65 Facts about the Renault 4

31 July 2026

Original Renault 4

  1. The 4 was not Renault’s first FWD vehicle as that honour goes to the 1959 Estafette van.
  2. Renault began work on the R4 in 1956, as a 4CV replacement, and a rival to the Citroon 2CV.
  3. The company’s CEO Pierre Dreyfus wanted "a versatile car, suitable for both urban and rural use, meeting everyone's needs—in short, a 'blue jeans' car."
  4. Dreyfus also wanted ‘Project 112’ to cost no more than 350,000 francs.
  5. The company considered two-cylinder and air-cooled engine options.
  6. Project 112 underwent tests in the USA to Sweden, Sardinia and Guinea.
  7. The prototypes evaluated abroad had the code name ‘Marie-Chantal’.
  8. In March 1961, Renault sent a fleet of lorries containing R4s to a heavily guarded location 34 miles outside of Paris for a dealer demonstration.
  9. Renault codenamed this top secret dealer demonstration “Opération Soraya”.
  10. Production of the R4 began on the 3rd of August July 1961.
  11. The press launch took place on the 26th of August 1961.
  12. The R4 made its public debut on the 4th of October 1961 at the Paris Motor Show.
  13. Sales teams were instructed by Renault to inform their “clientele urbaine” of R4’s spaciousness.
  14. They were further urged to tell their “clientele rurale” of the R4’s durability.
  15. Further selling points were the sealed cooling system and the fact that the R4 did not require greasing.
  16. With the rear seat removed, the R4 had room for 50 cubic feet of luggage.
  17. The R4’s wheelbase was three inches shorter on the left to accommodate the torsion bar rear suspension.
  18. The early versions had a three-speed gear box from the Dauphine.
  19. Buyers initially had a choice of three versions. The entry-level R4 had a 747cc engine, no headlining, fresh air vents, painted bumpers ,no rear three-quarter windows, wheel and door trim, or passenger sun visor.
  20. Best (or worse) of all, the basic R4 has a dipstick attached to the fuel filler cap, rather than a petrol gauge.
  21. For those who craved more comfort, the R4L (“Limousine”) had all these luxuries, plus a chrome-plated radiator grille.
  22. The R3 was for motorists who found the basic R4 too exciting, and combined its lack of luxury with a 603 cc engine.
  23. The colour choices for the R3 ranged from ‘Pyramid Gris’, ‘Pyramid Gris’, or the ever-popular ‘Pyramid Gris’.
  24. October 1961 marked the launch of the Fourgonette van with a “giraffon” (giraffe hatch) over the rear door to accommodate ladders.
  25. The “R4” prefix lasted until 1965.
  26. In March 1962 Renault introduced the R4 Super. By the end of the year it gained the Dauphine’s 845cc engine.
  27. R3 production ended in September 1962.
  28. UK sales began in February 1962.
  29. Early demonstrators wore a sign in the windscreen - “ 'Stop that car - This Is The Remarkable Renault 4”.
  30. Renault GB promised the buyer space for “children, prams, wives, groceries, husbands, dogs, bags, baggage and room to spare besides”.
  31. Furthermore, the R4 was “not just a car but a miracle!”.
  32. British motorists could choose from the ‘Base’ or the L with windscreen washers, rear three-quarter windows, and an interior lamp as standard.
  33. The R4L further boasted an “anti-theft lock”, a heater booster fan, and “a wealth of chromium trim”.
  34. The 4L cost £616 13s 1d in 1962, compared with £605 for an Austin Mini Countryman/Morris Mini Traveller.
  35. Autocar of the 30th of March 1962 thought “it is obvious that no artistic stylist spent sleepless nights pondering on this venture”.
  36. Not to mention that “to say that it would sell well in the United Kingdom would perhaps be the remark of a real optimist”.
  37. Motor Sport believed that “for comfort, economy and spaciousness, coupled with freedom from servicing worries, the Renault 4L is remarkable”.
  38. In 1962 Sinpar (Société Industrielle de Production et d'Adaptation Rhodanienne) of Courbevoie devised a 4WD R4 with modified gear ratios and a larger fuel tank that displaced the spare wheel.
  39. The R4 Sinpar’s principal markets were the French army, the post office and the Gendarmerie.
  40. In 1963 Renault upgraded the R4 Super as the R4L with separate front seats and a folding rear bench seat
  41. On the 8th of March of that year, Renault partnered with  Elle magazine for the "She Takes the Wheel" campaign.
  42. Renault arranged for 20 R4s with special paint finishes to be available in 90 cities across France for 48 hours to 4,200 pre-selected young female readers, who were asked to complete a questionnaire.
  43. "She Takes the Wheel" was to enhance the R4’s appeal to urban female drivers.
  44. The result of the campaign was the 4L Super ‘La Parisienne with a distinctive ‘wicker-work’ exterior finish, which debuted in December 1963.
  45. 1963 also saw the first Spanish-built R4s by FASA - Fabricación de Automóviles Sociedad Anónima de Valladolid.
  46. By 1966, Autocar seemed more appreciative of the 4, even if they did grumble that it was “singularly lacking in aesthetic merit”.
  47. On the 1st of February 1966, 4 sales passed the million mark.
  48. 1968-model cars gained a four-speed gearbox and a new grille.
  49. Between 1968 and 1970, Sinpar converted 500 4s into the “Plein Air” beach car.
  50. By 1970, the 4 gained a 12 volt-electrical system.
  51. In September 1974 the 4 featured a black plastic, rather than metal, radiator grille.
  52. In 1975 the 4 had an alternator rather than a dynamo.
  53. Sales passed five million mark” in 1977
  54. The 1978 4GTL had the 6TL’s 1,108cc engine.
  55. On the 15th of May 1981, Renault introduced the limited-edition ‘Jogging’, for the French, Belgian and Dutch markets. It was a 4GTL finished in white with a blue fascia, external stripes and sliding roof.
  56.  Renault made 5,000 of the Jogging.
  57. In 1982 the rear-view mirror was moved from the dashboard top to above the windscreen, when the 4 gained the fascia from the 5.
  58. By 1983 the 4 had front disc brakes.
  59. 4 sales exceeded seven million in 1985.
  60. Over 60% of production was to overseas markets.
  61. Renault built the 4 in 27 countries.
  62. French production ended in 1992.
  63. To mark the end of the 4, Renault built 1,000 of the splendidly named limited-edition ‘Bye-Bye’.
  64. One reason for the 4’s demise was the need for catalytic converters
  65. The last of 8,135,424 4s left Renault’s Slovenian plant in 1994.