Classic Renault 4 and 5 Restomod review - would you modify classics like this?
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- Опубликовано: 31 май 2024
- Classic Renault 4 and 5 Restomod review - would you modify classics like this? Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show. Based in France, RFit (rfitvintage.com/) is a specialist outfit for developing government approved EV conversion kits for direct fit into classic 2CV, Renault 4 and Renault 5.
Why not join our Patreon gang for early access to episodes and a regular blog from Jonny? / thelatebrakeshow
Huge thanks to The 2CV Shop the2cvshop.co.uk/ and www.mehariclub.com/en/ for arranging to make this video possible. These conversions are not for long range, or big performance. Instead the criteria to be type approved in France means they need to give out no more power than the original piston engine, and weigh no more, thus explaining why the original brakes and suspension are retained.
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Jonny Smith
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:35 EV converted in 1970s
2:10 French regulations
2:40 Power output
3:15 Renault 5 history
3:51 Under bonnet
4:10 Original gearbox kept
5:02 Charging
5:30 Li-ion battery pack
6:10 Driving Renault 5
8:30 Brake feel
8:52 Still has gears
9:30 Conversion cost
11:05 Acceleration test
12:56 LeCar in USA
15:35 Mehari Club Cassis owner
16:25 Officially endorsed by Renault
20:35 RENAULT 4
20:50 Rival to the 2CV
21:15 2nd in the Paris Dakar!
22:30 Renault 4 boot
23:24 Renault 4 motor
24:10 Driving Renault 4
25:36 Acceleration
29:00 Attempted overtake
29:22 BODYROLL!
#electricrenault5 #evconversion #renault5 #thelatebrakeshow #4k 
Авто/Мото
No instagram influence in these cars or in the cars local French people choose.
I love that. As Johnny said, it's so honest.
Cut out the facard of pretend success and one upmanship
Part of the wind noise in the 4 could be due to the fact that you can see daylight from inside between the top of the left rear door frame and the body. 😂
Proper old school French car.
Le’air con
Hilarious! 😂
L'espace dans le panneau!
Not shut properly and only shut on the safety.
The quality of your content is going up and up Jonny, I really enjoyed this video. The R5 looked like a dream in that scenery and it’s exactly what I’d want to go explore the south of France in. Bonsoir Jonny and Team
Thank you v much. Glad you enjoy the content, and thanks for your support.
Agree wholeheartedly. And if you take the 5, I'll have the 4!
If this is your choice to explore the south of France in, at this cost, you are simply deranged, mad, & devoid of imagination. Tragic really.
When was the quality no so good?
Starting at 16k is still out of range for many people, and that's on top of the cost of sourcing and restoring, as necessary, the base vehicle, which are rising in value thanks to their rarity and appeal. It's a better idea than all these 1000kW+ supercars from Porsche, Audi and Lucid, and a better use of limited resources when considering a change to electric, however I still cannot see any benefit over a properly maintained ICE car...
I´m driving Renault Twingos for 30 years now, I just love the basic and functional aproach of this cars. I do have a BMW for job, but it does not make me smile like a Twingo does....
First generation R5s were front mid engined, just like the R4 and had the gear lever protruding from the dashboard until 1973, when a floor change was introduced. U.S Electricar built an EV version called the Lectric Leopard. A friend in Minnesota still has one.
Lectric Leopard? Brilliant. Is your friend's still operable?
@@TheLateBrakeShow It was a couple of years ago, but a Leaf may have taken over active duty more recently. You can see the car on the EV album, look up Lee Hart. Lee also has the moulds for the Solectria Sunrise EV.
My wife had a green Renault 5TL in 1986 an Electric conversion makes perfect sense for a town car, as it was always breaking down in the day, but she did buy another a MK 2 GT Turbo which she loved ❤
An Electric DS that makes perfect sense
Brilliant ❤ my sister had a Renault 5tl for years! It would handle the rubbish roads we have today like nothing else 😊
Just makes them better gives them more life. Love these comfortable, slow, tiny cars.
Keep up the good work ya flute! 🍻
Thank you. Ya stroker!
That turquoise 4 is SO cool!! And takes me back to being in one (very happily and very luckily) with 3 Belgian girls heading into Brussels at breakneck pace with associated hilarity heading out for a night of fun. Thanks Jonny. Memories of my OE are always welcome!!
I had a red 1982 R5 1.1 tl in the late 90’s. It rode like a boat it had so much suspension travel and a leaky fuel tank that also had a stuck fuel level sender. It used to stop at 1/4 of a tank on the gauge 😂. Had some real fun with that little car 🚗. Great content Jonny. Great channel. Keep it going.
