Lot 110: Renault 4CV

The 4CV was originally conceived and designed covertly by Renault engineers during the German occupation of France during World War II, when the manufacturer was under strict orders to design and produce only commercial and military vehicles. A design team led by Fernand Picard, Charles-Edmond Serre and Jean-Auguste Riolfo envisioned a small, economical car (similar to the Volkswagen Beetle) suitable for the economically difficult years which would inevitably follow the war. The first prototype was completed in 1942 and two more prototypes were produced in the following three years, with the 4CV ultimately presented to the public and media at the 1946 Paris Motor Show.The 4CV was powered by a 748 cc engine producing 17 hp, which was coupled to a three-speed manual transmission and featured suicide doors. Despite an initial period of uncertainty and poor sales due to the ravaged state of the French economy, the 4CV had sold 37,000 units by mid-1949 and was the most popular car in France. The car remained in production for more than a decade afterwards. The 4CV's intended replacement was the Dauphine, launched in 1956, but the 4CV in fact remained in production until 1961. It was eventually usurped by the Renault 4 utility but only after 1,105,547 cars had been produced; thus becoming the first French car to sell over a million units.This example is of 1959 vintage and has just 3 previous recorded owners. The car is well known within the Renault classic club scene and is believed to have benefited from a light restoration in the late nineties and is thought to have covered just 44,865 miles, at the time of writing.Finished in maroon with blue/grey interior, the car is equipped wit the 750cc engine, which is mated to a three speed gearbox and is said to be in good condition with no imperfections. It is complete with the original Driving and Maintenance manual, official Renault workshop manual and is said to drive very well indeed.Great fun and an invisible carbon footprint.