A106

In production between1955 and 1961, the A106 was the first car produced for Dieppe-based Renault dealer Jean Rédélé. Under the skin, the A106 closely resembled the Renault 4CV with the more sporting 43bhp A106 ‘Mille Miles’ being derived from a competition version of the 4CV Renault had developed.

A keen racer, Jean Rédéle had been competing with Renault 4CVs, including an aluminium rebodied 4CV coupe, for a a few years in the 1950s. He was ambitious and wanted to build his own cars and felt a 4CV based car with a lightweight glass-fibre body was the way to go.

In the summer of 1955 at Renault’s Billaincourt plant, Jean Rédélé presented the first three A106s, painted respectively red, white and blue, to Renault CEO Pierre Dreyfus. From 1955, the A106 was an active competitor and accumulated a number of victories and various performance enhancing options were offered such as ‘Mille Miles’ suspension following participation in the Mille Miglia. A rare five speed gear box was also offered. In 1956, an A106 achieved a class victory and podium place in the Mille Miglia.

Although the initial emphasis was on sporting success, in October 1957, the A106 made its first appearance at the Paris Motor Show. The A106 retained the 747cc Renault engine, but three versions were offered providing 21bhp, 30bhp and, on the Mille Miles, 43bhp with performance differences achieved with different carburettors, higher compression ratios and weight reduction.

Throughout its life the A106 utilised the 747cc engine. All cars were left hand drive, and the A106 was never offered for sale in the UK. Just 251 A106 cars were built; none are currently in the UK.

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