HOW DO YOU UPGRADE A RENAULT 4? PUT IN AN ENGINE

For so long the butt of jokes, the iconic car is finally making a comeback with a snazzy new electric model. One enthusiast shares his fond memories of the motoring classic loved by the English... and used by French farmers to transport sheep

- By James Innes-Smith

THIS summer has seen the relaunch of a much-loved, much-missed and much-maligned motoring classic.

Built between 1961 and 1994, the quirky Renault 4 became a familiar sight on British roads and on farms across France.

Due to the vehicle’s propensity to rust, UK sightings have become increasingly rare although French farmers still use them for transporting errant sheep. Now 30 years after the last of the classic Renault 4s rolled off the production line, fans have been celebrating the launch of a brand new fully electric model.

But does this sleek, high-tech rebrand live up to its predecessor’s charm?

Marketed as a superior version of the much clunkier Citroen 2CV and originally classified as a light goods vehicle due to its van-like appearance and capacious interior, I bought my first Renault 4, a white 1975 vintage, in the early 1990s.

The dodgy secondhand car dealer must have been rubbing his hands with glee when I handed over £350 for the jalopy that didn’t even have an MOT. Despite mismatched replacement yellow doors, a less than spotless history and a floor so rusty you could see the road rushing beneath your feet, I had fallen in love.

It’s easy to forget that in the 70s and 80s cars weren’t built to last; anything older than about eight years would often be on its last legs with rust being the chief culprit.

These days new vehicles are plied with primer and sealer before any paint is applied, thereby reducing contact between the metal body and corrosive oxygen in the air.

The chassis of my beloved 1975 model had certainly seen better days but the interior was surprisingly comfortable with its wide, squishy leatherette seats and acres of headroom.