1961 Renault Caravelle / Convertible / Roadster / 28k Original miles / Barn find

Though engineered and built in France, he Renault Caravelle can lay claim to some American roots. Pierre Dreyfus, he company’s chief executive, as heading to the U.S. in the spring of 1957 to promote the new Dauphine, nd accepted an invitation to visit Florida, ssued by Governor LeRoy Collins at the urging of the state’s largest Renault dealer, endell Jarrard. Jarrard encouraged Dreyfus to consider building a convertible version of the rear-engine sedan, o which Dreyfus replied, hy not?
Ghia Design’s Pietro Frua was given responsibility for designing the al fresco Dauphine, nd he had carte blanche to create an elegant new design, ust so long as it used the Dauphine’s underbody and mechanical parts, o keep costs down. Dreyfus announced that the new car would be named for his U.S. hosts’ home state: the Floride. But when it was shown at the New York Auto Show in January 1959, t had been decided to market the car in the U.S. as the Caravelle, hich back then would have evoked the elegant French twin-engine jet airliner. Renault called it “the young car for all ages.”
The Caravelle was offered as a convertible, ith an available removable steel roof, nd as a coupe. It featured a small bench seat in the rear, hich could be folded down to create more space for cargo. Tucking the spare tire underneath the trunk, s with the Dauphine, ade it unnecessary to empty the trunk to fix a flat, nd kept the dirty tire and wheel away from the luggage. With its stylish lines, he Floride/Caravelle was a commercial success, acking up 2652 sales over its 1959-1962 production run. At the car’s introduction, roduction was farmed out to Chausson and Brissonneau & Lotz, s demand for the Dauphine kept Renault’s own Flins plant running at capacity.
This 1961 Renault Caravelle was purchased and driven by a Lady in Texas very sparingly up to 1973. Than it somehow made its way into dry storage in Texas and was not found till 2013. Than it was stored again for 3 years and finally brought back to life. Whats incredible is the Paint looks Original and looks to be a rust free car. This is a True Survivor with what appears to be 28,657 miles on the engine.
What was done to freshen her up :

• New Brakes
• New Tires
• New water pump
• Complete tune up---- Plugs / Wires / Belts / Hoses
• Carburetor rebuild
• Gas tank cleaned / New Lines installed
• Electronic Fuel Pump installed for reliability
• New Battery
• All fluids changed
• 
  
• Convertible top can use a freshening
• Front Bumper is Driver quality
• Seats look good / 1 stitch needs to be repaired
• Paint is a 10 footer / Looks good

Lets be on the same page this is not a Show Car. This Renault Caravelle is a True Survivor that is meant to gather a crowd at the Car Show. It will win Many Awards for its Originality and Rarity. DMV says there are only 42--- 1961 Renault Convertibles Registered on the Road making this extremely Rare. If you Search the Web you will not find another one for sale anywhere except overseas.
Hagerty Appraised Value on car :

• Low Value-----$13,950.00
• Average V-----$21,450.00
• High Value-----$32,450.00

When You look at this Car it looks like a Amphicar at first. Which was told to me by at least 5 people. This Renault will not be listed for long for at my asking price someone will buy it knowing the rarity of the car. Any questions / email me or call me/text me 815-768-5335