Excellent polo neck sweater, very in-period.
Hoped someone would notice. #colinfirthspec
Firth Gear ? 😂
Jonny stole it from Chris Harris the last time he was moonlighting around the TG set...
...so many memories. My first car, a R4 TL. Due to some minor corrosion, every body panel and door in different colors. No wind screen and nearly no brakes, but proud like a king, I drove it home after paying 100,-D-Mark. Two years and a lot of exciting adventures later, it fell apart, but my love for this multi tool on wheels has still survived.
Absolutely loving the gap above the rear door on that gorgeous 4 !!😵💫🤣🤣.
Great Video on some classic cars, 4 of us young lads went to St.Tropez from Surrey in a Renault 4 in the late 70's a bit hairy going over the mountains but all good fun, and slept in the car under the Eiffel Tower overnight, couldn't do that now. Great days.
I remember my Mum got a brand new renault 6 after she passed her test in 1972 - THE budget car of the 70's! Pull in out gearstick like the 4 and canvas seats!
Whenever I see a R4 they remind me of family holidays in France as a kid. If I lived in France I'd definitely be looking at getting one of those!
There's something indescribably cute and charming about that R4. Totally agree that we have forgotten how to make simple fit-for-purpose affordable cars for the masses.
The masses are entitled and want the bells and whistles. I think a fit for purpose basic car would really struggle in the UK.
@@martindooley4439it would also struggle to meet current safety standards. These add mass and bulk to cars. Which is why modern cars only just fit into older car park spaces.
In the YT video, Jonny stated that the Dacia is currently the vehicle that fills the 'simple and and affordable' category of car. - so these 'types of car' still exist and are available in the UK. However they are not available in Australia.
True when he says that the french still love their cars just « fit for porpuse ». I lived there for 7 years (I’m portuguese) and one of the first things that I noticed was exactly that, just how not flashy or ostentatious they are about their cars. Especially in Paris and in its outskirts, the amount of houses worth millions with small cheap hatchbacks on their driveways is just amusing! Also, bumping while parking is just generally accepted… 🤣
I forgot how well styled and charasmatic both the 4 and early 5 where, seeing them in such imaculate condition was a real reminder of how good looking they are.
Memories aplenty. My first car was a Renault 4 TL. At the time my dad had a R 5TS ( twin choke Webber ). My sister had a R6TL which had been dads. Happy days 🏴
I can't put my finger on it but for some reason, I have squeaky ambition to watch an animated movie about a chef Rat.
Learned to drive in a Renault 4 van, which was my grandfather's farm vehicle in Lincolnshire. I was 12 years old! Lots of fun. That gear shift lever takes some getting used to and doesn't give a lot of feel :)
Ditto 💥👍
Top flight video as usual, the 4 was absolutely beautiful to behold ( minus the rear window frame gaps )😅 ,the French have a much more level headed approach to cars & life in general ,cheers Johnny ❤
A friend had an R4 fourgonnette and at about 110 kph the sheet metal sides started resonating and creating a noise I'll never forget.
Luckily it needed a tremendous downhill slope to reach that speed...
I can push mine to 130kph but the wind noise from the roof rack reminds me I'm in the "danger zone"
That 4 is pretty much a dream car for me. If ever I'm rich enough, I'll get one and bring it over to Canada, it would certainly stand out!!
Yeah, my when I'm rich plan is buy a cheap old car too. Seems counter-intuitive somehow but they're great
Thoroughly enjoyed this episode Jonny, I would have a R4 please, My dad had one and I loved its quirky frenchness. What a lovely wee thing.
Great episode! I had an R4 in the mid 80s. That thing took on any road conditions. It was bloody quick and surefooted on snowpacked roads. I'd have another in an instant ❤
I recently went to the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, specifically to see the 767B Mazda and then they caught my eye, a Renault 5 Turbo and Clio V6 side by side, no fuss, no fanfare, just sitting there, I was totally mesmerised as I didn't think I would ever see either of these cars as they weren't available in OZ. Damn nearly forgot why I was there.
Basically replacing running gear with alternatives is what hot rodding is all about, got a new word for it now restomodding, same thing different shirt.😊 As usual Mr Smith love it!
Thanks Jonny, great video. One of my scariest early motoring experiences was being driven by my great-aunt (a nun) with two other nuns in their convent’s papal yellow 70’s Renault 4 …”body roll” … I’m sure that only the power of prayer and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the dash kept me alive but a sweet, sweet car.
