1960 Renault 4CV Resort Special

The Renault 4CV was conceived during World War II as a 'people's car' in the fashion of the Fiat 500 Topolino. It was launched in 1946 and was the first French car to sell more than a million units. It was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine.

Renault was placed under the direction of the Technical Directorship of a francophile engineer called Wilhelm von Urach between 1941 and 1944. A design team led by the company's Technical Director Fernand Picard, had just recently returned from Renault's aero-engine division to the automobile business and Charles-Edmond Serre, who had been with Renault for a longer period of time, envisioned an economical, small vehicle suitable for the period of austerity which was expected to follow the war. Louis Renault, however, believed that after the war, Renault would need to concentrate on its traditional mid-range cars. Louis was later convinced of the projects potential, now accorded the code '106E', and he gave his blessing to move forward with the vehicle. The Germans, however, had forbidden work on any new passenger car models, so the 4CV development was defined as a low priority spin-off from a project to develop a new engine for the post-war return of the company's 1930s small car.

Powering the vehicle was Renault's Ventoux engine in a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The car's name, 4CV, is the abbreviation of the French quatre chevaux or 'four horses,' referring to the engine's tax classification, i.e., four taxable horsepower.

This 1960 Renault 4CV Resort Special is one of 50 cars modified by Ghia. It was delivered new to Beverly Hills, California in 1960. It was sold to the second owner, in 1962 and remained there until being sold again in 1988 to another Southern California home. During that time, it was given mechanical upgrades, a new top and new wicker seats. In 2000, the present owner acquired the Resort Special.

In 2011, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $35,000 - $55,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $57,200 inclusive of buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2011