Renault 4CV: A masterpiece of engineering | Vintage

[@tsopuaifa]

That's the kind of car we need today. Small, efficient, beautiful and classy.

[@tsopuaifa]

With a more modern engine I bet you could go 100 km on less than 2 litres. Or maybe electric?

[@infledermaus]

​@@tsopuaifa Oh, but all those heavy batteries. Where would you out them? I don't think the frame would be up to it.

[@tsopuaifa]

@@infledermaus I am not totally convinced about the electric cars but if we decide to make them and make them small we don't need those big batteries. Small light cars go well with smaller batteries. :)

[@andrewgent5887]

It looks like the automotive love child of a VW Beetle and Morris Minor!

[@alexanderkasady6839]

My first full time 'real' job was as a mechanic's assistant in an independently-owned foreign car garage in Nashville, Tenn., in 1962. We worked on Renault's Volkswagens, Porsches, Austins and Austin-Healeys and the like, and we used a 4CV as a shop car- parts chaser, give-the-lady-a-ride-home, go pick up a customer, etc., and Lordy! was that a fun little car to drive. I'd love to own one today, the perfect commuter car, with fuel economy in the 40's. Of course, nobody cared about fuel economy back then, but there were a lot of 4CV's in the U.S., no doubt because they were so charming and cheap. An engine rebuild kit cost $40 and got you 4 new cylinders, pistons, wrist pins, rings and gaskets. They were simple to rebuild. Try that with a modern car!

[@writerconsidered]

Great story. But to make a point gas was a consideration in Europe at the time. They had less and it cost more. So keep in mind where their market was. And thank you for sharing that.

[@infledermaus]

Can one even get a carb rebuild kit for $40 anymore?

[@planetx5269]

I had one and loved it. I hate when Americans think everything small looks like a VW. I have a Morris Minor which looks nothing like a VW and yet people say that about it. I don't have any thing against a VW and once had one but the 4CV and Morris Minor are cuter cars.

[@nlpnt]

Beetle and Morris Minor were direct competitors. 4CV was a size smaller.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

Its the bubble top profile

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Post WW2 Morris Minors were dreadful cars even when the post war Austin A series rngine replaced the ancient Morris sidevalve.

[@chucku00]

The best built 4cv were made by Hino in Japan. It was the base that allowed Hino to develop the Contesa. The 4cv was also used by Jean Rédélé to create the Alpine A106.

[@stephenspence1192]

The 1948 Morris Minor is similiar in shape to this car which was launced two years prior.

[@bobstuart2638]

A masterpiece of engineering should have a description of the suspension, etc.

[@DWREV]

Fair point

[@78Dipar]

I took my first driving lessons in a Renault 4CV in summer 1960 ! I already knew why, how and when changing gears, the instructor was surprised and told me : "I don't need to teach you gear changing !"...

[@Ken_E_Winnit]

When I was growing up, we lived next door the the first UK Renault dealership in the UK - Welhams of Surbiton, and my dad had one of these in the early 50s. He liked it at the time, but wanted something a bit sportier, so he didn't keep it for long. This video brought back some happy memories for me.

[@DWREV]

What did your Dad upgrade to?

[@williamsecor7745]

We had one of thee back in the 60's . We had it for many years, In the end we kids had to push it downhill to start it.

[@steveperry1344]

it's a nice looking little car. my neighbors had a renault dauphine, but i don't remember where the engine was.

[@Slithey7433]

Dauphine was also rear engined.

[@Thorscauldron]

Mom had one. I was too young to recall the details like year etc. I believe it was an original beige resprayed green similar to this one. It was picked up during a 2 year stint in Brussels. Brought over to the UK in the mid-60s. Then scrapped within a couple of years. Because back then you couldn't get parts in the UK. And there was no internet ordering.

[@gerritvisser]

Not mentioned was the fuel filler in the engine compartment, a shock to many gas station attendants. Also some had an electric clutch. My dad had 2 of these in the 1960's

[@cesarbeltrami6691]

It's sucessor was the Renault Dauphine with the same engine 33hp 850 cc and 3 gear trasmition

[@angelsone-five7912]

I had never really noticed these before but I rather like it.

