If you pay attention to it, the Renault 4 is a classic that you still encounter quite regularly. Not surprising when you consider that it was in production for over 30 years. This example is a good example of how its appearance can mislead you when you have to estimate how old the 4’s is.
The Renault 4 we have here in front of us, spotted by Techzle reader Arjan van den Berg, rolled off the production line in 1991. Of course 30 years is already a respectable age for a car, but many unsuspecting passers-by probably had it older anyway. estimated. There is even a good chance that this is one of the ‘latest’ R4s in the Netherlands. Although the archaic Renault was built until 1994, official sales here in the Netherlands already stopped after 1986. Earlier we encountered a copy from one of the last batches officially delivered here.
The reason this one is there can be guessed: it is an imported 4. One that apparently has been well spoiled in its life up to now, or at least not treated too rudely, because it looks neat. The car was probably brought to the Netherlands in 2017 for that reason, although it may of course also be the case that it has undergone a restoration here after the import. It is a GTL and the experts immediately know that this 4 has the ‘biggest’ engine in its nose. A 1,108 cc four-cylinder that is good for 34 hp. A cc-hp ratio that the dogs no longer enjoy eating bread from, but a block with which the R4 is a brave go-getter!
We will probably be able to bump into this R4 for many years to come and it may even survive its spiritual modern successor. Then of course we are talking about the new all-electric Renault 4 that seems to be coming. You can read more about this in this week’s magazine (Techzle 22)!