Renault 4 GTL
The Renault 4, commonly known as the 4L, is a supermini that was produced by the French automaker Renault between 1961 and 1993. It was the first front-wheel drive car that Renault developed, made as a response to the Citroen 2CV in 1948.
History
In 1956, Renault Chairman Pierre Dreyfus decided to make a car that could fit the needs of all types of drivers – a family car, a woman's car, a farmer's car, a city car, and one that could also be used across the globe.
The Renault 4 was then unveiled at the Paris Salon de l'Automobile in 1961 with the "L" version, meaning Luxe, hence its 4L nickname. Early editions of the 4L adopted engines and transmission from the Renault 4CV, with the 3-speed manual transmission being quite obsolete when compared to the Citroen 2CV's 4-speed.
The body of the Renault 4 was made with semi-monocoque construction, which allowed Renault to make its later models such as the Renault 6 and the successful Renault 5. The R4 had four-wheel independent suspension with a shorter left wheelbase than the right to accommodate the rear suspension's transverse torsion bars.
Though it was primarily seen as an estate car during its production period, some now suggest the Renault 4 actually pioneered the hatchback body style. Before it was the Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk1 of 1953 with a small top-hinged tailgate, and the 1954 Citroen Traction Avant with a top-hinged single unit tailgate.
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