UK’s rarest cars: 1959 Renault Frégate, probably the only one left

The Frégate debuted at the 1950 Paris motor show as Renault's first post-war large saloon
The Frégate debuted at the 1950 Paris motor show as Renault's first post-war large saloon

Ryan Gardner’s Renault is one of the most unusual cars to have featured in this series. In its homeland, the Frégate is an exceedingly rare sight, while the UK historic vehicle database howmanyleft.co.uk – which is compiled from DVLA and DfT records – does not even list it. This 1959 example could well be the sole existing UK-market car with the semi-automatic Transfluide transmission.

The Frégate debuted at the 1950 Paris motor show as Renault’s first post-war large saloon. The launch was rushed, since the Korean War and France’s commitments in Indochina could have led to the government requisitioning the Renault factory to produce armaments. The company hoped a positive initial reaction to the Frégate would make the government abandon its plans.

In 1951 Renault issued a small number of Frégates to customers to evaluate before its launch in November of that year. Many government departments would use the Frégate as official transport, while dealers could highlight its comfort, space, all-independent suspension and excellent brakes. There was also a jaunty promotional song, with the lyrics: “Like a boat gliding on the waters, I drive my Renault Frégate.”

Inside, the Frégate feels comfortable and spacious
Inside, the Frégate feels comfortable and spacious

Unfortunately, owners complained of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine’s oil consumption and body vibration. In 1953 Renault recalled all models to replace components. By 1955 the Frégate gained a 2,141cc engine, but that year saw two formidable new rivals; the superbly crafted Peugeot 403 (as driven by a certain Lieutenant Columbo of the LAPD) and the sublime Citroën DS. The optional Transfluide transmission in 1957 did not increase sales and 18 April 1960 marked the production of the last of 180,463 Frégates. By contrast, DS production reached 188,665 in only five years.

Across the Channel, the Frégate briefly became headline news in 1955 as it was the transport of Group Captain Peter Townsend, Princess Margaret’s then-fiancé.  Motor Sport sagely commiserate with him “on being criticised by busybodies because he drives a Renault Frégate instead of a British car, when surely he has enough already with which to contend”.

Notoriety aside, sales were limited, for all Renault GB’s boasts of “85mph with ease”. Autocar compared the Frégate with an express train, but The Motor complained about “refinement of running below British standards”.

Royal touch: The classic briefly made headlines as it was the transport of Princess Margaret's then-fiancé
Royal touch: The classic briefly made headlines as it was the transport of Princess Margaret’s then-fiancé

Cost was another issue, as import duties inflated the price of a 1959 Frégate with Transfluide to £1,399 7s 6d, when a six-cylinder Wolseley 6/99 Automatic was £1,325 14s 2d, and a Ford Zodiac Mk2 only £957 7s 6d.

By the 1970s the Frégate was already becoming rare in France, due in part to its penchant for rapid corrosion. Gardner first encountered the model at a car show in Portsmouth 28 years ago and was so impressed that he vowed to own one. In 2019 he was passing the time while in hospital by reading classic car advertisements and saw a listing for this example. He immediately decided to buy it: “This was the car I had waited for all those years.”

The white Frégate had covered only 31,000 miles from new and there is a possibility it might have starred at the 1959 London Motor Show. It didn’t come with any paperwork, but Gardner’s research leads him to believe Renault GB used his Frégate for touring its dealerships. At one point, it appeared to reside at the firm’s distribution centre in Southampton.

Gardner drove it in the 2023 Renault Rally and he greatly enjoys its idiosyncrasies. He says: “The steering column gear lever is easy to operate and I soon became used to pulling away in ‘M’ and then going to ‘VR’ or Drive. The engine is pretty flexible and pulls very well – the Frégate certainly keeps up with modern traffic – while you can hear the clutch’s electric motor when stationary.”

The Frégate boasts softly sprung seating and a dashboard studded with ivory-coloured switches
The Frégate boasts softly sprung seating and a dashboard studded with ivory-coloured switches

And Gardner’s Renault is a car of vast amounts of charm, from the softly sprung seating to the dashboard studded with ivory-coloured switches. This distinctive car is also guaranteed to cause many double-takes on the mean streets of Worthing. Gardner reflects that the only person to recognise his Frégate was a Belgian tourist at a car show; the standard reaction is “What is it?”.

Best of all, when driving the Frégate along the A27 with the sliding roof open, it is easy to imagine oneself as Jean Gabin or Lino Ventura in a black-and-white French crime film. Preferably while smoking a Gitane as the Renault sails past mundane Simca Arondes and Peugeot 203s.

Thanks to: Ryan Gardner, Paul Cunningham and the Renault Classic Car Club