Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
December 23, 2025
1959 Renault Dauphine Joins DFW Museum, Celebrating Automotive History
TLDR
- The 1959 Renault Dauphine's display at DFW Car & Toy Museum showcases a vehicle that gave Renault a competitive edge in the American market before iconic rivals like the Beetle.
- The 1959 Renault Dauphine features a rear-mounted 845cc inline-four engine with a Solex carburetor producing 27 horsepower, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle.
- The Renault Dauphine provided affordable mobility and freedom to postwar families on both sides of the Atlantic, representing a quiet revolution in accessible transportation.
- A 1959 Renault Dauphine with only 21,000 miles now displays its authentic vintage patina at the DFW Car & Toy Museum, inviting visitors to revisit automotive history.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights a often-overlooked chapter in automotive history where European compact cars began reshaping American roads. The Renault Dauphine's success in 1959 demonstrated a growing consumer appetite for fuel-efficient, stylish imports, setting the stage for the global auto market we know today. For car enthusiasts and historians, its preservation offers insight into post-war innovation and cultural exchange. For the public, it enriches local cultural institutions, providing accessible education on design and engineering evolution. In an era of electric vehicles and autonomous driving, remembering these pioneering compacts reminds us how affordability and simplicity once revolutionized personal transportation.
Summary
The DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, has added a significant piece of automotive history to its collection: a 1959 Renault Dauphine. This classic black compact car, now part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection, represents a pivotal moment in the globalization of the auto industry. With its rear-mounted 845cc engine producing 27 horsepower and a four-speed manual transmission, the Dauphine was France's ambitious entry into the American market, selling over 100,000 units in the U.S. in 1959 alone. Museum founder Ron Sturgeon highlights its role as "Renault's passport to the American dream," crediting it with paving the way for European imports like the Volkswagen Beetle and Mini long before they became household names.
This particular Dauphine, preserved with just 21,000 miles on its odometer, offers a tangible connection to post-war mobility. Its well-worn interior, featuring a two-spoke steering wheel and vintage Jaeger instrumentation, tells a story of international travel and affordable innovation. The car's acquisition underscores the museum's mission to celebrate automotive heritage, inviting visitors to explore an era when style and simplicity drove automotive design. The museum itself, a 150,000-square-foot facility in North Fort Worth, provides free admission and parking, along with climate-controlled storage and event spaces, making it a destination for car enthusiasts and families alike.
For more details on this historic vehicle and the museum's offerings, enthusiasts can visit the 1959 Renault Dauphine listing or explore the broader collection at the DFW Elite Toy Museum website, which remains a key resource for toy and car lovers worldwide. The museum's new location at 2550 McMillan Parkway continues to build on Sturgeon's 30-year passion for automotive preservation, offering a dog-friendly environment open Tuesday through Saturday.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, 1959 Renault Dauphine Joins DFW Museum, Celebrating Automotive History
