The first of the Renault 4CV photos to feature on this page was kindly sent over by Brian in Australia. It features a 1951 Renault 4CV 760 that belonged to his father-in-law, Ron.
Brian goes on to say: "Taken in 1953. The car was painted in Holden colours; dark green on the roof and light green on the bottom. The engine was made to Dauphine specifications. My father-in-law and his friends following WW2 and in the fifties, did a lot of "tinkering" with cars and motor bikes. There were a lot less regulations then. It was an era of Speedway and they were friendly with people like Sir Jack Brabham who was also in speedway at the time and just another competitor. For example, in the era of the Hillman Imps it was not uncommon to cut cars in half, and if the front was damaged then match the rear to an undamaged front and reweld it together! Imagine trying to do that today. Unfortunately with this particular Renault, Ron's father drove it into a fence and instead of trying to fix it, it was cheaper to buy another Renault. They did this and then transferred the engine and all the good bits over to the new car. The "new" Renault 760 was still going when I began going out with Lynne in 1968, although it was being used as a paddock basher by then."
2. The Japanese Hino 4CV of 750cc.
Vic sent this next 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.
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 760cc (this was later revised to 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.
3. A Renault in South Africa.
Printed on Agfa-Brovira paper are the following two photographs. Both feature a Renault 4CV that lived in South Africa and, most probably, was assembled there from a kit sent by the French factory. The first shows a chap sat casually in his 1950s Renault. With the door open, the ease of access offered by the rear-hinged doors is clear to see, as is the convoluted shape of panelwork that forms the door itself. The front wing has a radio aerial on it, so presumably the owner was keen on listening to music, as he drove his compact motor-car.
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The second photo has the car parked close to a Mk2 Ford Consul. One rear hubcap on the 4CV appears to have disappeared.
Production of the 4CV would come to an end in 1961, being replaced by the Renault Dauphine, a model first seen in 1956. The 4CV replaced the Juvaquatre saloon in Renault's post-war line-up, but was sold alongside the van and estate car versions of the older model.
The story of how an un-restored 4CV came to be found in a French barn, posted by a member of this site's forum, may be found here.
Buyers loyal to the Renault marque in the 1950s, but perhaps needing a little more space and va-va-voom, could have been interested in the company's Fregate range, a photo of which can be found on this page.
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Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere.
