One of the best ways to revive a war-torn economy is to get the population moving to commute to wherever they are needed to work. Vehicle production generates further employment within the community, and the now mobile population can travel further afield during their leisure time to further spread the wealth. However, this strategy would never work if these new cars were prohibitively expensive. Therefore, these offerings needed to be sold as affordable transport for the masses. This philosophy was embraced by many European countries following World War II, none more so than France. The result of this creative thinking was cars like the Renault 4CV. Introduced in 1947, it remained in production until replaced in 1961. As a car to liberate the population, it was a sales success. By the time Renault ceased production, more than 1.1 million of these little classics had rolled off the production line. This 1960 example is a gem. Its presentation is a long way from perfect, but that is one of the characteristics that adds to its overall charm. It runs and drives well, and it packs a couple of pleasant surprises in what is an affordable package. The owner has decided that the time has come for the 4CV to head to a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. It is located in Windsor, Colorado, and it could be yours with a BIN of $6,600.

Would you consider the 4CV to be the French equivalent of the VW Beetle? Both cars are rear-engined four-cylinder vehicles that can seat a family of five, and both were designed to be affordable transport for the general population. On those points, I think that the comparison is fair. The first thing that I noticed about this little 4CV was that it is finished in Black. This caught my attention because no Renault color charts from the era list this shade as an option. However, I know that it was available because my parents once owned one of these little classics. This car has developed a lovely aged appearance, which the owner refers to as a “Mother Nature” paint job. It has worn through in many places, but he has applied a clear coat over the exterior to prevent corrosion and rust from developing. The panels wear a few dings and dents, but none of these are bad enough to justify panel replacement. It appears that there are no rust issues worth noting, which is always good news in an older Renault. The exterior offers a striking contrast between the weathered paint and the freshly painted red wheels. Adding further appeal is the shining chrome and the crystal clear glass. This 4CV might not be a showroom-fresh classic, but I would be willing to guarantee that it would still command attention wherever it went.

I’ve often talked about how a classic can offer something special if a spotless interior contrasts a weathered exterior, and this Renault demonstrates this graphically. The owner has retrimmed this interior in Red vinyl, which seems to match the wheels. The overall impact is enhanced by a spotless white dash and steering wheel and the tan carpet that he has installed. The buyer won’t need to spend a dime inside the car because the upholstered surfaces show no evidence of wear, and the carpet is spotlessly clean. As affordable transport for the masses, Renault didn’t offer buyers many creature comforts in the 4CV. However, I noticed that this one sports an AM radio, although the owner indicates that this is the only item in the car that doesn’t work.

Unfortunately, the owner doesn’t supply any engine photos, and his information is contradictory. He states that the engine bay contains a 760cc four-cylinder engine that produces 27hp. However, Renault phased out the 760 for the 1950 model year, and even at its peak, that unit only pumped out 19hp. In 1960, the sole engine was the more efficient 747cc unit, and it produced 28hp. I suspect that this is what we’ll find fitted to this classic, and its power is fed to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission. Performance figures are all that you might expect from a car with such a modest power output. Point the 4CV down the ¼ mile, and the journey will take a leisurely 24.9 seconds. Given enough room and some patience on behalf of the driver, the little Renault should wind its way to a top speed of 62mph. However, you have to wait for a staggering 48.7 seconds before that happens. This little French classic appears to be in sound mechanical health. The owner has recently rebuilt the brakes, and he replaced the exhaust about 8-years-ago. He says that the vehicle runs and drives well, with no smoke or odd noises from that sweet little engine. The clutch and transmission work smoothly, so this 4CV is ready to hit the road.

As a car to get the masses mobile, the Renault 4CV was highly effective. It was affordable and cheap to run, which were two characteristics considered essential in post-war France. They remain affordable today, although pristine examples regularly sell for more than $11,000. This one isn’t perfect, but that’s where potential buyers may face a dilemma. Achieving perfection would seem possible with some minor panel work and a fresh coat of paint. That’s not going to be an expensive process, and when combined with the BIN price, it should be financially viable. Alternatively, it could be left as-is to wear its survivor tag like a badge of honor. Spotless presentation has its appeal, but I find this Renault has so much character now that I would hesitate to tamper with it. What about you?