Closing date June issue -> April 21
Renault 4CV (1956). Real classic car charm for Mark and Nathanja
A remarkable story about a Renault 4CV first presented at the 1946 Paris Motor Show. It was exactly the car France had been waiting for: compact, yet spacious enough for four adults. Interest was enormous, orders poured in, and delivery times quickly stretched to two years. The Renault 4CV became a vehicle for the masses and the first French car to reach over a million units. Compact, practical, affordable, and popular, with a natural French elegance that still exudes today.
Mark's story
Mark dipped the pen in the ink and tells the story behind this French charm.
My name is Mark Seppenwoolde (31) and I live in the beautiful Twente region. I grew up with Renaults; my father used to drive exclusively this brand. I personally worked at Renault dealerships for about 8,5 years, so I certainly have plenty of knowledge and experience. The decision to do something different came with the rise of electric cars, which I'm definitely not a fan of. These days, I work for a Porsche specialist in the air-cooled department, where we do special projects with Porsches up to around 400 hp.
Own company
In the evenings, I mainly work on Renaults. Besides my regular clientele, enthusiasts from all over the country find me for larger jobs like timing belts and chains, engine overhauls, and clutches. To give my hobby more meaning, I'm on the technical committee of the CAR, the Club d'Anciennes Renaults des Pays-Bas. With this club, we go out four times a year for a tour or a camping weekend. My 4CV comes out of storage for nostalgic enjoyment, but the car is also used for regular trips; after all, it's made to be driven.
Making changes
I bought the Renault 4CV 'restored,' but I've technically adapted it to meet modern traffic requirements. The entire wiring harness was removed and rebuilt, neatly using modern 6-volt relays and fuses. I overhauled the gearbox and replaced all the brake cylinders. Only the engine hasn't been taken apart yet, but otherwise, I've had my hands on everything. You immediately notice this in the handling; it's vastly improved. With extra support arms, I can even keep the car perfectly straight at 90 km/h. Of course, the 4CV, with its 21 hp, 747 cc engine, and three gears, doesn't handle modern traffic easily, so we prefer to avoid highways. However, the next step is planned: a 904 cc engine and a four-speed gearbox from a Renault Dauphine, so she can keep up better.
Eleven city tour
The photos show some special places in Friesland. Mark and his girlfriend Nathanja drove the Eleven Cities Tour in three days, with time for walks in the well-known towns along the way. A nostalgic experience in a nearly seventy-year-old Renault, but with modern technology. The chance meeting with Mark and Nathanja took place in the Boniface city. It was a unique driving experience; you really have to drive one to understand it. The 4CV is small and unassuming, but oh so charming. They should have taken a course in "waving to admirers" beforehand, because for many, it was pure enjoyment along the way and a vivid glimpse into the past.
French craftsmanship
The photos also feature a Renault 4CV Découvrable, Mark's next project. Extremely rare and designed to actually hit the road. This open 4CV was only produced in very small numbers in the early 1950s and was known for its Bordeaux red paint, the color in which this model was offered in 1951. When you see such a car in your mirror, you want to keep looking at it and, in fact, stare after it. An important trip in this 1956 4CV is already planned: the wedding drive to the town hall in May. The car is a beauty, and so is Nathanja; there's no better formula for happiness.
An important contribution
Mark makes a clear contribution to the preservation of mobile heritage. Auto Motor Klassiek does the same with reports and personal stories like this one. Anyone who also has a soft spot for nostalgia knows that a Subscription is actually indispensable; a modest annual contribution should not be an obstacle.
(More photos below.)
The Paris police also drove them back then; their front doors had been replaced by chains. I still have an ancient magazine with a photo of it... unfortunately, I don't know how to copy it here...
A lovely little car! As a poor student in the early 70s, my budget wasn't always generous: 25 guilders... At the Simca dealer in Utrecht, I found the right budget for a traded-in old Renault 4.
From that moment on I drove around like a prince without any problems with this cute little Frenchman!
When a good friend of mine was drafted, I sold it for…25 guilders. That's how he drove back and forth to the barracks throughout his entire service. When another friend also had to enlist, he sold the four-wheeler to this friend. You guessed it: for 25 guilders! After that, this cute little car disappeared from view, but I still look back on it with a big smile!
I consider the 4CV, along with the Dauphine, the most enjoyable French car ever built. What beautiful, controlled, and imaginative lines!
(The 4 in the picture is not mine)
What a cutie,
with a very high cuddle factor!
very nice, cool cart, have fun with it!!
This type of Renault was the first of many I've owned. I acquired it about 55 years ago from a mechanic working at Renault Amax in Amsterdam.
He had fitted the car with disc brakes and a 4-speed gearbox from a Carravelle. A 1093 cc engine from a Gordini. So, a very fast car up to 150 km/h. It's always a special adventure in a long automotive history!
Huib de Graaf