Renault 4 Parisienne: Too Beautiful to Work

Economy, practicality, versatility, the ability to adapt to any load, any use. The Renault 4 did not emerge from nowhere. Citroën had a 2CV that adhered to the same principles. Renault drew inspiration from the double chevron model without any exterior similarities: ruggedness, spacious interior, front-wheel drive, long-travel suspension to navigate poorly maintained roads, and minimal maintenance costs.

With power, speaking of its launch in 1961, the Renault quickly conquered rural areas. In 1962, more than 200,000 Renault 3 and 4 were sold.

However, in cities, it was a different story: its utilitarian, rustic appearance did not appeal to urban audiences, especially women.

It was then that Renault launched an original idea: from March 8 to July 15, 1963, four thousand two hundred readers of "ELLE" magazine were invited to test the 4L for two days.

For the operation, named "Elle prend le volant" ("She Takes the Wheel"), half a thousand Renault 4 "Super" were transformed into the R4 Parisienne: a name chosen to reflect the international reputation of Parisian women's good taste, according to Renault. Nearly six thousand female drivers tested the car, both in Paris and the provinces. To give it a more "chic" touch, the R4 was adorned with black paint and, optionally, with a yellow wicker imitation (hand-painted) inspired by some cars from the Twenties and Thirties, or a tartan pattern (green or red) with Scottish connotations.

The famous singer Sheila, then a young rising star of French music, was part of the operation and became the image of the Parisian woman. Ironically, she did not yet have a driving license. She would pass the test the following year (in a driving school R4), and her producer would then offer her a genuine production Renault 4 Parisienne.

But back to our story. Upon returning the vehicles, readers had to indicate the car's strengths and weaknesses, as well as a general opinion, positive or negative.

The enthusiasm was such that the decision was made quickly: the Parisienne would be added to the range from 1964. It was not a "special series" in the current sense, but a model with its own personality within the Renault 4 range. The first 500 units were reconditioned in Billancourt, either as the classic R4 Super or as the new Parisienne with subtle modifications.

In the production version, the decoration was less refined: it lost some tartan or wicker details, while the latter was now industrially painted (and not by hand). However, it incorporated the "4 Parisienne" logo on the rear. It was launched in December 1963, equipped with the Billancourt R1123 engine of 5 CV and 845 cc. In fact, there would no longer be decoration on the tailgate, the upper door trim would disappear, and the grilles on the fenders and around the grille would be omitted.

The following year, the Parisienne was relaunched with a new available color palette, grey. Subsequently, in 1966, the range was expanded with the introduction of the 4CV R1120 engine of 747 cc. However, everything changed regarding the paint, as black and grey disappeared in favor of navy blue, dark green, and burgundy. Finally, in 1967, the interior changed slightly, especially with a new dashboard, and it was possible to order a Parisienne without braiding or Scottish patterns, to avoid drawing too much attention, undoubtedly.

The year 1968 was the last year of the Parisienne on the market. Renault was preparing to launch a "leisure" version of the R4, intending to boost sales and win over female customers: the Plein Air replaced the Parisienne and faced off directly against Citroën's Méhari. A failure that would go down in history. As we have seen, Renault would return to the elegant urban car with the Supercinco Baccara, but it would not forget the Parisienne: thus, in Germany, a special edition of the Kangoo would adopt the name Parisienne and revive a body style reminiscent of the venerable R4.

It is impossible to know how many Parisiennes were manufactured between 1963 and 1968. One thing is certain: today they are rare and coveted, especially when in good condition. In the realm of impossible missions, one might try to find an R4 Super Parisienne, one of the 500 from the launch, but it seems unlikely that any still exist.

Undoubtedly, perfect for a stroll under the Parisian sky.