and the PR.[12]

End of the early 1930s range

By 1934, the French government established various restrictions on commercial vehicles. As a result of these, Renault began to introduce forward control designs, replacing the normal control (conventional cabin) it had been using in the early 1930s. At the 1934 Paris Salon, the company unveiled two forward control units for 1935: the ABF (5-tonne payload truck), the ZP (a coach),[13][14] and announced a third, the ABG tractor unit (hauling capacity of up to 10 tonnes), which was unveiled at the Brussels Salon of that year.[15]  The petrol-engined versions of the TT and the VT were removed from the lineup.[6] For 1935 Renault also retired its last flathead petrol engines from the commercial range and gave minor updates to the diesel ones. Lastly, the company introduced a new YF-based coach,[13] the ZI.[16]

At the 1935 Paris Salon, Renault presented basically the same 1935 range for 1936.[14] In practice, all the early 1930s commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes payload were discontinued during the 1935–1936 period, its boxy styling replaced with the more curvy Renault ACx and ADx range.[1] Most normal-control commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes payload were also discontinued, the exception being the UD, which subsisted on the lineup until 1937.[6] A TI variant (the TI 4 AE) was produced for the military until 1938.[12]

Technical details

1931 lineup

The Renault's commercial vehicle range for 1931 has gross combined weight ratings of up to 8.5 tonnes (for rigid trucks) and 16 tonnes (for tractor units with towed cargo). The bus/coach bodywork variants can carry between 10 (OS model) and up to 40 passengers (TI and TI N models).[17]

ModelChassis codeEnginesPayloadChassis lengthsGearboxesType
FuelC.DisplacementFiscal powerPower
Mona 6[note 1]RY2Petrol61,463 cc8 CV26 PS (19 kW)400 kg13-speed manualLight van
KZKZ42,120 cc11 CV33 PS (24 kW)600 kg2
OSOS31,300–1,800 kg14-speed manualLight truck and bus/coach
PRPR32,000 kg
SXSX363,180 cc15/18 CV53 PS (39 kW)2,000–2,500 kg2
SZSZ312 CV3 tonnes1
TL
-46,082 cc23 CV60 PS (44 kW)4 tonnesTruck and bus/coach
Diesel7,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TR
TRPetrol6,082 cc23 CV60 PS (44 kW)5.5 tonnesTruck
TRDDiesel7,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TS
-Petrol6,082 cc23 CV60 PS (44 kW)7.5 tonnes2
Diesel7,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TI-Petrol69,120 cc35 CV100 PS (74 kW)30–35 passeenger seats (short)
35–40 passenger seats (long)
Bus/coach
TI N-46,082 cc23 CV60 PS (44 kW)30–35 passenger seats (short)
35–40 passenger seats (long)
SY-Petrol63,180 cc12 CV53 PS (39 kW)6 tonnes (hauling)1Tractor unit
TT
-Petrol46,082 cc23 CV60 PS (44 kW)12 tonnes (hauling)
Diesel7,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)

1932 lineup

The Renault's commercial vehicle range for 1932 has about a dozen of different chassis configurations,[8] with gross combined weight ratings of up to 14 tonnes (for rigid trucks) and 20 tonnes (for tractor units with towed cargo). The bus/coach bodywork variants can carry between 12 (OS model) and up to 45 passengers (TI model).[7]

ModelChassis codeEnginesPayloadChassis lengthsGearboxesType
FuelC.DisplacementFiscal powerPower
Mona 4[note 2]UYPetrol41,300 cc7 CV25 PS (18 kW)500 kg13-speed manualLight van
Prima 4YB2,120 cc11 CV35 PS (26 kW)
Viva 4KZ800 kg2
OSOS4
OS5
1,300 kg14-speed manualLight truck and bus/coach
PRPR4
PR5
2,000 kg
SXSX4
SX5
63,180 cc15/18 CV53 PS (39 kW)2
SZSZ412 CV3.5 tonnes
TI
TI 446,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)5 tonnes3Truck and bus/coach
TI 669,120 cc35 CV100 PS (74 kW)
TI D4Diesel47,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TI D6610,590 cc40 CV87 PS (64 kW)
UD
UD 4Petrol46,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)7.5 tonnes1Truck
UD 669,120 cc35 CV100 PS (74 kW)
UD D4Diesel47,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
UD D6610,590 cc40 CV87 PS (64 kW)
TS
TSE
TS
Petrol46,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)9.5 tonnes2
TSE D4
TS D4
Diesel7,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
VT
VT 6Petrol69,120 cc40 CV100 PS (74 kW)12 tonnes15-speed manual6x2 truck
VT D6Diesel10,590 cc40 CV87 PS (64 kW)
SY-Petrol63,180 cc12 CV53 PS (39 kW)6 tonnes (hauling)4-speed manualTractor unit
TT
TT 4Petrol46,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)10–15 tonnes (hauling)5-speed manual
TT 669,120 cc35 CV100 PS (74 kW)
TT D4Diesel47,060 cc27 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TT D6610,590 cc40 CV87 PS (64 kW)

