Classic car rally: Rénault 4 turns 60 and hundreds of owners celebrate

PETROLHEAD paradise was awaiting anyone in a Madrid commuter town over the December 8 bank holiday for the Immaculate Conception – the Jarama Circuit in San Sebastián de los Reyes graced well over 100 classic Rénault 4 models of every colour, some of them older than their drivers.

The iconic R4 is now 60, with its first model hitting the forecourts in 1961, and those who own an original were keen to join in a rally on the 3.85-kilometre track to mark the anniversary.

When Pierre Dreyfus was named Rénault chairman on March 27, 1955, he had clear ideas about what four-wheeled private transport should involve.

“A car should not be limited to having seats and a boot. It should have volume,” Dreyfus said at the time.

He commissioned the brand's then research office manager Yves Georges to join him in devising a vehicle that would allow drivers and passengers to get around town and country alike, and which was suitable for work and pleasure.

The resulting Rénault 4 was unveiled in the press in August 1961, and the firm went on to sell over eight million of them in 28 countries, Spain included.

This week's anniversary rally at the Jarama Circuit formed part of a wider 'birthday party' for the model's 60th, with demonstrations and remodelling – creating a Suite No. 4 concept, inspired by the décor of a roadside motel; an AIR4 'flying' show-car version, and an electrically-powered R4 for the car-sharing firm ZITY.

In practice, the 60th anniversary of the Rénault 4 in Spain is not until 2023, since it took another two years after its first production to reach the south-western European nation – and the manufacturers were optimistic about its potential in the Spanish market as car ownership was very thin on the ground, about one vehicle per 48 inhabitants.

The Rénault 4's production in Spain sparked a 'golden age' in manufacturing industry in Valladolid (Castilla y León), where the dedicated factory churned out exactly 403,213 of the R4 cars and 396,704 of the R4 vans, representing 10% of the world's Rénault 4 creation.

Wednesday's classic car fair showcased two Rénault 4s from 1964, completely restored, and a 1965 Rénault 4 van in its original condition.

Chairman of the Rénault 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 Classic Club, José-Cruz Sánchez Guerrero, believes the R4's success worldwide was due to its multi-faceted, multi-purpose design, which 'combined brilliant road ability with everyday usability'.

“The Rénault 4 included technical solutions that were very ahead of their time, and marked a before and after in the motor industry,” Guerrero says.

“In fact, it could even be considered the blueprint of the modern car, so it's no surprise that this model has earned its place in history and has so many faithful fans all over the world.”