The Renault Caravelle V1 represents the opening generation of Renault's rear-engined sports car, sharing its platform, suspension, and four-cylinder engine with the contemporary Renault Dauphine. The body was styled by Pietro Frua of Carrozzeria Ghia, giving the car a clean, Italian-influenced shape that stood apart from mainstream Renault production models of the period. The V1 generation was offered in convertible form, making it one of the few open-top sports cars available at its price point in the early 1960s. Its rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout was unconventional for a sports car but kept manufacturing costs down by maximizing parts sharing with the Dauphine underpinnings.
