Renault Floride

Renault Floride: which version to buy and why

The Renault Floride was built as 1 generation from 1958 to 1968 as a Cabrio, with 2 catalogued versions: 0.9 MT and 1.0 MT. Both are Gasoline, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal, Manual 4, RWD. The buying choice is not between generations or body types; it is between 845 cm³ / 37 hp and 956 cm³ / 40 hp. 0.9 MT is the smaller, higher specific-output engine.

The Renault Floride was built as 1 generation from 1958 to 1968 as a Cabrio, with 2 catalogued versions: 0.9 MT and 1.0 MT. Both are Gasoline, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, No boost, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal, Manual 4, RWD. The buying choice is not between generations or body types; it is between 845 cm³ / 37 hp and 956 cm³ / 40 hp. 0.9 MT is the smaller, higher specific-output engine. 1.0 MT is the larger engine by 111 cm³ and 3 hp. Acceleration to 100 km/h, top speed, fuel use, kerb weight, gross weight, ground clearance, tank volume and wheel sizes are not measured on either version, so those cannot decide the purchase.

Generations: what changed (and what did not)

There is only 1 generation (1958–1968, Cabrio, 2 versions). No later generation reworked the drivetrain, and no restyling is listed as a separate generation. Both 0.9 MT and 1.0 MT are dated 1958-01-01 to 1968-12-31. A buyer cannot pick a “later Floride” with a different gearbox, drive layout or cylinder count: Manual 4 and RWD are the same on both lines, and the engine remains Inline 4, Gasoline, Carburetor, Front, longitudinal, No boost.

That identity of layout is the first buying filter. If the requirement is a Cabrio with RWD and a 4-speed Manual, both versions qualify. If the requirement is more power, only 1.0 MT at 40 hp / 30 kW qualifies as the stronger of the two. If the requirement is the smaller displacement, only 0.9 MT at 845 cm³ qualifies.

Engines and specs: side-by-side numbers

Torque (Nm) is not measured on both, so a “torquier” claim cannot be made. Valve gear is 2 per cylinder on both. Engine position is Front, longitudinal on both. Induction is Carburetor on both.

Power per litre (from the given hp and displacement):

• 0.9 MT: 37 hp ÷ 0.845 L = 43.8 hp/L
• 1.0 MT: 40 hp ÷ 0.956 L = 41.8 hp/L

The smaller 0.9 MT makes 2.0 hp/L more from each litre. The larger 1.0 MT still makes 3 hp more in absolute terms (40 versus 37, +8.1%) and 2 kW more (30 versus 28, +7.1%). Displacement is +13.1% (111 cm³ on 845). Extra capacity therefore does not scale 1:1 into extra power: +13.1% volume buys +8.1% horsepower.

Power share of the pair: 37 of 77 combined listed hp sits in 0.9 MT (48.1%); 40 of 77 sits in 1.0 MT (51.9%). The gap is 3 hp, not a different engine family in the catalog fields we have.

Performance and economy (mpg, 0–100, top speed)

For 0.9 MT: 0–100 km/h not measured; top speed not measured; city fuel not measured; highway fuel not measured; combined fuel not measured; CO2 not measured; eco class not measured.

For 1.0 MT: 0–100 km/h not measured; top speed not measured; city fuel not measured; highway fuel not measured; combined fuel not measured; CO2 not measured; eco class not measured.

Because both rows are empty on the same fields, economy and sprint times cannot break the tie. A search for Floride mpg or 0–100 will not find a measured figure in this catalog. Weight per horsepower also cannot be computed: kerb mass is not measured on 0.9 MT and not measured on 1.0 MT.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

For 0.9 MT: kerb weight not measured; gross weight not measured; ground clearance not measured; tank not measured; wheels not measured. Front suspension is Independent, spring. Rear suspension is not measured. Front brakes are Drum. Rear brakes are not measured.

For 1.0 MT: kerb weight not measured; gross weight not measured; ground clearance not measured; tank not measured; wheels not measured. Front suspension is Independent, spring. Rear suspension is not measured. Front brakes are Drum. Rear brakes are not measured.

There is no dimensional reason to prefer one version: the measured chassis fields that exist are identical, and the mass, tank and tyre fields that would change loading or range are not measured.

Reliability and problems: what the data does and does not show

The catalog does not list failure rates, recalls or owner-problem frequencies. What it does show is a single mechanical pattern on both versions: Gasoline Carburetor, No boost, Inline 4, 2 valves per cylinder, Manual 4, RWD, Drum at the front, Independent, spring at the front. Neither version adds a second fuel system, a different cylinder count or a different drive layout that would create a separate reliability class in these fields.

Production window is the same (1958–1968) for 0.9 MT and 1.0 MT, so “buy the later generation for reliability” does not apply: there is 1 generation.

Which version to choose

Choose 0.9 MT if the priority is the smaller Gasoline engine: 845 cm³, 37 hp (28 kW), Inline 4, No boost, Carburetor, Manual 4, RWD. Specific output is the higher of the two at 43.8 hp/L. You give up 3 hp and 2 kW versus 1.0 MT. You do not give up a different gearbox, drive or body: those match.

Choose 1.0 MT if the priority is the higher listed output: 956 cm³, 40 hp (30 kW), same Inline 4, No boost, Carburetor, Manual 4, RWD. You gain 111 cm³ and 3 hp. Specific output is the lower of the two at 41.8 hp/L, so the extra displacement is only partly converted into extra horsepower.

Do not choose between generations: there is 1 generation, Cabrio only, 2 versions, both spanning 1958–1968.

Do not choose on 0–100, mpg, weight, tank, clearance or wheels: those values are not measured on 0.9 MT and not measured on 1.0 MT. Torque is also not measured on both, so a torque-based pick is not supported.

Arithmetic summary of what the larger engine buys: 1.0 MT versus 0.9 MT is +111 cm³ (+13.1%), +3 hp (+8.1%), +2 kW (+7.1%), −2.0 hp/L specific output (41.8 versus 43.8). Gearbox stays Manual 4. Drive stays RWD. Fuel stays Gasoline. Boost stays No. Cylinders stay 4 Inline. Front brakes stay Drum. Front suspension stays Independent, spring.

There is no catalog price, so “what the extra money buys” cannot be stated in currency. In specification terms, the only extra the data records for 1.0 MT over 0.9 MT is the larger displacement and the 3 hp / 2 kW step. Everything else that is measured is the same; everything else that would usually decide a buy (mass, speed, consumption, tank) is not measured.