Are 127 pages enough to document 120 years of Renault? Of course not, even if only one page were used for each model produced, more pages would be needed. But the "Renault model compass - since 1945" is not intended to be a complete treatise, but rather an introduction to Renault. For this reason, the first 20 pages or so are devoted to Renault's history and therefore primarily to cars built before 1945. This is a good thing, because the first decades were formative for the Régie Renault.
The most important model series
The main section of the paperback volume is dedicated to the most important models of the post-war period, starting with the Juvaquatre from 1937 and ending with the Talisman from 2015. The fact that the Alpine A110 shown on the cover is missing is probably due to the limited number of pages. Usually 1-2 pages are devoted to each vehicle type, in some cases up to six pages.
Unfortunately, a few vehicles that we would have liked to have seen in the booklet were swept under the carpet, such as the Renault 15/17, a neat coupé from the 1970s, and the Fuego, a descendant of the Renault 18. Although these models are mentioned, there are unfortunately no corresponding pictures. We would have gladly dispensed with the illustration of Zetsche/Ghosn (on page 25) if a Fuego or a Renault 15/17 had been shown instead.
Practical brief characterizations
Each model series is characterized with a summarizing text and a table. The most important technical details, as well as information on model variants, are clearly presented.
Unfortunately, the number of units is missing and the display options with a table the size of a quarter page are of course quickly exhausted.
Factory photos
Most of the photos are from the factory collection, some were taken from other sources, presumably because more color was sought. Not all of these photos from the early years are convincing. And this despite the fact that Renault worked with very good photographers, but mainly published black and white photos.
It should also be mentioned that there was already a Renault Type Compass published by Motorbuch Verlag in 2003, which was edited by Ulrich Knaack at the time. Incidentally, the Renault models R5, R4, Espace and Avantime were on the cover of that edition.
Relaxed entry
This volume, which costs only EUR 12.00, is not a complete work, nor can it be expected to be. But it is a good introduction for Renault novices, and for Renault enthusiasts it may bring back to memory one or two cars from Renault's 120-year history that have long since been forgotten, such as the VelSatis or the R9/11. And once again you realize that you haven't seen a Renault 6 or 14 on the road for a long time, while the R4 or R8 can be found at many classic car events.
Bibliographic information
- Title: Renault type compass - since 1945
- Authors: Andreas Gaubatz/Jan Erhartisch
- Language: German
- Publisher: Motorbuch Verlag
- Edition: 1st edition, September 2018
- Format: Paperback, 14.0 x 20.5 cm
- Scope: 128 pages, 130 (mostly color) illustrations)
- ISBN: 978-3-613-04100-4
- Price: EUR 12.00
- Buy/order: Online at amazon.de, online at Motorbuch Verlag, or at the relevant bookstore
