Renault

The Renault 4 was introduced in July 1961, at a moment when France was emerging from decades of economic stagnation into a period of growing prosperity and rapidly increasing car ownership. Conceived in the mid-1950s under Renault chairman Pierre Dreyfus, the project was intended to replace the rear-engined 4CV and to compete directly with the Citroën 2CV as a true “everyman’s car,” capable of meeting the needs of a broad range of users. Like the 2CV, the Renault 4 was designed as a versatile utility vehicle, particularly suited to rural areas and poor roads, with front-wheel drive, long-travel independent suspension, rack-and-pinion steering and a simple, spacious body offering ample room for passengers and cargo. Removable “deckchair” seats underlined its practical character. At the same time, Renault modernised the concept with a water-cooled four-cylinder engine and a sealed cooling system, providing better refinement and performance than its Citroën rival. Launched alongside the stripped-down Renault 3, which shared the same body but used a smaller 603 cc engine, the Renault 4 featured a more powerful 747 cc unit and quickly proved the more popular choice. Demand for the bare-bones R3 was weak, and it was discontinued in October 1962, leaving the Renault 4 to establish itself as one of the most successful and influential small cars of its era.

1961

1962

1965

1966

From 1967, the Renault 4 received its first clearly recognisable visual update with the introduction of a new front grille, replacing the earlier, simpler design and giving the car a more contemporary appearance. While the overall body shape remained unchanged, this period saw a steady stream of detail revisions aimed at keeping the R4 competitive in a rapidly modernising market. The 747 cc engine remained the backbone of the range, while higher-specification versions increasingly adopted the 845 cc engine, derived from the Renault Dauphine, offering smoother running and improved flexibility. Carburation and compression ratios were revised to improve reliability, fuel economy and emissions compliance, particularly for export markets. 

1967

1968

1969