---
title: "Something’s Horribly Awry in This Classic Renault Ad"
description: "It might be the saddest little picture in the world."
date: "2015-12-07"
modified: "2015-12-07"
authors:
  - name: "Ben Keeshin"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/ben-keeshin"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/vintage/1149/somethings-horribly-awry-in-this-classic-renault-ad"
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "History"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "renault"
  - "vintage"
---

# Something’s Horribly Awry in This Classic Renault Ad

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/120715_nonseq_renaultdauphine_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Americans haven’t been able to buy a new French car since Peugeot discontinued U.S. sale of the 405 sedan. For nearly a quarter-century, Yankee motorists have been cut off from some of the world’s most stylish and bizarre autos. The Citroën C6, a luxury car with the profile of a carp? *Jamais*. The Renault Clio V6 RS, a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive hatchback? *Non*. While much of the world wafts around in Gallic luxury (or frugality), America toddles around in proverbial Freedom Fries.

But back in 1958, we had the full complement: Renault, Peugeot, Citroën. A small family looking to impress with a hip, Continental vibe could purchase a Renault Dauphine, a rear-engined Beetle competitor, complete with a swing axle for extra *terreur* on the road. In this period advertisement, an all-American blondie mom and two blondie kids use a Dauphine as a platform from which to welcome home, presumably, *papa*. Sadly for the family, the plane seems to be descending at an, er, alarming angle—*mon dieu*. Either the illustrator had never seen a plane land, or this is a picture of a sad day for one particular francophillic family.

## Author
Ben Keeshin is a former staff writer for Maxim, and before that, contributed writing to the digital sides of Road & Track and Vanity Fair.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/BnKshn>)