RE: Renault 4 GTL: Spotted
Discussion
I learned to drive in ours, then 10 years later, a mate had a van one that I drove a few times, great fun, really handy with the back of the roof flipping up for planks etc.
My uncle had 2 "Africa versión" delivered to him in Tanzania in the 70s, they had tougher suspension, plastic fuel tanks (we sent him several replacements as most African petrol was "cut" with water then.
A Colombian friend from Envigado, one of many other places around the world with factories assembling R4s, had a R9 engine in his and a custom fold out barbecue kit mounted on the back.
Tempted to get one now before they go silly, you can still find odd vans cheap if you look.
My uncle had 2 "Africa versión" delivered to him in Tanzania in the 70s, they had tougher suspension, plastic fuel tanks (we sent him several replacements as most African petrol was "cut" with water then.
A Colombian friend from Envigado, one of many other places around the world with factories assembling R4s, had a R9 engine in his and a custom fold out barbecue kit mounted on the back.
Tempted to get one now before they go silly, you can still find odd vans cheap if you look.
Edited by 998420 on Monday 16th April 21:15
I learned to drive in ours, then 10 years later, a mate had a van one that I drove a few times, great fun, really handy with the back of the roof flipping up for planks etc.
My uncle had 2 "Africa versión" delivered to him in Tanzania in the 70s, they had tougher suspension, plastic fuel tanks (we sent him several replacements as most African petrol was "cut" with water then.
A Colombian friend from Envigado, one of many other places around the world with factories assembling R4s, had a R9 engine in his and a custom fold out barbecue kit mounted on the back.
Tempted to get one now before they go silly, you can still find odd vans cheap if you look.
My uncle had 2 "Africa versión" delivered to him in Tanzania in the 70s, they had tougher suspension, plastic fuel tanks (we sent him several replacements as most African petrol was "cut" with water then.
A Colombian friend from Envigado, one of many other places around the world with factories assembling R4s, had a R9 engine in his and a custom fold out barbecue kit mounted on the back.
Tempted to get one now before they go silly, you can still find odd vans cheap if you look.
Edited by 998420 on Monday 16th April 21:28
I live in Madrid and take frequent trips down into Andalucia where there are tons of these on the roads down there, mainly in the mountain villages around the Sierra Nevada. All rust free and faded paint - usually driven by toothless "catetos" (hillbillies) who don't quite realise how cool there mode of transport is.
Part of me thinks 'ooh I want one of these' in the same way I fancy a R5 (used to drive an early 0.9l one of those a friend leant me, complete with similar dashboard gear lever), but part of me also remembers being driven from Wolverhampton (where I was a student) to Birmingham in one of these where all of us were wrapped up warm as I seem to remember the heater was no good - might just have been in that one though.
Always felt these had more 'cool' factor than the 2CV.
Always felt these had more 'cool' factor than the 2CV.
dapprman said:
Part of me thinks 'ooh I want one of these' in the same way I fancy a R5 (used to drive an early 0.9l one of those a friend leant me, complete with similar dashboard gear lever)
Are you sure? The R5 mk1 and mk2 had the gearstick on the floor? The R4 and R6 had the dashboard gear.
I believe these were still produced upto the mid 90s for the African market at a factory in Nigeria.
There are thousands of them in madagascar along with the rest of the french manufacturers output from that period. I saw every renault from the 3 (same as the 4 but without the c pillar windows) to a 21. Citroen dyanes, pug 204 pickups and 504 coupes, the lot. One of the restaurants in Tana even has a mint pug 202 parked up outside.
There are thousands of them in madagascar along with the rest of the french manufacturers output from that period. I saw every renault from the 3 (same as the 4 but without the c pillar windows) to a 21. Citroen dyanes, pug 204 pickups and 504 coupes, the lot. One of the restaurants in Tana even has a mint pug 202 parked up outside.
There was a bit of a sub-culture of these in the 1970s. My wife and I had one each. Fabulous cars and we still ooh and aah whenever we see one.
Some time ago I hankered after one again and there were plenty around at reasonable prices, mostly falling apart with rust. However, an internet based enthusiast and expert reckoned they are very hard work to restore, there being a lack of parts, like important chassis sections etc.
Though they fulfil much the same function as the 2CV, they are totally different to drive. Bizarrely, I love both - anyone who sneers at them simply doesn't get it.
Some time ago I hankered after one again and there were plenty around at reasonable prices, mostly falling apart with rust. However, an internet based enthusiast and expert reckoned they are very hard work to restore, there being a lack of parts, like important chassis sections etc.
Though they fulfil much the same function as the 2CV, they are totally different to drive. Bizarrely, I love both - anyone who sneers at them simply doesn't get it.
dapprman said:
Vaud said:
Are you sure? The R5 mk1 and mk2 had the gearstick on the floor? The R4 and R6 had the dashboard gear.
Yes, it was an early MK1 - think the engine was a 0.8l not a 0.9.M4cruiser said:
dapprman said:
Vaud said:
Are you sure? The R5 mk1 and mk2 had the gearstick on the floor? The R4 and R6 had the dashboard gear.
Yes, it was an early MK1 - think the engine was a 0.8l not a 0.9.
I tinkered a bit with these in the 80s when they were dirt cheap in Germany and even students got into Mk1 Golfs.
An F6 van with the bigger disc brakes coupled with an R6 head, carb, manifold and header pipe
was quickly revving up to valve float, this was fun.
I only had to bend the shifter linkage slightly to clear the bigger carb.
Another R4 was rusted beyond repair in the floorpan area, 45min later the roof was chopped off,
I only then realized the lower part of the "bootlid" had to be fixed with Gaffa as the hinges were no longer there.
I had good fun with for a few weeks that until the "cop on the beat" saw it parked and took the plates right off.
Like all french stuff with wheels :
great to drive, nightmare to fix due to over-complicated ways of mounting even the simplest parts.
An F6 van with the bigger disc brakes coupled with an R6 head, carb, manifold and header pipe
was quickly revving up to valve float, this was fun.
I only had to bend the shifter linkage slightly to clear the bigger carb.
Another R4 was rusted beyond repair in the floorpan area, 45min later the roof was chopped off,
I only then realized the lower part of the "bootlid" had to be fixed with Gaffa as the hinges were no longer there.
I had good fun with for a few weeks that until the "cop on the beat" saw it parked and took the plates right off.
Like all french stuff with wheels :
great to drive, nightmare to fix due to over-complicated ways of mounting even the simplest parts.
probably chalk said:
Anyone who's a car enthusiast, as opposed to a speed or handling enthusiast, has to want one of these. .
What a load of rubbish.
I'm (just) old enough to remember when you might have seen one of these on the road. They were s
te then, and the passage of time hasn't somehow magically improved them.I am a bona fide car enthusiast and have no desire to own one whatsoever.
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