Renault · 1928–1932
Renault Monastella
The Renault Monastella (Type RY1) was a compact luxury car manufactured between late 1928 and 1933 by Renault. It shared the mechanical elements and bodywork options of the Renault Monasix but was differentiated by superior levels of finish and equipment.
Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Successor: Renault Primastella
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Details and evolutions
The Monastella was a more luxurious version of the Monasix which had itself first appeared at the 1927 Paris Motor Show. The 8CV Monastella was released for 1929 at the October 1928 motor show with a small 6-cylinder engine of 1476 cc. Apart from the superior equipment levels, it was differentiated from the Monasix by a plate that said "carrosserie STELLA": at a time when names for cars rarely went beyond defining their engine size and type, this badge stressed the manufacturer's determination to differentiate the two models. Initially the radiator was positioned behind the engine, reflecting the normal layout for Renault engine compartments during most of the 1920s. However, starting with the massive new Reinastella at the end of 1928, Renault moved the radiator to a more conventional position ahead of the engine, and by time of the next motor show, in October 1929, all Renaults including the Monastella's, lost the old "wind-cutter" grille-free front panel, in favour of a conventional front grille, reflecting the positioning of the radiator to a more "normal" position, just ahead of the engine block. (This also meant an end to the prominent "gills" just ahead of the doors on the sides of the hood/bonnet that had formerly directed air onto the radiator.) In 1931 the new engine is more powerful with 33HP and new grille. In 1933 ceased the production and the car was replaced by the Renault Primastella.
Types
RY1: Produced in 1929 (radiator behind engine). RY2: Produced between 1929 and 1931 RY3: Produced between 1931 and 1932 RY4: Produced between 1932 and 1933
Characteristics
Speed: 90 km/h Power: 26HP (8 CV) initially, 33HP (8CV) later versions Brakes: Cable controlled drum brakes on all four wheels Battery: 6 V
Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.
Specifications
- name
- Renault Monastella
- aka
- Renault Monasix Monastella
- Manufacturer
- Renault
- Production
- 1928–1932
- Assembly
- France: Île Seguin, Boulogne-Billancourt, Paris
- Predecessor
- none
- Successor
- Renault Primastella
- Class
- compact luxury car , executive car
- Layout
- FR layout
- Body style
- 4-door Sedan, 4-door Torpedo, 2-door Convertible, 2-door Coupe
- Engine
- straight-6, 1476 cc, 8CV, 26HP, straight-6, 1476 cc, 8CV, 33HP
- Transmission
- 3-speed manual
- Wheelbase
- 2650 mm
- Length
- 3700 mm
- Width
- 1550 mm
- Height
- 1600 mm
- Kerb weight
- 1350 kg
- Related
- Renault Vivasix, Renault Monasix
- Designer
- Louis Renault
- Top speed
- 90 km/h
Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.
More photos
Sources
- Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1512563CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_MonastellaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1370553690 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1929_Renault_Monastella_front.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: jean-pierre 60 · retrieved 2026-10-01
- Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.