To celebrate the 60th anniversary of its four world records at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the Renault Etoile Filante recently returned to Utah alongside a Renault Dauphine, also celebrating its 60th birthday.
In 1956, the Etoile Filante (‘shooting star’ in French) set a new world speed record of 192 mph (308.9 km/h) in a standing kilometer and an average of 192 mph (308.85 km/h) over a 5 km stretch on the salt flats, a record which still stands today.
Allowing the Filante to be so fast was its aerodynamic polyester body built around a tubular steel chassis and powered by a turbine engine developing 270 hp.
Alongside the Filante, the French marque brought along an original Dauphine, a model which first went on sale in America six decades ago. With Formula E driver Nicolas Prost behind the wheel, it reach 76.5 mph (123.1 km/h) to set a new class record for a car produced between 1928 and 1981 with an engine between 754 cc and 1,015 cc.
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