Not my thing, but a great film as always, so lovely to see things live on, keep up the good work Johnny
Your channel is my favorite car channel on YT. Yes, 'Alex' has that bunch of young hooligans, you know who I mean, and they're great too. But your channel is packed with brilliant content for car nuts of a certain vintage.
Really like both of these, can imagine owners of holiday homes in France having one parked up for use by them/guests. Great video too Johnny.
Many thanks for watching 📺
For some reason I preferred the 4 to the 5; I wouldn't really want either but can see a future here for classics and that is the main point. Nicely shot video, too- great quality content, Jonny and Co.
what amazes me is not the conversion but that fact that you can still buy parts for these cars
You can pretty much build a brand new 67-68 Mustang with the amount of parts available.
It’s all about the demand, people love classics.
You can buy loads of parts for the 4. My brother recently bought a 4 in the UK that he's restoring. Most parts have to come from Europe, but still.
@@Raptor3388 French manufacturers are well known for short lifespan when it comes to parts support. Maybe they already reintroduced these parts or Renault 5 was made in higher figures but try to find something to 25 years old Citroen Xantia or Renault 25.
Some manufacturers keep supplying spares for their classic models.
I can’t complain about BMW, lots of stuff is still available for my 37 year old E28.
The Renault 5 Le Car 2 was my first car and looked identical to the car in the vid. This brought back some great memories. Thanks Jonny, loved it!
I was in love with the electric R4 idea (I still miss my '84 model - it was utterly brilliant once I'd replaced all the engine mounts) until I saw the boot. The beauty of the R4 was its load space versatility and size. It was massive and flat, with the entire back of the car opening up for access. But it's completely ruined by that battery pack, very sorry to say. Great content as ever on Late Brake.
Great video! Proper old motor. I had a R5 GT turbo RAIDER back in the late 1990s 🎉
Impressively produced video - thank you
Great video,love the Renault 5, great car,had one years ago👌,love this conversion 👍👌
Cracking video, full of nostalgia and charm, including the location. That R4 is drop dead gorgeous, with the daylight on the rear door included- such a fantastic car to own, everything a car should be, small, light, simple, honest, go anywhere. Why have more? In the original though, changing the clutch was fun, you took most of the front off the car, but it was doable by an amateur and a Haynes manual. I would have one like that tomorrow.
Excellent video Jonny a number of choices for the new owners of the Renault electric vehicles. Cheers
Love it. Also love that you can see daylight around the door of the 4 as you are driving. Very French.
The very first Renault 5 had the dashboard gear like the Renault 4.
I'm 73, my first car was a Renault 4 export series.
I also had a Renault 5 as a second car, it was the 10th car leaving Renault Lille, and I really enjoyed it.
Used to drive a Renault 4 Van back in the day… went like a rocket… if I remember….🤓😂
Good work Jonny👍
Very well presented and interesting … much food for thought … here’s my take ! The idea of an electric city car is for me the best use of EVs … how wonderful to have little cars zipping about London and huge SUVs banished … but the usual EV caveats will halt this … if you park on street you can’t charge at home and sadly the cost of conversion and limited range really burst the balloon … I really like the slightly ratty R5 EV and could use one for commuting if the range was 100 miles and the conversion less than 10 grand … as it is I shall continue commuting in my M240i which is totally wasted on the role … keep making thoughtful films like this and hopefully we will get the cheap rangey city car … probably from Dacia ❤
Man I love that electric little R5. I'd have one in seventies green or orange on the trickle charger at my rivièra beach house to pop out for ice cream or lunch. I'm only just a few million euros short of owning said beach house. Great video, you're on a roll Jonny !
Great video-Like the comment about Dacias-Cheap, reliable , fast-choose any 2 is a mantra of mine and it's rarely wrong.
My dad's first car (before I was born) was a Renault 4, plus I have fond memories of his mk1 Renault 5 which couldn't make it up a hill in Cornwall while on a summer holiday (myself, my mum, and my brother had to get out before it would move any further - we weren't plump!). These cars make my heart sing (especially the R5)! The shelf on the 5's dash was used as 3 seats for teddy bears by me. Thank you for this video, I'm kinda surprised at how a little old supermini can tug on my heart strings. The EV conversion would probably help it on Cornish hills too! Charming. 🤍
Drove an R4 from Wales to Lanzarote last year. Didn't miss a beat despite 40 C through Spain. She averaged 50 mpg, over 3500 km, and was an utter delight. Cruises all day at 100 kmh, very happily, superb stability, despite being threatened by overtaking Eurobarges, passing at 150 kmh! Sensational little Cars. The 1100 Cleon engine is very sweet. Parts availability is excellent in Europe. Try one....or any Classic Renault.😊
Great video and perfect location for these cars - Love the engineering being put into these classics, but Renault needs to build a new 4 and the Mehari always makes me smile and reminds me of Le Gendarme de Saint-Trope movies...
