Renault 750
| Industry | Automotive |
|---|---|
| Founded | February 25, 1899 in France |
Key people | Pierre Lefaucheux (director during 4CV development) |
| Products | Automobiles |
| Website | www |
The Renault 4CV (, ) is a small-sized automobile with a rear-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive, manufactured by the French company Renault from August 1947 until July 1961. It holds the distinction of being the first French vehicle to surpass one million units sold and was later replaced by the Renault Dauphine.
Built with a monocoque body and measuring , the 4CV is notable for its unique front suicide doors. Its name derives from its chevaux-vapeur (tax horsepower) classification, where "4CV" corresponds to its fiscal horsepower bracket.
Conception and development
During the German occupation of France in World War II, Renault engineers secretly initiated the design of the 4CV while the company was limited to producing commercial and military vehicles. From 1941 to 1944, under the guidance of technical director Wilhelm von Urach (previously affiliated with Daimler Benz), a team headed by Fernand Picard and Charles-Edmond Serre worked on creating a compact, fuel-efficient car intended for the post-war period’s economic constraints. This project diverged from Louis Renault’s emphasis on updating mid-range models such as the Juvaquatre and Primaquatre. Despite German-appointed management oversight, the initiative—known internally as "106E"—advanced with discreet consent from Louis Renault. Officially, it was considered low priority and was presented as an offshoot of Juvaquatre engine development, with von Urach supervising the efforts.
Volkswagen influence
In November 1945, the French authorities invited Ferdinand Porsche to France to discuss transferring the Volkswagen project as part of war reparations. By December, Porsche was requested to provide consultancy on the nearly production-ready Renault 4CV. At this time, Renault had been nationalized and was led by Pierre Lefaucheux, a former resistance fighter and survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who firmly denied any Volkswagen influence on the 4CV's design and opposed government interference. Although Porsche met with Lefaucheux nine times in quick succession, Lefaucheux insisted that Porsche’s advice would not alter the car’s design. Porsche anticipated mass production would commence within a year.
Shortly after these consultations, Porsche was detained on charges related to forced labor at Volkswagen factories during the war. Both he and his son Ferry were offered release in exchange for a ransom; unable to pay fully, Ferry returned to Germany while Ferdinand Porsche remained imprisoned without trial in Dijon for twenty months.
The initial 4CV prototype—a two-door version—was finished in 1942, followed by two additional prototypes developed over the next three years. After becoming Renault’s director in early 1945, Lefaucheux personally tested this prototype at Louis Renault’s estate in Herqueville.
Ready for release
Reportedly in 1940, Louis Renault instructed his engineers to "build a car like the Germans’." Up until 1945, the 4CV featured a faux grille made up of six slender horizontal chrome bars designed to conceal its structural resemblance to the German Volkswagen while simultaneously reflecting the modern front-engine styling trends popular in Detroit during the early 1940s.
A significant contributor to the success of the 4CV was Pierre Bézier’s innovative manufacturing techniques. Beginning his career as a tool setter at Renault, Bézier quickly rose through ranks to become head of tool design and later production engineering director in 1949. He pioneered transfer lines, which are advanced tools used for machining engine blocks efficiently. During his imprisonment in World War II, Bézier enhanced the automatic machine principle, initially introduced by General Motors, by designing transfer stations equipped with multiple workstations and electromagnetic heads that automated sequential processing steps on components.
Launch and market reception
The 4CV made its first public appearance at the 1946 Paris Motor Show and became available for purchase in 1947. Production on a large scale commenced at the Billancourt factory shortly before the exhibition, though initial availability was limited. Renault’s promotional campaigns highlighted the sophisticated machinery and manufacturing techniques employed to create their first mass-produced vehicle since World War II, stressing that the 4CV had moved beyond the prototype phase into full production.
Originally dubbed "La motte de beurre" (the lump of butter) because of its rounded shape and sand-yellow paint derived from surplus Afrika Korps military vehicles, it later gained the affectionate nickname "quatre pattes" (four paws). The model was equipped with a rear-mounted 760 cc four-cylinder engine coupled with a three-speed manual gearbox. In 1950, this engine was updated to a 747 cc Billancourt unit delivering 17 PS.
Despite facing economic difficulties in its early years, the 4CV achieved sales of 37,000 units by mid-1949, becoming France’s top-selling automobile. In West Germany during 1950, it accounted for 1,760 units sold—representing 23% of all imported vehicles—and ranked second only to the Fiat 500. The model remained in production for over ten years. As fuel octane ratings improved, power output rose to 21 hp through enhanced compression ratios. Thanks to its lightweight construction of approximately 620 kg, the car could accelerate from zero to 90 km/h in 38 seconds and reach a maximum speed just under 100 km/h. Its flexible engine allowed drivers to use second and top gears across speeds ranging from 5 to 100 km/h; however, first gear lacked synchromesh and was primarily intended for starting from a standstill.
Handling
The rear-engine layout contributed to highly responsive and light steering; early versions required only about 2¼ turns from one lock to the other. Although this direct steering characteristic appealed to some drivers, road tests warned of potential oversteer on slippery surfaces. Later models increased steering lock-to-lock turns to approximately 4½ to enhance handling stability.
Broadening the range downmarket
In early 1953, Renault launched a more basic version known as the Renault 4CV Service, which omitted premium features such as wide tires and chrome accents while simplifying seats and steering wheels. Offered exclusively in grey and priced below 400,000 Francs, this variant targeted a more budget-conscious customer segment. Nevertheless, with the imminent release of the Renault Dauphine and competition from the popular yet more economical Citroën 2CV, sales of this downmarket version were underwhelming, leading to its discontinuation within a year.
Replacement
The Renault Dauphine directly succeeded the 4CV in 1956; however, production of the latter continued until 1961. Following this period, the Renault 4, which shared both engine specifications and pricing brackets, assumed its market role.
Around the world
Although primarily manufactured at Renault’s Île Seguin facility near Billancourt, assembly of the 4CV also took place in seven additional countries. Starting in December 1949, right-hand drive variants were assembled at Renault’s Acton plant in West London using predominantly French parts. Other assembly sites included Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Japan—where Hino Motors produced high-quality licensed versions—Spain, and South Africa.
Total production surpassed 1.1 million units, making the 4CV the first French automobile to exceed one million sales.
- In Spain, FASA-Renault manufactured the 4CV at Valladolid between 1951 and 1961.
- In Japan, Hino Motors produced the Hino Renault 4CV from 1953 until 1961 before replacing it with the Hino Contessa, which retained Renault powertrains.
- In Australia, marketed initially as Renault 760 and later as Renault 750, the vehicle was imported both fully assembled and as CKD kits for assembly in Sydney.
The adaptable 4CV also enjoyed extensive use in motorsport events. Notably, it served as the foundation for Alpine’s inaugural collaboration with Renault—the Alpine A106—and paved the way for their later success with the Alpine A110 that won the World Rally Championship in 1973.
Renault Beach Wagon
Derived from the 4CV model, the Renault Beach Wagon—also referred to as the Renault Jolly—was crafted by Ghia in 1961. A total of 50 units were produced, each based on sequentially numbered 4CV chassis; approximately twelve of these vehicles still exist today.
Renault Fiftie
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 4CV, Renault unveiled the Renault Fiftie concept in 1996. This two-door car, featuring a mid-engine layout, showcased design elements inspired by the original 4CV.
External links
- Renault 4CV virtual tour available at Auto Kout Centrum. Virtual experience created by Milan Tucek.