[@jimkeith50]

I recall it as a cute car with adequate interior space, but I don't know how they raced them. They would not hold up to our hwy. speeds. My Dad replaced it after about 3 valve jobs in a little over a year. I just loved to drive it, and really liked the suicide doors in the front. They made it easy to hunt jackrabbits in west Tx.

[@2Truth2you]

Did you eat the jackrabbits or was it sport like fox hunting in the UK?

[@kennyscott1089]

A very pleasant looking little car for sure. I could see myself with one for sure

[@moyadapne968]

On 15 December 1945, Porsche found himself invited to provide Renault with advice concerning their forthcoming Renault 4CV.

[@murraywearne304]

My first caf was a rd 750 cc .drive to the snow country and dai.y to work , when I moved to new zealand my dad sent it over by boat xo I could visit relatives.isold itand came home to aust to de married first car wS a vw beetle.as familygrew needed more room, the brought a r16 ts .which also pulled our caravan to the coast for holidays. Now as iam retired my r16ts which I have owned for 52 years.ismy 2nd car and in very good condition except for paintwork.but unregisted .iam pleasedto have owned a classy vehicle whi h proved to be every thing they boasted as arally car.design was unique....

[@natasastanojevic]

Cute little car.

[@hokehinson5987]

Enjoy observing how different countries arrive a solution using different engineering. American seems to be a blend of English German & French input...and why not since it's a nation of immigrants. Nowadays Asian design influence can be seen everywhere in the automotive industry. The quirky French stuff whether in vehicles or military is just very unique & represents many times a mouse trap built better...thinking outa of the box. VIVA LA FRANCE 🇫🇷

[@recoveringnewyorker2243]

I suppose it looks like a Volkswagen bug from the rear. But from the front, it looks like someone shrank a De Soto. Speaking as a retired auto mechanic (Asian cars). It’s a nice design for the time period. Very practical.

[@stephengraham1153]

Looks like a cross between a Morris Minor and a VW Beetle.

[@robertspeicher5047]

I remember the DOUPHIN. RESEMBLED THE CHEVY CORSAIR.

[@prof.heinous191]

anybody else thinks this baby looks like the marriage between a Morris Minor and a VW Beetle?

[@DarrenWalley]

It is beautiful. 😁

[@pedrourbano501]

The 4CV was sold in my country, Brazil, and due to the fact that it was probably the first car with a rear mounted engine around here, it was considered so unusual that our nickname for it was "Rabo Quente" or "Hot Ass" in translation. In fact it's even said that the 4CV saved the VW Beetle from receiving this name in Brazil due to it arriving earlier than it.

[@gtm_1131]

Isn't it a good idea to use subtitles isntead of the annoying voice over when translating? The Dutch and Scandinavians have been using it for years and it gives a much more natural expierence.

[@alxkohn]

I used to play in a 4cv in Ingrandes when we lived in France.

[@adilek82]

My great-grandmother had Renault 4CV in year 1968 in Cracow Krakusa 8/12

[@fhjcfjjvf8557]

Un petit bijou cette amour

[@TurboPonies]

Cute little car. I did not know Renault had this. Citroen 2 CV is definitely more known and has no class to match this one. Merci

[@colinsavidge9121]

Its registered in Wolfsberg, is this part of the autostat museum?

[@benino1]

4 cheauvaux ❤

[@paulirish972]

Looks like a Morris Minor from the front.

[@pooddescrewch8718]

Reminds me of The Morris Minor

[@DWREV]

Yup, definitely has some Morris Minor vibes going for it!

[@rmurphy3435]

I bought one from a high school classmate in 1968 for $25.00. It ran great but everything else was broken.

[@nlpnt]

A non-VW with a WOB license plate? Surely that's a ten-point spot.

[@thomasrodrigues8218]

It looks like the Morris Minor

[@mescko]

I wonder if there's a supercharger small enough for it.

[@anthonyeverett1391]

When the Morris Minor came out in 1948 which of the two was a better vehicle and engine?