Maybe they will.
They are going to.
French cars are just wonderful, inventive and inspiring! Keep these great films coming!
Great content for the channel 👍👍👍
When I was at uni in the early 2000’s there was a lad on my course with a burnt orange Gordini turbo. He was cool, the car was cool and the cord seats were cool. Imagine putting a modern electric motor in that! Damn right!
Charming vehicles, indeed. This was a fun episode, Jonny.
Many thanks for watching
Matching the watch colour with the Renault 4 was a nice touch of elegance 😉
I’d love to own the R4. And you’re right about Dacia, got one myself. Excellent dependable motor.
We always had R4s and 5s as a kid, in fact we drove a 4 from santander to roscoff once due to a fisherman's strike, hell of a journey that I remember well. We're recreating it in reverse in a few weeks in our e Niro
I love a Renault 4, but the fact you can see daylight through the rear door gap is hilarious! Still want one, petrol or electric.
Good to see they are using LFP whats extremely safe❤ id 100% buy one for a little run around in a place like that
28.41 " -I'm getting a ton of wind noise" . . . " You can actually see day light in the gap between the left passenger door and the body of the car. A friend of mine had a Renault 4L and it was the same on his car. Cheap cars made in a cheap way and not to much of "precison" applied when they were assembled. The 4 was Reanault's answer to Citroën's best seller (at the time in France), the 2CV.
It is in many ways a copy of the 2CV, side windows, seats, FWD and so on. It even didn't have a window in the C-pillar to begin with, just like the earlier 2CV's.
BTW, the Renault 4CV was water cooled as all Ranault cars have been, ASIK.
There was a FWD version/conversion to be had for a while.
Love the R4. My parents had them for years & I passed my test in it. An electric version in 🇬🇧 - yes please. Perfect for crowded city driving.
16000€ for an electric conversion kit?! *shakes my head* the lunacy...
I Had a Renault 4, brought cheaply near the end of its life (rust) Did some big ish Uk trips in it, I loved using the gear stick that projected out of the dash, right next to the steering wheel positioned like modern competition sequential! it had a toquey 4 cylinder 1100cc engine (as I recall) which made it big step up from a 2CV, its sit up and beg layout made for decent space internally for Humans, trips to the tip and even into the wilds of cornwall to fumble with fishing tackle and fail at surfing,
Despite being even at the time, totally superseded by far safer, faster, way more comfortable vehicles, and it not having the hippy cache of the trendy 2CV, I fell for it, loved trundeling around it this practical family tractor.
Lovely wee machines Jonny, magic to see them both and very appealing in their natural surroundings . . . couldn't help but chuckle every time the shot was looking across at you from the passengers side in the 4 . . . the daylight around the rear door was hilarious . . . Quality French engineering !! P.S. I do have a BX GTi and a 405 Mi-16 so it's not a dig, merely an Observation of simpler times !!
You have a BX GTi and Mi16? Still? Those are unicorns now.
@@TheLateBrakeShow I'm in NZ so the climate is much easier on them down here . . . Just added a warmed up Rover SD1 VDP V8 to the fleet as well . . . So if you're ever down here and want some subject matter . . . There is plenty of choice down here . . . Love the channel, great to see it growing so well . . . Thanks for keeping us all well informed and entertained Jonny, magic stuff always !!
I love the idea of these conversions. As a 2CV owner, I thought I would prefer the 4 - but the 5 really appeals! 😀
I had an origional R4 with the dashboard gear change and also a 1973 R5 with the same dashboard gear change ,both were brilliant ,precise and quick change,i would say i havnt had a better gear change since ,also a pillowy ride which on our pathetic roads we have now would be ideal.
The 4 is just lovely. What a charming and capable thing it is.
My first car after passing my test was a R5. Loved its French quirkiness!
I like the car, but i love the aquadive you are wearing lovely watch
Right car in the right location and the right application of the technology. Shame about the price but as JS says if you own that......... you can own this. That R4 looked well fettled but the daylight shimmering through the back door seal was a little alarming.
I totally understand where this is coming from. I learnt to drive in a Renault five and I also remember the rear plug in a Renault five such delights I don’t want big lumber some cars. It’s everything I don’t want in a car. I’m more motorcycles than cars put it that way but this is good sensible motoring is when French cars were still good, I could actually understand owning one of these but hey I’m not your normal car driver. Enjoy your program Michael.