1933 lineup

The Renault's commercial vehicle range for 1933 has the same maximum gross combined weight ratings of the previous range. Some bus/coach variants got improvements on chassis and suspension.[10][note 3]

ModelChassis codeEnginesPayloadChassis lengthsGearboxesType
FuelC.DisplacementFiscal powerPower
YPYPBPetrol41,463 cc8 CV32 PS (24 kW)750 kg13-speed manualLight van
KZKZB (KZ12)2,120 cc11 CV35 PS (26 kW)
OSOSB1,300 kg4-speed manualLight truck and bus/coach
PRPRB2,000 kg
SXSXB63,180 cc15/18 CV53 PS (39 kW)2
YF
YFAB44,050 cc15 CV65 PS (48 kW)3.5 tonnes
YFDBDiesel4,345 cc12 CV45 PS (33 kW)
TI
TI 4 BPetrol6,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)5.5 tonnes35-speed manualTruck and bus/coach
TI 6 B67,983 cc30 CV105 PS (77 kW)
TI D4 BDiesel47,060 cc19 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TI D6 B610,590 cc28 CV87 PS (64 kW)
UD
UD 4 BPetrol46,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)7.5 tonnes1Truck
UD 6 B67,983 cc30 CV105 PS (77 kW)
UD D4 ABDiesel47,060 cc19 CV57 PS (42 kW)Bus/coach and delivery vehicle
UD D6 B610,590 cc28 CV87 PS (64 kW)Truck
VT
VT 6 ABPetrol67,983 cc30 CV105 PS (77 kW)12 tonnes6x2 truck
VT D6 BDiesel10,590 cc28 CV87 PS (64 kW)
YG
YGABPetrol44,050 cc15 CV65 PS (48 kW)6 tonnes (hauling)Tractor unit
YGDBDiesel 4,345 cc12 CV45 PS (33 kW)
TT
TT 4Petrol6,082 cc23 CV69 PS (51 kW)10–15 tonnes (hauling)
TT 6 A67,983 cc30 CV105 PS (77 kW)
TT D4Diesel47,060 cc19 CV57 PS (42 kW)
TT D6610,590 cc28 CV87 PS (64 kW)

1935 lineup

The Renault's commercial vehicle range for 1935 has about twenty three different chassis configurations, with a gross combined weight rating of up 20 tonnes. The bus/coach bodywork variants can carry between 14 (OS model) and up to 36 passengers (ZP model). Various models' chassis were modified to comply with the French law.[18]

ModelChassis codeEnginesPayloadChassis lengthsGearboxesType
FuelC.DisplacementPower
YNYN1Petrol41,463 cc34 PS (25 kW)450 kg13-speed manualLight van
YPYPE750 kg
KZKZE2,120 cc43 PS (32 kW)
OSOSC1,200 kg4-speed manualLight truck and bus/coach
ZJZJC2,000 kg
ZY
ZYAE4,050 cc77 PS (57 kW)2.5 tonnes2
ZYDEDiesel4,345 cc47 PS (35 kW)Light truck
YF
YFAEPetrol4,050 cc77 PS (57 kW)3.5 tonnesTruck and bus/coach
YFDEDiesel4,345 cc47 PS (35 kW)Truck
ABF
ABFPetrol5,900 cc85 PS (63 kW)4.5–5 tonnesForward control truck
ABFDDiesel8,350 cc
TI
TI 4 AEPetrol5,900 cc5.5 tonnes5-speed manualTruck
TI 4 DEDiesel8,350 cc
UD
UD 6 AEPetrol67,983 cc112 PS (82 kW)7.5 tonnes
UD 6 DEDiesel12,525 cc130 PS (96 kW)
VTVT D6 DD12 tonnes16x2 truck
ZFZF 6 DD15 tonnes
YG
YGADPetrol44,050 cc77 PS (57 kW)6 tonnes (hauling)4-speed manualTractor unit
YGDDDiesel4,345 cc47 PS (35 kW)
ABG
ABGPetrol5,900 cc85 PS (63 kW)8–10 tonnes (hauling)Forward control tractor unit
ABGDDiesel8,350 cc
TTTT D6612,525 cc130 PS (96 kW)15 tonnes (hauling)5-speed manualTractor unit
TI a
TI 6 AEPetrol7,983 cc112 PS (82 kW)22 passenger seatsBus/coach
TI 6 DEDiesel12,525 cc130 PS (96 kW)
ZI-Petrol45,900 cc85 PS (63 kW)99 PS (73 kW)26 passenger seats4-speed manual
ZP-23–28 passenger seats (short)
31–36 passenger seats (long)
2Forward control bus/coach

