Preservation
When test drivers and engineers give their test subjects a name, are they not just at work, but a little bit in love? When Renault began developing the R4 in the late 1950s and sent the vehicle on what was then the most extensive test drive (2.9 million kilometres) around the world, the drivers affectionately called the new car Marie-Chantal. Marie-Chantal was a revolution of eminent importance for the (French) automotive industry. The idea came from Pierre Dreyfus, who had been the président-directeur général (PDG) of the semi-state-owned Renault S.A. since 1955, after reading a newspaper article about the demographic development of the French population. Not only would there be more and more potential customers, but also, and more importantly, there would be more and more young families with relatively low incomes but lots of children.



The public saw the R4 for the first time on 28 August 1961, when 200 white models circled around the Eiffel Tower. But above all, the R4 was the world’s first four-door station wagon, with a large tailgate, an amazingly spacious boot and a versatile interior. This concept proved so successful that hardly any modifications were needed over the years. The R4 rolled off the production line almost unchanged for 31 years. A whopping 8,135,424 units were built in 28 countries and then sold in over 100 countries. With the R4, Renault took its first step towards globalisation – and into the hearts of not only the French. Marie-Chantal was driven by professors just as much as by students, it was a family car and, when needed, a utility vehicle; today it is still a love nest and a furniture van.




The only problem is that you don’t see many R4s on the road anymore. So you have to savour every one you do see. And if you still have one, hold on to it. You owe it to every Marie-Chantal out there. It’s a cultural artefact, an important part of (French) history, an expression of a positive attitude to life. What’s more, preserving classic cars is also a form of sustainability: not buying new saves resources. But you can also just be a little bit in love with Marie-Chantal, she knows that.



We have more Renaults in our archive. (And then there is also the great story of the Renault 4, which was lost after technical problems.)
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