This is article number 5 in a series about the French car industry and French cars - seen through Norwegian eyes in France.
When, a few weeks ago, Renault Norge ran an advertising campaign on Facebook for its new Captur, there were many angry comments from slightly older readers. Not about the Renault Captur, but French cars in general. It didn't help that today's owners praised their cars to the skies.
Captur is a typical result of the modern car industry across national borders. The typically French is gone – for better or for worse. The Renault Captur is unlikely to be singled out as an example of French car-building art.
The fact that modern French cars lack a French character is unlikely to dampen new car sales. The distinctive French character is a thing of the past, which contributes to giving older, French cars an ever-increasing cult status. In France, there is great interest in typical French cars - not least among young people. Air-cooled Citroëns and small Renaults have long had cult status. Now it seems that more and more French cars are being embraced by local car enthusiasts.
Renault 12
I came across a Renault 12 during my last visit to the South of France. They were hugely popular in Norway, not least the station wagon. You couldn't get more car for the money at the time. I never perceived the Renault 12 as distinctly French. In many ways it can be compared to today's Captur.
The Renault 12 was surprisingly conventionally constructed compared to other Renaults. It had a rigid rear axle – not independent suspension like other Renaults. The ingenious, space-saving torsion springs had been replaced with ordinary coil springs. The model lacked much of what was associated with French car design. Nevertheless - or in spite of this - the owners were very satisfied with their cars - certainly at least as satisfied as today's Captur owners.
The Renault 12 did not have a particularly long shelf life, especially on salted roads, - a fate it shared with most other commercial vehicles of the time.
Speaking of short shelf life…
I also came across a Fiat Regata. No, it was not produced in France, but at Fiat's Mirafiori factory in Italy. Nevertheless, it suits our small town with Catalan architecture very well. The navy sedan is owned by a young man with an interest in Latin cars. Several young people in the city where I live take care of such cars. The warm, dry climate means that the cars do not rust. Then even cars like the Fiat Regata can have an eternal life if you don't drive them to wrecks.
It's no secret that Regata had a very short shelf life. Firstly, they were badly screwed together and secondly, the rust was relentless. Other than that, I think it was quite nice to drive the Fiat Regata a few times in the 80s. I liked the soundscape, which was mainly conveyed through the exhaust system. Typical Italian. Then you can see between the fingers that the interior plastic panels occasionally loosened while driving on bad roads.
Air cooled is cool
Another French robber is the small Citroën LN and its sister model the Peugeot 104. These are built on the same platform as the Citroën Visa. I find it difficult to imagine that these cars are actually classics, - or future classics. They look way too modern. These are the forerunners of today's subcompact cars, which really took off when the Ford Fiesta was introduced a few years later. The French were first.
The 2CV wave
In the "French classics" series, you cannot miss the 2CVs. In the past it was quite common to see abandoned 2CVs. Today it seems that everyone who can be saved has been cleaned up and hit the road. Some look like new, others have a patina over them. I can't think of anything more French than a "clattering" 2CV through narrow city streets. Although the 2CV wave has sent prices up, you can get a usable car for between NOK 50-80.
If you're not too picky about coolness, the Dyane is a good alternative to the 2CV. It follows the same concept, but has a little more space, a little more comfort - and is perhaps less quirky than the 2CV, so to speak. The management at Citroën had intended that the Dyane would be the successor to the 2CV. The paradox is that the production of the 2CV survived both Dyane and Visa. The 2CVs rolled off the production lines long after Dyane and Visa were history. Unlike the 2CV, there are still many abandoned Dyanes out in the countryside. The red Dyane in the pictures was standing outside a workshop that brings old cars to life. I'm guessing someone has plans for it. In the same place is also an Acadiane – the van version of Dyane. Dyanes are rarely seen on the road, but Acadianes are still kept alive – as practical utility vehicles.
Beach cars
The Dyane/Acadiane shares a platform and drivetrain with the Citroën Méhari, the popular open beach car made from soft plastic. It must be easy to get parts for these cars. In terms of coolness, Méhari is probably one of the coolest to drive to the beach with - at least here in France. The model may be a bit reminiscent of the Mini Moke, which is also now produced as an electric car.
In the small harbor town of Port-Vendres, I came across something as rare as an ACL Rodeo. It is Renault's answer to the Citroën Méhari. Renault used the Renault 4 as a platform for its "beach car".
Citroën HY
Finally, I bring one of the coolest French cars at the moment, the Citroën HY or H-type van. The prices of these cars have skyrocketed. Many say that the HY follows the trend we have seen with Volkswagen's Type 2 – T1 and T2 – the so-called hippie bus, samba, van or pickup. The pictured HY is in normal operation. I don't know if it had an errand in the carpentry business (pictured) or in the greengrocer next door. I'm guessing the latter. What could taste better than sun-ripened tomatoes from the South of France transported in the back of a Citroën HY?
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