Corey Behrens, our man in Noord-Holland, uploaded some brochure-worthy pictures of a 40 years old Renault 4 F6, neatly parallel parked alongside an Amsterdam canal. A fuel-sipping fourgonnette (commercial van) in the best French FWD tradition.
The F6 had a 12 cm (4.7”) longer wheelbase than the contemporary F4 fourgonnette and the rear overhang was also extended. The whole stretch job resulted in a 20 cm (7.9”) longer cargo compartment.
The Amsterdam van is powered by Renault’s 1.1 liter Cléon-Fonte engine and is registered as a Combi, which corresponds to its passenger car license plates. A Combi is supposed to have rear seats, yet the registration says it’s a two-seater. Well, never mind.
According to some other information I found, Corey’s find was originally owned by France Télécom.
The F4 and F6 vans were superseded by the Renault Express, which was fully based on the 1984 Super 5.
Parked directly in front of the R4, a 2015 Toyota Yaris with a 1.0 liter, three-cylinder engine. No displacement or horsepower bragging rights today.
Open sesame, here’s another blue F6 for an inside look. The cargo capacity is 2.35 m³, equal to 3.07 yd³. Close the cargo door and you can still haul some roi-sized baguettes sans fuss (photo courtesy of Venema Classic Cars).
To this day, no automaker does compact commercial vans better than Renault and Stellantis. And speaking of Stellantis, as for now, the Fiat Doblò is the latest clone of the 2018, third gen Peugeot Partner/Citroën Berlingo. Any news on the Ram ProMaster City yet?
A fourgonnette load of related articles:
Le Curbside Classic: Renault 4 – The First Modern Compact Hatchback by PN
Curbside Classic(s): 1973, 1984 & 1986 Renault 4 Export, GTL & F4 Van – Threesome On All 4s by T87
CC Capsule: 1974 Renault 4 Export “Berline” – Too Good To Be True by T87
Storage Yard Classic: Renault 4 – French Basics by DS
Cohort Pic(k) of the Day: Renault 4 Fourgonnette – The Changing Size Of European Compact Vans by PN
Pope Francis’ Latest Popemobile Is a Curbside Classic: 1984 Renault 4 by PN
The flip-top box is a neat idea. Less backstrain and headbanging, and would make it easier to use a hoist on a heavy object.
It’s called the girafon – a young giraffe. For transporting long loads. Like a young giraffe.
Et voilà. (source and much more: http://leroux.andre.free.fr/utilitaire4l.htm)
Cool to see some R4 panel van/sedan delivery still on the road. Let’s see if there’s still some pick-up version who keep soldiering.
Meanwhile, there’a French article about some R4 customized who looks like a mix of Jeep CJ/Wrangler and a “dune buggy”.
https://www.carjager.com/blog/article/car-systeme-jp4-une-renault-4-tendance-buggy.html
What a lovely thing a Renault 4 is. I find that I appreciate them even more as I get older. My only experience of being in a Renault 4 is 30 years ago, and they seemed old then, but truly a timeless design.
On the subject of the modern vans that you mention – I’m currently hiring a Vauxhall Combo, which I believe is the same the Peugeot/Citreon that you mention. I hadn’t expected very much from it – my mind was on other things – but the more I’ve driven it, the more impressed I have become. The rear is deceptively cavernous, and it drives really well.
Yes, the current Opel/Vauxhall Combo is the same van as the third gen Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo. Ditto for the Toyota ProAce City and -from now on- the Fiat Doblò.
Inspiration of the “Nissan Cube” and the “Kia Soul”. The little blue box looks so at home in the lead pic.
Until the arrival of the 1996 Peugeot Partner/Citroën Berlingo and the 1997 Renault Kangoo (see below), a small commercial van was car model-derived (like the R4 F4 and F6), with a cargo compartment directly behind the doors, wider and taller than the cab.
Love that photo next to the canal – makes me want to grab a ticket to Amsterdam first thing tomorrow…