I've just spent a week in the Algarve, Portugal. I was surprised at the number of Renault 4s still running. After all, they do get plenty of rain in this region and I'm surprised they haven't all rotted away.
In particular, there were a lot of beige coloured examples that looked as good as new. This is a useful and economical car, is somebody out there renovating them?
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Plenty of rain,not much salt.
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Renault 4s were still made in Morrocco/Slovenia/Portugal (IIRC) until the early 90's so they will not be the same vintages as would be bought in the UK
Last edited by: Falkirk Bairn on Sun 12 Dec 10 at 09:24
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Stacks of R4s still used as daily drivers in this part of France. You see far more of them than 2CVs.
Portugal still has loads of Peugeot 504 and even 404 pickups too - mostly with the wooden body that seemed to be unique to that market.
Last edited by: Mike Hannon on Sun 12 Dec 10 at 15:36
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I was last in Portugal in 1986 I think. Rented an R4. Loved it. The way you could rest your elbow/forearm on the gearlever whilst driving was very relaxing. Loads of space, flat floor.
I suppose the nearest thing now is a Berlingo, but somehow with less character.
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When I sold R4s in the 1980s, several women customers told me they used the gear lever to hang their handbag or shopping.
A king-sized curry hook.
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I love 'em. some might recall I ran a van until a couple of years ago.
Rust was the main bugbear over here. Sweet engine, both types, the Sierra and the Ventoux.
Mine went 'cos it was not being used and I needed the space.
If we consolidate our motoring needs this year, I might get a Grand Vitara TD Auto for SWMBO and the towing and get something like a Ren 4 to knock about in.
Be nice to pick up a scrap Mk1 5 auto and put the 1300 engine and box in a 4.
A 6 would be even better, we've had quite a few to sell but we had a '71 model with the Ventoux engine...lovely car until some prat wrote it off parked outside Ted Manor !
Either that or get the 4's modern replica, the Nissan Pao
Ted
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My mum had three, which lasted her between them from 1964 to 1988. The last one, a 1981 GTL, seemed positively sophisticated - individually reclining, red velour seats, two-speed wipers, height-adjusting headlamps... Didn't stop my brother and me asking her to park round the corner when she came to pick us up from school. (I know...)
1988 was the year I passed my test, and the GTL was the first non-driving school car I drove. Man, that was a meaty clutch action! I tried to persuade her to keep it and sell it to me when I graduated and started work, but she traded it in for a Nova and I bought a new Escort instead. Probably less fun - but at least the heater worked.
Footnote: mum has never unlearned the habit of demisting an inner windscreen with her palm. Could be why she doesn't drive at night these days.
}:---€
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I had a Renault 4 in '73 or '74. It was a 6v model with an appetite for clutch cables. Comfy, practical, rusty, and very economical. Sold it as the fuel crisis began to bite and bought an S-type for peanuts. 50mpg to 15mpg in an afternoon!
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Renault - Renault 4s in Portugal - jc2
