made in the Flins-sur-Seine factory. The sales performance of the car was regarded as disappointing. Some were content to blame the excessive number of teething troubles in the early models, the car's lack of power and, especially during the second half of the decade, the superior attractions of the Citroën offerings: but some commentators also draw attention to a very French political dimension. The manufacturer was nationalised directly after the war and the death in 1944 of Louis Renault took place under circumstances that were and have remained controversial. Many members of the (still relatively small) haute-bourgeoisie class able to afford such a car were simply more comfortable buying from a private manufacturer, especially after the Peugeot 403 was added to the Frégate's competitors. At the end of the decade Charles de Gaulle returned to power as president in 1958, and he was an unapologetically partisan fan of the Citroën DS, as newsreels of the period attest. Only a single long-wheelbase "presidential special" Renault Frégate exists. Epilogue Under an agreement concluded with American Motors Corporation (AMC) on 22 November 1961, Renault began selling the Rambler Classic Six (starting with model year 1962) as the Rambler Renault to replace the Frégate. Starting on 11 April 1962, the Rambler Classics were assembled from CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits at Renault's factory in Haren, Belgium, and these executive cars were marketed by Renault in Algeria, Austria, Benelux and France. Production Renault Frégate production (units): 1952 ... 18,153 1953 ... 25,192 1954 ... 34,258 1955 ... 37,631 1956 ... 24,608 1957 1958 .... 9,772 1959 .... 4,232 1960 .... 1,158 These data do not include the Domaine estate References External links Fregate Cars introduced in 1951 Executive cars Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Sedans Station wagons