With more than eight million units sold in over 100 countries, the Renault 4 is an icon in the automotive landscape. This year, it celebrates its 60th anniversary and continues to delight drivers and collectors, such as Jean Le Cam. The professional sailor raves about the R4. When he gave his daughter a Renault 4 for her 18th birthday, he had no idea that twelve years later he would own eight of them.
Jean Le Cam is a sailing legend. The French professional skipper (62) has made a name for himself through his successes in ocean races. His collegial behavior at the Vendée Globe 2020/2021 caused a particular stir: he helped rescue his co-starter Kevin Escoffier from the Indian Ocean when he was in distress.
For many years, Jean Le Cam has been successfully taking on skippers who steer more modern boats than his Yes We Cam! He jokingly and affectionately calls the yacht his "R4 of the seas", because in addition to exploring the seas, he spends his time with a second passion: driving his R4. The two passions have more in common than you might think, he says.
"The R4 is an endearing car that has shaped generations. Everyone has memories of the R4." Jean Le Cam
The first "car for life"
Renault designed the R4 as a "car for life" - a versatile vehicle for every occasion. In France, it is also known as the 4L, or "Quatrelle", after its type designation. Jean Le Cam also sees the Quatrelle as a genuine off-road vehicle due to its low weight, as he explained to the sports newspaper L'Équipe last March: "I call my boat 4L to give it an image. The Renault 4 was built in such a way that it could even be used in the desert. It was a vehicle that could take you anywhere." The R4 has been proving this every year since 1997 in the "4L Trophy" desert rally from France to Marrakesh. The robust R4 can take on anything the route throws at it, be it sandy or rocky ground - even 60 years after its launch.
Launched in July 1961, the R4 is a five-door model with a large tailgate and a multivariable interior: by folding down the rear seat bench, it transforms into a generously sized estate car. At the same time, the R4 is a solid family car - and an icon of French pop culture. In France, it was used by the police and the post office, among others. And it is still used today by countless tradesmen, local authorities and large retail chains as a company car. In the words of Jean Le Cam: "A true historical monument."
A car to tinker with
Although production ended in 1992, numerous R4s can still be found on the road and on the used car and collectors' markets. The simplicity and reliability of its mechanics attracts many fans, including professional sailor and shipbuilder Jean Le Cam. Whether on the water or on solid ground, "King Jean" likes to tinker. He proved this again at the last Vendée Globe when he repaired his ship during the race. The R4 is very much in the spirit of this sea dog: "It's a car that I can tinker with, that I can improve... A bit like my 'Hubert', a boat that I'm constantly developing."
The professional sailor came to his R4 collection after he lost his boat in the 2008/2009 Vendée Globe and got bored. The first Renault 4, which he gave to his daughter when she turned 18, was soon joined by another. And he improved the first one with a few new components. But he soon found himself in a dilemma, as he told L'Équipe: "I wanted to dismantle one car to build the other. But that's just not possible, it's impossible." So he bought a third, then a fourth... One weekend, he even bought three in one go. And that's how he ended up with a collection of eight R4s.
But Jean Le Cam doesn't want to take part in a race behind the wheel of an R4. He prefers to save his speed for the water and polish his R4 instead of chasing it through the desert sand. His dream would be a fully electric version of this monument to its time, he lets slip. This would allow the cult car to return to the fore and leave its mark on new generations.