Notes

  1. The two first models were sold by Renault's passenger vehicle division. Renault also sold the six-wheelers MH and OX and the TN buses for special purposes.
  2. The three first models were sold by Renault's passenger vehicle division.
  3. For the passenger car chassis with commercial version, see Renault Monaquatre.

References

  1. "Utilitaires légers. Les Renault des années trente" [LCVs. 1930s Renaults]. Charge utile (in French). Paris: Histoire et collection (242): 42–45. February 2013. ISSN 1240-2346.
  2. Carroll, John; Davies, Peter James (2007). Complete Book Tractors and Trucks. Hermes House. p. 66. ISBN 1-84309-689-7.
  3. "The new Renault diesel engines". The Commercial Motor. Vol. 50, no. 1291. London. 10 December 1929. p. 75. ISSN 0010-3063.
  4. Faroux, Charles (25 November 1931). "Le Salon des véhicules industriels 1931" [The 1931 commercial vehicles show]. La vie automobile (in French). Vol. 27, no. 982. Paris: Dunod. p. 632–633.
  5. "Advance news of the Paris show". The Commercial Motor. Vol. 54, no. 1392. London. 17 November 1931. p. 52. ISSN 0010-3063.
  6. Liste des types de châssis industriels de 1926 à 1940 (in French), Billancourt: Renault, 1946
  7. La gamme des véhicules industriels Renault (in French), Billancourt: Renault, 1932
  8. "Tendances et progrès de la construction des véhicules industriels en 1932" [Trends and progress for commercial vehicle manufacturing in 1932]. Omnia (in French). No. 139. Paris. December 1931. p. 456. ISSN 2592-477X.
  9. "Les "nouveautés" Renault en matière de véhicules industriels" [Renault's "novelties" for commercial vehicles]. La Pratique automobile vulgarisée (in French). Vol. 28, no. 601. Paris. 15 February 1932. pp. 14, 16. ISSN 2711-5364.
  10. "Les poids lourds Renault" [The Renault's heavy vehicles]. La Pratique automobile vulgarisée (in French). Vol. 28, no. 618. Paris. 1 November 1932. pp. 14–16. ISSN 2711-5364.
  11. "Les poids lourds Renault" [The Renault's heavy vehicles]. La vie automobile (in French). Vol. 29, no. 1026. Paris: Dunod. 25 September 1933. p. 448.
  12. Vauvillier, François; Touraine, Jean-Michel; Jeudy, Jean-Gabriel (1992). L'automobile sous l'uniforme 1939–1940 [The Car in Uniform 1939–1940] (in French). Editions Ch. Massin. pp. 61, 84, 112, 155. ISBN 2-7072-0197-9.
  13. Faroux, Charles (25 September 1934). ""Pour 1935..." Le Salon 1934" ["For 1935..." The 1934 Salon]. La vie automobile (in French). Vol. 30, no. 1050. Paris: Dunod. p. 457.
  14. ""Pour 1936..."" ["For 1936..."]. La vie automobile (in French). Vol. 31, no. 1074. Paris: Dunod. 25 September 1935. p. 451.
  15. "Important commercial interest at the Brussels show". The Commercial Motor. Vol. 60, no. 1550. London: Temple Press. 30 November 1934. pp. 48–49. ISSN 0010-3063.
  16. "Nos véhicules industriels 1935" [Our commercial vehicles for 1935]. Bulletin commercial des Usines Renault (in French). No. 70. Paris: Renault. 30 November 1934.
  17. La gamme des véhicules industriels Renault (in French), Billancourt: Renault, 1931
  18. Gamme des véhicules industriels 1934-1935 (in French), Billancourt: Renault, 1935
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