Background
PLEASE NOTE THAT AN AUCTION PREMIUM WILL BE CHARGED, ON TOP OF THE HAMMER PRICE, OF 5% (+VAT IN UK ONLY). FROM 16TH JAN'23 THIS APPLIES TO ALL AUCTIONS ON THE MARKET, AND FEES ARE MIN €720 / MAX €7,200.
At the end of the 1940s, Citroën brought the famous Type H van into production. Revolutionary in its design, thanks to its modernity, a self-supporting body and front wheel drive, it was a considerable commercial success. Funnily enough, in 1944 the Pons plan proposed by the government (not to say imposed) asked Renault, Peugeot and Chenard & Walcker to build light vans, while Citroën was ordered to build light trucks. They decided not to follow these instructions.
At the end of the 1950s, Renault marketed the direct competitor of the Type H for the first time: the Estafette. The specifications required economies of scale and included the use of Renault parts, so the Estafette was initially offered with the Dauphine engine (albeit rear-engined). Later in production, the Billancourt engine was replaced by the Cléon-Fonte, first in 1108cc and then in 1289cc.
The Estafette was offered in 4 body styles: the classic van body, the high van body, the covered pickup and the microcar (9-seater minivan). After more than 500,000 units were sold, in 1980 Renault replaced the Estafette with the Renault Trafic.
