A selection of Renault 4z

[Mr_Bo11ox]

hey, i was bored at work today so here is a selection of renault 4's for you to admire. All stolen from http://www.blenheimgang.com of course.

 

 

This car will doubtless be the popular star of this year's Retromobile,

which opens its doors Wednesday 2nd February, and which will host the

50th birthday party of the R4. As a preamble to seeing them in the

flesh, here are the gems from Renaults' historic collection, many of

which will be on display at the Porte de Versailles.

 

 

Renault 3 1961

A point of contention among enthusiasts, but the Renault 3 did indeed

exist - just. Exhibited in Oct 1961 at the Paris salon, it was to be the

R4's little sister, more stripped-down (!) and more economical, rated at

3CV (as indicated by the name). 2526 examples would be built before it

disappeared from the price list in 1962 and was never heard of again.

 

Renault 4 East African Safari - 1962

What better way to promote the R4's robustness than to put it through

the toughest rally in the world? In the hands of Bernard Consten and

Claude le Guezec, the R4 managed a fairly invisible 5th in class in the

1962 Safari. Not too bad.

 

 

Renault 4 Super rallye Monte-Carlo - 1963

With its more powerful 845cc engine, the R4 Super was the natural choice

for attacking the Monte Carlo rally in 1962 and 63. If the R4 failed to

set the motorsport world on fire, its pilots did at least appreciate the

comfort of its proper seats which replaced the old bench seat of earlier

models. For proof, just ask Jean Ragnotti or 'Manu' Guigou who are

driving R4's in the 2011 Historic Monte Carlo rally.

 

 

Renault 4 ELLE - 1965

Neat wordplay, the 'quatrelles' (four females, sounds the same as

[Renault] 4L in French) were four young ladies who took the wheel of

this R4L and drove it right up through the American continent, from

Ushuaia to Anchorage in 4 1/2 months, or 40,000 kilometres - a lot of

fours..... The Andes, the Amazon, the salt lakes of Utah, the little R4

dealt with it all. The car is today preserved in a similarly used

condition to the DC-4 cargo planes which carry freight between Bogota

and Miami.

 

 

Renault Projet 118 - 1965

Here is ghia's response to Renaults request for a 'proper' saloon car on

the R4's platform. If its 'surprised robot' face thankfully went out the

window, several of its details (tucked-in flanks, integral bumpers, rear

wheel arches) evoke heavily the future R5. Project 118 ultimately came

to nothing thanks to an alternative proposal from Renault themselves,

which in time became the R6.

 

 

Renault 4 "Faune du Soleil de Minuit" - 1966

Even in the 60's the R4 was the car of choice for young explorers

embarking on long, nature-hunting voyages. The operation 'Dotation des

routes du monde' led by Renault and the 'French exploration and travel

society' proposed until 1984 the chance for teams of youngsters between

18 and 25 years old to use a R4 for their mission, after having had a

committee examine and approve their travel idea. The cars were lent for

between 1 and 12 months, and the young explorers were trained in car

repairs, film-making and photography. This particular car was headed a

long way Northwards.

 

 

Renault 4 Parisienne - 1967

See here for a fuller description of this pseudo-luxury R4 derivative.

http://www.blenheimgang.com/50-ans-de-l ... arisienne/

 

 

Renault 4 Export - 1968

Perhaps the neatest design of R4, and not yet weighed down with plastic

tat, in 1968: The R4 Export received a serious facelift, immediately

recognisable by its large metallic grille with integral headlights. Also

included in the programme: New seats and a 4-speed all-synchro gearbox.

 

 

Renault 4 Plein Air - 1969

Built by Sinpar, the open air had a 'torpedo' body shape which you just

don't get nowadays! Doors, roof - all fell victim to the disc-cutter.

And if it ever rained at the beach, a token fabric 'roof' gave some

protection, but not much. Produced in tiny numbers until 1970, the last

few unsold examples wound up in Sri Lanka.

 

 

Renault 4 F4 "Renault Service" - 1970

The R4 van versions would see a long career spanning two decades, which

saw them invading towns and countrysides right across france. This early

model proudly shows off its 'renault Service' colours which have not

always been yellow and grey....

 

 

Renault 4 Cross - 1981

Much like the 2CV, the R4 would have a busy second life as a

mud-wrestler. From 1974, Renault launched an official Renault/Elf French

Cup Championship in partnership with the magazine 'Champion'. For just

200FF, if you were so inclined, you could join in with a strictly

unmodified (save for a 'Devil' exhaust) R4, and try to win 10,000FF and

a new R5. A challenge to Renault there - what about a new series of this

in 2011 with Twingos?

 

 

Renault 4 Savane - 1991

Final editions, the Clan and the Savane don't owe their names to any

particular feature, but rather to fashion which deemed their old titles

of TL and GTL a bit 'oldskool'. They were no less appealing for this

however.

 

 

Renault 4 Fourgonette "La Poste" - 1988

If the R4 vans were so popular with administrations, artisans, farmers

and small businesses, it wasn't just for their simplicity of use, but

also for a detail exclusive to them; the 'Girafon' (giraffe door), the

little hatch above the rear door, which allowed very long items to be

carried. This feature re-appeared, less successfully, on the kangoo

Be-bop.

 

Theres a few others on there, no comments though on those.

[pogweasel]

Wow, what an incredible selection.

 

Can I also suggest the the excellently-titled giraffe roof also featured on the super-cinq-based Extra Van.

[cort16]

I was watching Le Salvager on SKy Tat Plus Extra 41 the other night and he built a chaise longue out of a Renault 4. I shit you not.

[scooters]

brilliant - I lurve renner 4s

[dollywobbler]

Super. Happy burfday Renner 'cats!' Love the Parisienne...

[Split_Pin]

Nice one - I enjoyed that!

[outlaw118]

I've gone blind.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

hey, this lot now available english directly on the BG website!!

 

http://www.blenheimgang.com/50-ans-de-l ... ollection/

[Mr Lobster]

OMG I CAN HAZ NEW TROUSERZ NOW PLEEZ.

 

 

[barrett]

hey, this lot now available english directly on the BG website!!

 

http://www.blenheimgang.com/50-ans-de-l ... ollection/

 

I hope you're getting paid for that