An R4 is a real automobile

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Purchasing classics there

Modern cars are very good, but there is a lot that can go wrong. AMK reader André François (Renault Juva) therefore figured out what the essence of a car is: It is a self-driving roof on wheels.

From a Twingo to an R4

So when the Twingo For Local Use ran up against a few strong APK points, it was time for family consultation. And then the very first car of André's Beloved came up: A R4. And it has become an R4. Because an R4 is - unlike an 2CV, which is just a means of transport - a Real Car. This is also proven by another AMK reader and fellow villager: Hans and his Lief drove with their R4 - inland - to Northern Italy. “Goes fine. But you must not be in a hurry. "

Cheaper than an 2CV

At a time when a neat 2CV simply costs a bourgeois container with money, such an R4 - no longer as cheap as it used to be - is still priced at a much better price. Also because the range is wide. After all, such 8.000.000 R4s have been produced. A hard carriage is actually the only criterion when purchasing. From experience it is furthermore known that cars that are not yet on NL license plate and that were considered to be completely traffic safe in their mother country still need quite a bit of work here before they are integrated in NL license plate after fresh MOT.

Well done from Renault

With the R4 was Citroën faced with the law of the inhibiting lead. Because Renault had studied the 2CV and decided to make it a better version. While maintaining the greatest possible simplicity, make it more 'automobile'. The torsion bar suspension that gave the R4 an 4 cm shorter wheelbase on one side ensured a spring comfort that almost matched that of the 2CV.

Few changes over the years

There were hardly any changes to the bodywork: the bonnet was slightly changed on versions with the 1108 cc engine, and the top door hinges were moved from outside to inside in 1982, while the tailgate hinges were also reduced. The initially spindly bumpers found their final shape from 1967. The sash windows were a thing. Of course they were rather dated from the start. Something that also gave them their charm.

Every advantage hep ...

But they still had a disadvantage that sometimes was an advantage. "Stip Schreurs", the platoon adjutant during my service, noticed that. The door of his R4 had fallen into the lock with the engine running. The whole staff-staff platoon stood by and looked at it. And Stip Schreurs was more than agitated.

100% Hagenees Karel de Bouter, proud son of a prostitute at rest, had already built up a certain reputation before he had to stand up for his number by opening other people's cars for his own account. He looked somewhat disapprovingly at his platoon adjutant and spoke mildly: “Sukkel. I'll show you how you do that ”.

A blow with the flat hand

He spit in his hand and slammed hard with the flat hand along the sliding window into the door. The blow was hard enough to let the blocked window slide open. After another slide like that, the window was far enough open to put an arm through it and open the door.

With inimitable The Hague self-evident, Karel opened the door, removed the ignition key, closed the window again, and locked the door. Then he gave the bunch of keys to the conscript. "Now you will be fine again".

And in the meantime, since Lichting 76 / 5, R4s are still running in France. Daily. And they often still have to work for a living.

But of course 2 resumes also remain fun


They are with the example

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8 comments

  1. The first Renault 4 that my father served as a company car, had a tube bumper in the front and rear and there was also no ignition lock in it, so just a rotary knob, which was the starter, there was a door lock and few better seats as in a 2CV.

  2. The R8 and R10 were just super cars, I've had them both.
    With the R10 I rode up and down every week to Buc and Pont Chartrain in France, from Den Bosch.
    With 130, 140 km per hour on the highway.

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