• Fully restored example 

• Classic retro Bluetooth radio 

• Low miles since restoration

• Fantastic interior

Renault marketed the 4 as a small economy car and a ‘short station wagon’ due to its odd proportions. What the French company actually produced with the 4, was the world’s first mass produced hatchback as well as the company’s first front wheel drive model. 

The economic climate in France at the time was coming out of a few years of stagnation and into years of prosperity and growth. Over eight million 4’s were built, putting it up there with the longest running production run of a single generation of cars. 

The 4 was Renault’s answer to the Citroën 2CV, the strengths and weaknesses of which Renault were able to analyse to move into the market. The 2CV and its rural/utilitarian charm, was beginning to become harder to live with for the French masses moving into economic prosperity. Due to this, the 4 represented a move to more comfortable city transport, however it shared many traits with the 2CV to facilitate a smooth transition for 2CV owners to step into another platform from another company, very clever marketing. 

The 4 underwent many a facelift and slight redesign during its years in production, with many variants being produced to adapt the little hatchback to the changing market. The variant we’re interested however is the one in this auction, the GTL, arriving in 1978, it gained an 1108cc engine from the Renault 6. Identifiable by its grey plastic trim, it also had bigger wiper blades, exciting, and in ’83 the GTL got front disc brakes (which this car has, being an ’84 model). 

The car presented for auction here was purchased originally by the current owner through nostalgic motivations, as they had one for their first car, which is a pretty cool claim. Before the current owners purchase of the vehicle though, this car was restored by a company called ‘Renault Reborn’, a specialist based in Lincolnshire and a company that has a long family history with the French manufacturer. 

The car was seemingly commissioned by a collector whose entire collection of cars sported this bright orange paintwork. Ultimately it ended up on the forecourt of a local dealer, where the current owner came to own the car, as presumably the collector rotated some of their pieces. 

The car has undergone a full chassis, engine and body restoration and as such is pretty much pristine all round. The current owner has had the car since 2019 and its only comes to be auctioned as the owner states that it doesn’t get as much use as the car derserves. 

This car, having come from a collector who had it restored and then bought by a dealer then the current owner who used to own one as a first car, is exhaustive. MOT certificates dating back to 1995 and a CD with all the images from the restoration on, as well as a huge stack of receipts and records of work done to the car. 

With the pile of paperwork also comes the colour swatch the car was painted in, a Haynes manual, Renault owner’s club paperwork and even a French parts book that’s still in its original packaging. The history paper trail that comes with this car is impressive and should give the new owner plenty to look back through to track the life of this car. 

Having been owned by people that place value on keeping historical records of the cars they keep should put prospective buyers at ease with clear indication of how well this car has been taken care of. 

The interior of this car is fantastic, comfy ‘deckchair’ seats which apparently are easily removed, presumably so that young French families could drive to the Champ de Mars, pull out the seats and enjoy a picnic under the shadow of the Eiffel tower. Covered in grey leather to match the plastic trim accents on the outside and funky cloth plaid inserts which suit the age, style and ethos of the car perfectly. Rubber floor mats give homage to this vehicle’s utilitarian heritage, and also protect the floor underneath perfectly. 

Moving forward, the dashboard is in fantastic condition with plenty of storage space. The gear-lever coming out of the dash is still a novelty today, and the steering wheel, which is reminds us of the early Clios, is also in fantastic condition. Other things of note in the dash/cockpit area are the classic looking radio, which is actually a retro styled DAB and Bluetooth enabled unit, classic style and modern creature comforts combined. More creature comforts come in the form of a cigarette lighter/12v socket for in car charging, as well as the vents in the dash for some air flow. 

The dash display is wonderfully simple with a plethora of light sections to give the driver all the information they need about what might be going on under the bonnet. It really is an amazing place to be, with it taking you back to the 80’s and what it must’ve been like piloting these around on the roads of downtown Paris. 

Whilst the idea of the bright orange paint work for an this car sounds a bit questionable; we reckon the original owner of this car might have been onto something with the colour. A few shades of orange were offered in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s but none this bright, it really suits the lines and curves of the 4. 

With this car being a restored example, the exterior is near perfect, we only found one paint chip under the bonnet which we have shown in the gallery below. The company that restored the car, however, clearly knew what they were doing as the paint is top quality and has lasted well during the 4 years since it was completed. 

The wheels are in spectacular condition with no chips, curbing or scuffing at all, they look brand new, even the spare underneath the car looks brand new. The chassis was protected during its restoration, and will no doubt last a long, long time even after being subjected to the British roads, all lights, bumpers and trim are in equally good condition with the exterior being very presentable indeed. 

The engine and drivetrain in the 4 was kept simple and this car is no different, having the 1108cc engine, it is one of the biggest engines fitted to the 4 so is more than capable of keeping up with modern traffic. During its restoration, all aspects of the drive train received treatment which results in this car being ready to go and ready to enjoy for many years into the future. 

During the short test drive, we didn’t hear any strange noises, the engine started on the button and the gearbox sounded smooth, with no crunches or grinding at all. The suspension seemed to be in good health and the 4 was intended for comfort rather than speed due to the rural market the 4 was aimed at to replace the 2CV. 

It sits a little higher than cars from other countries of that era, but the smooth ride was something the French manufacturers became very good at producing as a result. 

The Renault 4 sparked the greatest type of car, the hatchback and consolidated its popularity in modern culture by selling so well over its production run. You could go as far to say it had a hand in inspiring some of the hot hatch greats, but either way the Renault 4 is an incredible vehicle with a rich history. This example is a near pristine one, having had no expense spared during its rebirth into what it is today, with ‘Renault Reborn’ and the collector who commission the car having excellent taste and the skills necessary to pull it off. 

It’s such a quirky little car, that has charming looks and some mod cons to match. With that paintwork you’ll certainly be turning heads wherever you take it. With the state the car is in, you can take it wherever you like as it’s a turnkey classic that is ready for the new owner to drive away. 

We think this is a fantastic example of the car that aided the French generations into car ownership and the freedom of mobility, we’re sure anybody would be proud to have the keys to this car and the story behind it makes it all that more desirable.