1956 Renault 4CV Saloon
Renault engineers conceived this economy sedan clandestinely between 1941 and 1944 while under German occupation orders to focus on commercial and military vehicles, with the rear‑engine layout clearly influenced by contemporary small cars yet setting Renault on a rear‑engined path that would carry into the Dauphine and other mainstream models through the 1960s.
The 4CV’s packaging and basic concept owed something to the FIAT 500 Topolino and other prewar small cars, but the decision to put the engine behind the rear axle gave it a distinct identity among postwar European economy sedans.
Monocoque construction kept the four-door saloon compact at roughly 142 inches overall length while still accommodating four passengers in a surprisingly usable cabin. Front-hinged “suicide” front doors were characteristic of early 4CVs and remained a visual hallmark, and the car’s all‑independent suspension (using simple coil/leaf and swing-axle arrangements) and light rack‑and‑pinion steering gave it more agile handling than many rival economy cars.
The 4CV earned an impressive motorsport résumé for a budget saloon, including notable class successes at events such as the Monte Carlo Rally and long‑distance endurance competitions, but it is safer to describe “Monte Carlo success and class wins” than a blanket “victory at the 1949 Monte Carlo Rally.”
The 747 cc overhead-valve inline‑four (developed from the original roughly 760 cc pre‑production displacement and standardized at 747 cc early in the run) produced a little over 20 horsepower in most postwar tune, driving the rear wheels through a three‑speed manual gearbox.
Top speed around 57-59 mph and fuel economy approaching 45-50 mpg (under favorable conditions) matched the car’s mission as a frugal family saloon, while higher‑tuned variants and the R1052/“Sport” derivatives offered modest performance gains for enthusiasts.
Production commenced shortly after the war in 1947 and ran through 1961, by which time total 4CV output had exceeded the one‑million mark (often quoted around 1.1 million units).
That milestone made the 4CV the first French passenger car to surpass one million units and provided much of the financial and industrial foundation for Renault’s postwar recovery and expansion into mass‑market, export‑oriented production.
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