I ran an old R4 La Poste van for several years in the UK. It originated from the Normandy area. It had spent most of it's life delivering French letters - I always regarded this as a fine accolade.
My junior infants teacher had a red Renault 4. I don’t remember any other teacher’s car but that one stuck with me to this day. The gearstick in the dash was so strange to five year old me in 1983.
I am obsessed with Renault 5s. I have a carbon copy (even the same colour) of the 5 you showed and have owned it since 1992! We met at one of your shows. I owned the black R5 Turbo 2 with all the crazy mods.
I have considered converting my 5 TL to electric, but I think I would prefer something with a bit more range and power. I'm thinking Leaf running gear, Leaf batteries, and uprated suspension.
I was once the owner of a 1972 Renault 14. It was unreliable and a total rust bucket, but I loved it. In the end it all but fell apart and it went to the scrapyard. I would rfeally love one of these electric mods. It has so much space and is such a lot of fun to drive.
Had both of these. My R4 when I used to go over a level crossing both front doors would burst open😂. Lethal in an accident but I went everywhere in both off them. 60 mph cruise 55 mpg
Thanks Johnny - really enjoyed the vid & production quality excellent👌
The R5 took me back to the 80s when I had a M Reg 1974 v rusty 5TL
- do u recall a tv ad for the R5 with some parrots or cockatiels leaning inside the car as it went round a bend ?
I think the regs done this one justice. It keeps the conversation companies honest. It’s brilliant that theres a future for classic cars to be remanufactured like the 2CV. 100% on the french, they make cracking hatchbacks
I love them Jonny, I’ve always believed if the car is more well known for it’s characteristics and charm than it’s engine that makes it a good contender as an EV. Although I draw the line with larger vehicles as it’s uneconomical. But these two completely incapsulate the ideas behind the Zoe and Ami.
I liked the way your watch strap matched the body colour of the Renault 4!
👌🏾
I used to own a red Renault 5 back in the late 80s when i was a poor metalhead teen. It was brilliant fun that car! 😍
My first car was a Renault 6, which was basically the fancy version of the 4. It had the same hockey-stick gear change, which was basically just a solid rod through the bulkhead with a ring on the end that moved a regular gearstick in the engine bay. That's French problem-solving for you.
Being young, foolish and indestructible at the time (based on the same self-assessment made by all young male drivers), I spent many months driving round with only two nuts on one of the rear wheels! 😮
Now that’s more useful than most ev’s
👍🏼👍🏼 great video.
15:00 Bang-on...always admired the Frenchies + Italians car-buying. they tend to just get little runabouts and keep them for years, gathering dust.
We've gone the opposite way, suckered into ever-bigger, poncified German SUVs.
I loved my R4, my third car... Will have to get one again, électrique peut-être ! 🛸
Interesting vid, not a fan of ev's but must admit the new R5 2024 looks really nice along with the Alpine version also coming out soon .
I ran a R4 for a few months it was a hoot to drive and over a rutted track the fastest thing this side of a Range Rover. I remember demonstrating this capability to a friend as we raced down a rutted, potholed farmers track in Yorkshire reaching speeds in excess of 60mph (we were going down hill). No wonder the thing came 2nd in the Pais Dakar.
That little white 5 looks amazing
Another video that has me looking for 4's & 5's for sale as opposed to my VW aircooled background.
So basically…messing with things that naturally don’t need to be messed with.
Clever people, come up with solutions to actual problems. If, indeed, they are problems. The market will decide when something is a must have, and not before.🙂
The sunlight coming through the rear passenger door seal, classic R4. Such great cars. I use my van everyday. Surreal seeing it pop along in relative silence.
😬
Was just hanging around in Les Baux de Provence with my son looking at a Renault 5, inherited one back in the days (although that one had a dashboard gear stick).
Beautiful production. 5 star. 👌🏆
What a charming conversion! I think replacing the often unreliable and fairly tuneless little engines in old city cars with an electric powertrain absolute has some validity. If i lived in the south of france, wanted a lovely classic to use daily, then why not? No, it's not fast, nor "keeping up with the Martins", but what a lovely way to pop out for some cheese and a Baton 🙂
That Renault 4 😍 If you could buy a new one with the original boot space, it’d be top of my list.
Love this,
I learned how to drive in a 3 door 5 TS
I would absolutely love a Renault 4, such a great classic
Oh man, at one point we had a 5 in white and a 4 van in a turquoise blue. Talk about childhood memories....
✊🏽
We also had a Le Car model in the UK 😊 I loved my two R5 GT Turbo’s I had & really wish I’d still got one of them.
I remember my family had a Renault 5 when I was a kid, it had a dash mounted gear shifter.