Gôelette (schooner/sail barge) is a light truck and van series from Renault. They were actually popular in Norway, too, - in the 60s, among others by the then Televerket and NSB. The model is about to have a renaissance in the wake of the Citroën Type H's enormous popularity. It is questionable whether Renault will ever achieve the same status, but they are fun cars where many seem to have done well in terms of rust and such.
Gôelette versus Citroen
It is obvious to compare with the Citroen Type H. They were competitors, but also very different. Renault had chosen a traditional construction with a frame, rear-wheel drive and rigid axles. This is in contrast to Citroen's self-supporting bodywork with front-wheel drive and independent suspension on all wheels. The differences between the two models are relevant to this day. Frame-built cars are more solid and can withstand more weight, but lose some of the dynamism you otherwise find in passenger cars. Citroen was also praised for its low loading height.
Two sizes
Renault supplied cars in two weight sizes – the smallest with a payload of 1000 kg – the largest with 1400 kg. The smallest was named outfielder (acrobat) while the largest was sold as Gôelette. In retrospect (perhaps also in the present) it has been common to call both Gôelette. In France, the smallest was also known as Renault 1000 kg simply.
Engines
The commercial vehicles mentioned were produced between 1947 and 1965, and several engines have been used - both petrol and diesel. Considering that Gôelette and the older brother Galleon were quite heavy vehicles, it was necessary for Renault to offer diesel engines. But Renault had no engines of its own to offer, but produced under licence, – a 2,3-litre engine from Alfa Romeo, and a 2-litre engine from Peugeot. The petrol engines are taken from the large Renault passenger car models. Over time, horsepower has risen from around 50 to 80 HP.
Camion Le Tonneau Byrrh
About the pictures
The light blue truck is pictured in Montesquieu, Southern France. The orange at a former Ekerberg fair at the Norwegian Renault club's stand. The Norwegian car is rigged as a rolling bar. The lorry at the timber trade is photographed on the road Reynès (Pyrénées-Orientales).
The red barrel car is a rolling campaign car for Byrrh – the manufacturer of the legendary red wine-based aperitif that has been produced in Thuir since the 20s. The car is based on a 1961 model Gôelette. I have studied the dashboard, and can confirm that it is based on a Renault. There are said to be a handful of similar barrel cars made. It can hardly get more French than this!
Renault R2087
After the war, it was decided that the French military should be equipped with vehicles produced in France. Heavy trucks were built by Citroen, while Renault was commissioned to build light trucks. From the 1950s, the Renault R2087 was supplied, based on the Gôelette with 4×4 and 1000 kg payload, 2.2 liter side-vented petrol engines taken from civilian Gôelette series. These cars were well suited to transporting personnel and material into the field.
The picture was taken on the occasion of the Fête d'auto in Palau del Vidre, France 2024.
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Les caves Byrrh in Thuir
