518 and 1518 Renault R 4 L (1962-1971 and 1974-1978)

The Renault 4L was produced by Meccano France from 1962-1971. It was issued with steering wheel direction, suspension, interior, windows and highly detailed silver trim around the car. It got model number 518 and replaced the 524 Renault Dauphine. The Renault 4L was also available in UK with the same model number 518 and was part of a series of imported Dinky Toys from France to UK with the slogan 'Dinky Toys from Paris '. I show model 518 (in a somewhat strange UK order) in the various advertisements in Meccano Magazine France and UK and the DT catalogues and leaflets. December 1961: Introduction Dinky Toys 518 Renault 4L in MM France 1962-1: Dinky Toys 518 Renault 4L on front cover catalogue France 1962 1962-1: Dinky Toys 518 Renault 4L in Catalogue France 1962 March 1962: Separate UK leaflet with all imported French Dinky Toys including 518 March 1962: Separate UK leaflet with all imported French Dinky Toys including 518 May 1962: Part of Price list Dinky Toys catalogue UK including all imported French Dinky Toys, including 518. The French Dinky Toys were not depicted in the UK catalogue. May 1963: Meccano price list UK with imported French models including 518 July 1962: Part 1 announcement total range of French Dinky Toys imported to UK in MM UK with the statement and should be very popular with British boys. July 1962: Part 2 announcement total range of French Dinky Toys imported to UK in MM UK September 1962: 518 Renault 4L in Dinky Toys News by the Toyman in MM UK Renault 4L presented on 5 october 1961 Salon de lAutomobile Paris Presented on 5 october 1961 Salon de lAutomobile Paris 1961: Renault 3 - The cheaper version of Renault 4 without decorative trim. 1961: Left Renault 4L with decorative trim. Right the cheaper version: Renault R3 without decorative trim. A Renault 4L car getting up the stairs of Rialto Bridge, Venice, 1961. A Renault 4L car getting down the stairs of Rialto Bridge, Venice, 1961. Because the rear torsion bars are located one behind the other, the wheelbase is longer on the right side than on the left. Renault 4 chassis. Helicopter view of the inside of the Renault 4 Renault 4L sales brochure 1961 Renault 4L sales brochure 1961 Renault 4 model variations through the years. Wikipedia: TheRenault 4, also known as the4L(pronounced 'Quatrelle is ahatchback economy carproduced by the French automakerRenaultbetween 1961 and 1994. It was the firstfront-wheel drivefamily car produced by Renault. The car was launched at a time when several decades of economic stagnation were giving way togrowing prosperityand surging car ownership in France. The first million cars were produced by 1February 1966, less than four and a half years after launch; eventually over eight million were built, making the Renault 4 a commercial success because of the timing of its introduction and the merits of its design. Although originally marketed as a small estate car, it is now regarded as the firstmass production hatchback car. I show pictures of the only example that I have acquired in the colour light blue on which you can see the highly detailed silver trim around the whole car... and pictures of the real Renault 4. There are different colours and variants of the 518 issued, including those made by Poch in Spain. I hope that others want to contribute variations and informations of this beautiful model. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis, 21 August 2018.

Jan -- some lovely details about the Renault 4. I'm ashamed to say that while I have owned four Renaults -- a 4, a 5, and two US-model 9's (Alliance and GTA), I did not even know about the existence of the 3!! The latter's lack of a rear window of course reminds me of the R4 van as modeled by Dinky in the PTT version. I will always feel a special connection with the 4 because my son was almost born in mine as we drove to hospital on a windy, wintry night in fen country. My wife's contractions were such that she could not bear to sit in the passenger seat, so I folded down the rear one so she could lie back there. On the two-lane road into town, which would be traveled at 60-mph speed by many commuters only a few hours later, high winds lifted the car and moved it on the ice until we were sideways blocking the middle of the road. The 4's name was Andre. I guess if my son had come a little sooner his would have had to have been, too. I'm grateful Dinky made such nice models of the car!

Very good job Jan on a car which is still enjoying young people and students. You probably knows about the 'Raid 4L trophy' The meeting point is Biarritz in France south west, they cross Spain and Marocco for a 10 days raid. My first car, as you, was a 4L. Jonathan, thank you for your touching story ; you must have been very anxious that night !! Here under some of my Renault 4L variations. Some are missing and I will soon do a group photo. Kind regards Richard

Here are all my Renault 4L ...... waiting for the next one ! You will see that the red models have two different coloured interior fittings : white and dark cream. Kind regards Richard

I was not aware of the presence of letters under the left front wing of model 518, mentioned by Richard in his contribution New Arrivals number # 1161. The one of Richard without letters should be the first version. When I went to look under my 518 I found the letter A under the left front wing and should thus be a later version. Renault 4L of Richard without letters under the left wing (photo Richard DTCA) 1200 878My Renault 4L with letter A under the left wing To look for more information I went to search on the French Ebay. I found some French ads of model 518, which speak about 'Moule AB et plaque arrire dcentre', but no further explanation about the added pictures, so I am still left after with a few questions.Is there also a 518 version with the letters AB under the left front wing? And what does 'plaque arrire dcentree' mean? My knowledge of the French language is insufficient to explain this. Does it have to do with the license plate on the back of the 518? Whether it is exactly in the middle of the rear or not?The book of JMR don't say anything about this, so I hope that Richard or Jacques can explain this. Are there pictures?Jan Oldenhuis 3 June 2019

Hi Jan. Unfortunately, no books are complete and present all the informations and details that we can found ourselves in our collections. I 'll try to answer your questions. Yes, there are 3 versions of the Renault 4L : First version : without any letters under the left wing. Second version : (yours) with letter A Third version : with letter A & B as shown on the following photo. Yes, the rear license plate of the 4L is not really in the middle, if you take the license plate light, just over, as reference mark. See photo. Kind regards Richard

Richard. Indeed, books can hardly be complete, because we are constantly discovering new details in our collection. That's the fun of the research of casting- and colour variations of each model. Many thanks for your valuable contribution and explanation of these different versions of the Renault 4L with the pictures included. I add a photo of the rear of my Renault 4L. I think the license plate of my 518 is fairly centered compared to your example. Kind regards, Jan Oldenhuis

782 484With the help of Richard and JanO, here are the three versions of the 4L peculiar marking.