[3] The R8 (model R1130) was released in June 1962[2] and was based on the Renault Dauphine, with which it shared its basic architecture and its 2,270 mm (89.4 in) wheelbase.

The 8 was sold in the United States with an unusual marketing approach that acknowledged that the previous Dauphine had many shortcomings for American owners, and that the 8 was an improvement.

For 1963 (initially only in France), Renault offered an automatic transmission of unique design, developed and produced by Jaeger.

The system used a dash-mounted push button control panel where the driver could select forward or reverse and a governor that sensed vehicle speed and throttle position.

On cold days, with no source of heat in the trunk area, the relays would freeze and required the "Open, Push, Whack, and Jump".

Essentially, the driver had to open the trunk, push the Drive button on the dashboard, whack the relay box, and jump back into the moving vehicle.

Benefits included comparable fuel economy to the manual transmission version, and easy adaptability to the car.

A still more powerful version, the 8 model R1134 Gordini, was also released that year, with a tuned engine of the same capacity but developing 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp).

A four-speed close ratio manual transmission, dual rear shock absorbers and uprated springs were fitted.

In 1967, the R8 Gordini (model R1135) received a facelift including two additional headlights (in effect Cibie Oscar driving lights), and its engine upgraded to a 1255 cc unit rated at 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp).

The car was delivered with black "RENAULT 8S" tapes, intended for the rear wings but their fixing was left to the customer.

During the years 1963–69 when the R8 model was sold, they won seven overall 1st Saloon car to finish trophies in the annual Kyalami International 9-hour Endurance Races (3 x 4th overall, 1 x 5th overall, 3 x 9th overall).

[16] Between the years 1963 and 1969, South African motor sport sponsorship by Renault (Africa) Ltd and private driver enthusiasm resulted in class and endurance race and rally domination (including frequent wins) by the R8 and Gordini R8, which enhanced market penetration and popularity of the vehicles[17] Renault R8 and Gordini also won the 1968 and 1970 South African Saloon Car Championship.