Renault 4 - Large image collection of cars that are still rolling.

A very special car

I previously owned a Renault 4. It was four and a half years old when I bought it and had previously been used as a company car for Securitas. After that, ladies' car - and unfortunately ran out of oil. I took the engine out for overhaul but it couldn't be saved. The solution was a newly overhauled replacement engine. Then replaced all wearing parts and had new paint applied. And then I made the mistake many previous Renault 4 owners made, - I sold it. I regret that decision to this day. 32 horses and umbrella gears may not seem so sexy, but there is hardly a more fun car to be found.

Still on French roads

Renault 4s are becoming increasingly rare. These are ideal cars for do-it-yourself mechanics. In many countries, the Renault 4 is a hobby car. In France and other Mediterranean countries, there are still workshops with people who know these cars inside and out. I take pictures of Renault 4s all the time – and I no longer have a complete overview of which pictures have been taken. where. Most have been taken in the south of France, where many are still on the road. Some also here as hobby cars, but surprisingly many are in daily use.

Renault 4 model history

The model went on sale as a 1962 model and was produced in 1992. Only minor changes were made from the original concept - small details that can reveal the model year. The first cars had a small grill. In 1968 it was replaced with a larger grill with chrome. In 1975, the grill became more rectangular and made of matt black plastic. The dashboard was also changed. In 1977, the front indicators were changed from small round to rectangular lamps with indicators and parking lights. In 1980, the model got a new, gray plastic grill and a completely new, more modern dashboard.

Renault 4 GTL in front of an estate agent in Céret.

With Renault 4 on the road

My Renault 4 was a TL R1123 with a Billancourt engine of 845 cc and 32 HP. The gearbox had 4 speeds and was located in front of the engine with a vertical gear lever inside the engine compartment that was operated with a horizontally mounted aluminum rod that extended from the gear lever to an umbrella handle inside the passenger compartment. Hence the name "umbrella gear". It looked primitive, but worked perfectly. The gearshift was quick and precise. A person with large fists could easily steer and shift gears at the same time with one hand. The engine was easy to start and nimble in city driving. 0-50 was faster than any other vehicle I had driven at the time. Above 70, however, it was slower to accelerate. Overtaking had to be planned carefully. In places where I knew there was an opportunity to overtake, I put some distance between myself and the car in front in advance to build up speed. When the road opened up, I could either use my speed to overtake – or brake hard. In winter conditions, the chassis and narrow studded tires provided solid grip. If you wanted fresh air into the cabin, you just had to open the air vent under the windshield with a lever under the dashboard.

Renault 4 in Norway

The Renault 4 is no longer a common sight in Norway. It's not just rust that's to blame, but Renault never achieved the same cult status here at home as on the continent. There you can still buy fully usable cars for between 2,000 and 12,000 euros. If you bring 100,000 kroner and a toolbox, you can buy a good car and drive it home under your own power. The cars in the pictures below are Norwegian-registered. I dare say: Few cars are more fun to drive 🙂

Renault 4 from model year 1968 up to and including 1974.

Renault 4 GTL that has crossed South America lengthwise.

About the pictures (Norwegian cars)

The white car with DA plates was photographed on Hobby Vehicle Day at Hof in Vestfold. The blue, lowered car is photographed at Øvrevoll gallop organized by Asker and Bærum Cars & Coffee. The burgundy-red car has crossed South America lengthwise. The red car with a roof tent was used to drive down Africa. There are several reasons why the Renault 4 is a perfect vehicle for such expeditions.

Renault 4 Sixties

Renault brought 60s nostalgia into a youthful version of the R4

The Sixties was a campaign model of the Renault 4 GTL produced in 1985 in a limited edition. What made the variant special were special colors - both outside and inside. It also got two plexiglass sunroofs. The cars were equipped with the 1.1 liter engine and 4-speed gearbox which was operated via "umbrella gear". According to advertising at the time, Renault was targeting a young audience – perhaps in an attempt to make the Renault 4 cool again. The Renault 4 was easy to drive and offered plenty of space for a reasonable purchase price.

Renault 4 Fourgonnette

Considering how popular the van version was as a utility vehicle, it's strange that there aren't more in circulation - even in France. There, the Renault 5-based "Express" is still in use by craftsmen. The photos of the vans were all taken in France.