[@jeremystevenson9503]

The ‘48 Morris Minor had a tiny side valve four which barely enabled it to get out of its own way. The later OHV versions were a huge improvement.

[@pr7049]

Better than Beetle but limited in success by poor marketing. 🤔

[@alecjefferson6993]

It does look like a VW AND A MORRIS 1000

[@reshadshadoobuccus9876]

It looks similar to Morris Minor car....I don't know which of the two countries has first designed this body model ,France or England ?

[@chucku00]

This styling originates from older models like the 30's Renault Juvaquatre and Opel Kadett, it also comes from bigger General Motors models from the early 40's, like the Chevrolet Special De Luxe series. The Peugeot 203 is also inspired by this styling. Both of these cars were designed during WWII.

[@J2onton]

The Father and Mother, could have been the VW Beetle and the Morris Minor. Judging by the looks! Not sure how the data synchronises.

[@henryquenin6580]

They used these as taxis in Mexico City and in Vietnam.

[@MBJanus]

In Tunisia too. I remember the police's cars painted in black and white, too.

[@2Truth2you]

@@MBJanus I bet bank robbers loved them in getaways.

[@andrewwmacfadyen6958]

Oldman Porsche was forced to work for Renault for a short period after WW2

[@zaedlo]

It looks like they took some Fiat 500 and some Morris 1000 and a little VW Beetle in the design, cute little car though.

[@DWREV]

We'd love to have one! :-)

[@a.leemorrisjr.9255]

Renault's answer to the Beetle?😊

[@andynixon2820]

I love that cars beautiful wheels .

[@Braboried]

Ferdinand Porsche influence ?

[@fredericvolatil8910]

I point out to you that the French share the paternity of the creation of the first automobile. Do not forget that Renault manufactured vehicles and tanks while the Porsche company did not exist (automobiles Renault frêres 1891 - Porsche 1931) The French manufacturers were much more numerous than the Germans until the beginning of the Second World War and produced five times more vehicles than the Germans. The French never needed the Germans to design prototypes or to revolutionize engineering.

[@carsten4594]

"450 vehicles per day" REALLY?😮

[@canturgan]

The Beetle was basically a rip off of an Adler but the Adler was more powerful. The Renault was ripped off by Morris.

[@DWREV]

Well, to be fair to Béla Barényi, he was credited with creating the design for the "People's Car" back in 1925, which is long before the Adler 2.5 made its Berlin debut. And is also before Ferdinand Porsche was contracted to come up with his own design for a "Volkswagen". And the Minor was originally conceived in 1941, while development on the 4CV only began in 1942.

[@CaptainKrimson]

Don’t forget the Tatra

[@sprezzatura8755]

I bet it would fly with a Hayabusa motor installed.

[@WhiskeyGulf71]

That’s a Morris Minor at the front & a VW beetle at the back ! Typical French ! Playing both sides at once 😂

[@pooddescrewch8718]

Not exactly zippy , but I bet its funny to drive

[@backupintheday9710]

Beetle Inspired Obviously.

[@mikecawood]

That was really tough of Renault to be charged with collaborating with the Nazis, you either collaborated or got sent to a concentration camp to die.

[@salemramdhane4928]

👍😘👏👌

[@Demun1649]

Renault IS NOT PRONOUNCED "REN-OH" Type the word Renault into a translator, and press the speaker, listen hard, and then use the pronunciation correctly.

[@Xxxxxx.5303]

🤗👍🎈

[@adriensimon2556]

Still funny to think Renault was put il jail for working with Germany. But tis bah Guy Ferdinand Porsche got nothing

[@adamknopp6631]

It is loser in looks to the British Morris minor than the vw Beetle.

[@chrisgermo1956]

.........the resale value of these have dropped since there is no longer a need for "Clown Cars" at the circus........

[@catherinevannier3829]

You lost your job?

[@valeinikofff]

yeah... with growing population of clowns...

[@hokehinson5987]

Wonder why the current American administration doesn't use them as motorcade vehicles if these are clown cars???

[@2Truth2you]

🤣 You should be able to pick one up for a nickel and a dime then. You could drive it down the road and become a local celeb.