Where have they gone, the everyday classics of the recent past?
I was recently in France for a few days. I spotted a Renault R4 at the side of the road. A good opportunity for a photo, I thought, but when I returned a short time later, the R4 had disappeared.
No problem, I thought, I'm sure I'll see another one soon, as 8.14 million of them were produced between 1961 and 1994 and the home market was the most important. But far from it, over the next few days there were no more R4s to be seen. That's why there is now a black and white archive picture above this article.
And I ask myself, where have they all gone, the practical five-door models with the appealing and purposeful shape? It's understandable that they are rarely seen on our roads, but why are there more VW Polo or Toyota Prius cars on the roads in France than R4s?
For all those who would like to know a little more about the French Volkswagen from Renault, there is now a book that we have just reviewed in detail.
