Buying a 37-year-old car has little to do with practicality, but has everything to do with sentiment. Henk knows better than anyone that it is primarily a tool with a clear function: transport from A to B. The lifespan was limited.
By: Dirk de Jong
Henk speaks from experience, because his first Renault 4 (still the simplest version with three gears) could only last 7 years. After that it was an old car, used, rusted and… scrapped.
Succumbed to Renault 4
Can you imagine how Henk feels now that he has purchased a Renault 4 again as a hobby car? He just wants to keep history alive, relive his 'trip of live' with his trips, his guitar and adventures, all three inseparable in the hippie era. It makes him young again. If you daydream about what you would like to see happen, you will see that sometimes it is even quite easily possible. That was the case after the purchase of the Renault 4.
Attention seeker
Now that the beauty has been polished, partly sprayed and tectylated, the adventures in his 'row box' can begin again. Still in the familiar shape, but now as a GTL with protective strips on the sides, a different and more beautiful interior and of course with the well-known comfort that gives so much driving pleasure. He is agile and cuddly, a fantastic complete car, and Henk makes no apologies for his enthusiasm. And no, he is not going to give a statement about the engine power, the fuel consumption. It is a 'kick' for him when he sees his hobby car in its shiny appearance.
key fun
Henk is a modest enthusiast and the feeling is linked to his Renault 4. He also finds that well-being in the weekly meetings with his R4 friends when tinkering has to be done. Although he is more concerned with the fun and friendships. (They call themselves the FAB 4.)
What makes a car a classic?
That is clear to Henk, it is a reminder of his automotive past. He is a proud driver, the evenings with friends give 'experience atmosphere'. That he is not alone in his 'love affair' became apparent one day when he was standing in front of the railway in Leeuwarden and his door was pulled open by a man who asked if he could join him for a ride. That didn't seem like a good idea to Henk at the time, but he was quickly given a business card. It later turned out to be a real estate agent who was briefly overcome by emotions at the sight of the Renault 4, in the same version, the same color and the memory of his mother who also drove in the French 'family look'. You only experience that with a classic.
Appreciation
The appreciation of the property is now great, the honking and waving and the approving thumbs along the way are now the daily routine for Henk. His imagination remains active and that can lead to inspiration, because he considers putting the beautiful shiny Renault in his women's fashion store Senza. Then it also remains beautiful when it is stationary. Imaginative people have a good imagination, can you also empathize with this Renault 4 story?
Also read:
- Renault 4. Drive with a smile
- Renault 4 GTL. Driving a mature evergreen.
- Renault 4. Memories of the year-old French evergreen
- Renault 8 Gordini. Spicy and groundbreaking
- R4 Parisian. Elle prend le volant
In 1970 I had an R4, a car where you could repair everything, the gas pump was defective and you could buy all parts of a gas pump at the Renault dealer.
And so was able to repair the pump for little.
Can't anymore these days.
Nice car
so recognizable and such a shame that we couldn't import our R4 into Spain. We would have loved to drive it around in Spain, because here we also received such nice reactions every day. the Guardia Civil even drove around with it. now our R4 is stored in the Netherlands with the hope of an amendment to the law that Europe will make one day and then we can hobble around in that great little car again. we went on an adventure with the r4 last year to move to spain, we are doing that now, but the r4 wont come in without welding the roof and removing the tow bar and fog light. the last 2 can still be done, but our roof is really not closed. we hope for better smooth times. the R4 is now suspended for the time being. either it will be sold 😪or we hope to see it frolic through the Spanish countryside later on.😋
This is quite a gem, Henk. Don't want to sell it?
I myself have had 2, from 69 and from 72. Nothing has ever broken, only in the middle of Drenthe the V-belt snapped, My friend handed in her tights, and I knotted them around the pulleys. Arrived home safely.
What a gem!
A car that lives up to the statement 'Less is more'.
Super car, I drive it daily for 12 years, from 1983.
Has done about 300.000 km!
Jan.
Still a great car! Very innovative at the time. Fifth door, folding rear seat, was certainly not common then, mid-engine (engine is behind the front axle), first car with a closed cooling system. Great handling, high on the legs good for bad roads and unpaved.
Very nice car this blue!
j'ai eu 4 ou 5 R4, dont une des premières (3 vitesses, 6 volts, ….) transformée en boite 4 et 12 V (!)
venant de la 2CV Citroën quels progress!!!!!
uh bien. Qu'est-ce que vous roulez actuellement? Toujours 4L?
What a beautiful car, that beautiful blue R4! Certainly with a current purchase of such a sweetheart a lot of sentiment is involved, but perhaps also a practical angle. As a classic enthusiast you can do almost everything yourself. Also not unimportant. With such a car you make a statement! And that's great, in this age where every second word about greening calls out "Tesla", while the much smaller footprint an R4 left in the environment from its manufacture is kept silent, isn't it? 😉
Yes, I can relate to this story.
My aunt and uncle had one from 1968, a green one and later a red one from 1972. Paperclip grille. Always used, about three years old.
Still a desirable car.
Unfortunately I already own too many nice cars. Oo. An Citroën Ami 6 saloon. Really ugly car. Because of the missing fifth door, a Renault 12 break extra. The first type. Originally sold in the Netherlands, just like that beautiful blue 4 from the above story!
Passion and sentiment complement each other seamlessly.