1953 PlastiCar Rogue

The Renault Rogue was built during the mid-1950s and combined the underpinnings of the Renault 4CV with a unique and lightweight plastic body built by PlastiCar of Doylestown, PA. Along with the Rogue roadster, a hardtop body dubbed the Marquis and created from aluminum was also available. The designs of both the Rogue and Marquis were inspired by European racing specials raced by Jean-Louis Rosier. His father, Louis Rosier, had participated in 38 Formula One World Championship Grands Prixs with two podium finishes and eighteen championship points. Among the accolades Louis achieved was winning the Dutch Grand Prix in 1950 and 1951, and the Circuit d'Albi, Grand-Prix de l'Albigeois. Jean-Louis and his father won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1950.

The Renault 4CV was built from 1947 through 1961 and was very popular, becoming the first French car to sell over a million units. It employed a rear-engine configuration that sent power to the rear wheels, had monocoque construction, and measured nearly 12 feet in length. A 760cc longitudinally-mounted engine provided the power until 1950, when it was replaced by a 747cc version of the 'Billancourt' engine producing 17 PS. The '4CV' name refers to its tax horsepower (CV is the French equivalent to 'horsepower').

Both the Rogue and Marquis rested atop a ladder-type frame and incorporated suspension components and the 750cc engine from the 4CV. PlastiCar produced the bodies of the Rogue, comprised of nine fiberglass pieces bonded together. On February 9th, 1954, the company issued the following press release:

'First all-plastic body automobile with rear engine drive, on display in Renault booth at International Motor Sports Show, Seventh Regiment Armory, New York City, which starts February 6th. An American adaptation of a Renault racing car, the new sports car is scheduled to go into production shortly after the show at a plant in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and will be priced at approximately $2000.

Roadster
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Molded of Celanese Marco reinforced fibrous glass in nine pieces and mounted on a Renault standard '750' chassis, the overall weight of the Sportster is about 1,000 pounds; gasoline consumption is approximately fifty miles per gallon under normal conditions. According to Z.W. Redd, the manufacturer, seated, right, above, road speed will be in excess of eighty miles per hour.

Sales in greater New York will be handed by Renault Selling Branch, Inc. Dealerships elsewhere are open. Left, standing is Larry Wiggins, an associate in the new venture.'

The design is believed to have originated with Louis Rosier and Motto of Turin, no doubt inspired by the Porsche 356 and Denzel 1300s. PlastiCar had a deal with Renault of France to acquire 150 chassis, but it is believed that the deal fell apart. The exact number of Rogues produced is not known, but the amount was very low - only two are known to exist. Although it was not a business success, it did achieve its goal of building a replica of the Renault 4CV (powered by a competition motor R-1064) that set 8 International records in the 500-750cc class. The Rogue sports car offered reliable and inexpensive 4CV components, an attractive body, impressive performance, and economy. The top speed was in the neighborhood of 100 mph, and it could achieve around 50 miles per gallon during normal driving conditions.

These vehicles are known as the Rosier Rogue, the Renault Rogue, and the PlastiCar Rogue.

The featured example currently resides in the Lane Motor Museum in Tennessee.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2023