Hino (Renault) 4CV of 750cc.
Vic sent this old photo in, it was taken by an acquaintance of his who was a British motoring journalist, based in Japan. He drove the Renault-designed car and the Vauxhall 14 as his family transport while working over there. The 4CV is RHD, whereas the Vauxhall, despite the interesting assortment of motor club badges (some British), is LHD. The paintwork on the 4CV looks decidedly weathered, and it's interesting to note that it too sports a pair of British badges, one for the AA, the other for the Company of Veteran Motorists', now known as GEM Motoring Assist. The Vauxhall also has both these badges.
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The Renault-designed, Hino-built 4CV for the Japanese market.
The Renault 4CV was built by it's French parent from 1946, right through until 1961, selling over 1,000,000 examples during this time. The design was created, on the quiet, during WW2, with the model being launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1946. It featured a rear-mounted four cylinder petrol engine of 750cc. The car in Vic's photo is unusual in that it is the Japanese-built version of Renault's 4CV, produced by Hino Motors Limited between 1953 and 1961 and badged as the Hino 4CV. Compnents were crated up at the French factory, and shipped over to Hino's plant. The panels were then dipped in a de-greasing tank. The bodyshells were gas welded, then coated underneath before passing to the spray shop and subsequent assembly. Some interesting photos of the Hino production line can be found on this (translated-ish) Japanese site.
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Production of the 4CV would come to an end in 1961, being replaced by the Renault Dauphine, a model first seen in 1956.
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Return to Old Car Photos Page No. 9.
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