Inside the 1950s Brief That Created the Renault 4

Overview

• Pierre Dreyfus, Renault’s director general from 1955 to 1975, set a brief calling for a large rear hatch, unobstructed cargo access, comfortable suspension and good road behavior.
• The target was a multipurpose car equally at home in urban and rural settings, described internally as a car for everything, like jeans.
• Engineers Fernand Picard and the young talent Yves Georges led development to meet the brief and adopt front-mounted engine and front-wheel drive for the first time at Renault.
• By 1958 the initial designs had taken shape, and in the autumn Renault decided to manufacture the model under the development code 350.
• A strict cost ceiling capped production at 350,000 old French francs, reflecting the project’s focus on affordability.