Forgotten Cars - Renault 3

The Renault 3 was a back to basics means of transport

I came across this blast from the past a couple of years ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
I'm sure like most people who first clapped eyes on it, I assumed it was the rather famous and successful Renault 4, a car that was made in 16 different countries and had a production run that stretched from 1961 to 1992. Millions were produced - I tend to think of it as Renault's answer to the Citroen 2CV, Fiat 500 and BMC's Mini.
Alas, I was wrong. It was instead the largely forgotten Renault 3; a car that at the time I didn't even know existed! The story behind it isn't a long one...
Citroen's 2CV was selling like hot cakes in France throughout the 1950's; a vehicle that was produced to appeal to the French farmer by being cheap, durable and able to transport produce such as eggs over fields without the worry of them cracking thanks to the car's long travel suspension. Meanwhile, Renault were set to launch their new R4, a 747cc five door family hatchback that was affordable, tough and practical.
Renault executives of the day were evidently concerned that the 4 was somehow a bit too well equipped and high end compared to the equivalent 2CV, (even though one could hardly call it luxurious). Worried that it was priced and positioned north of the Citroen, Renault launched the budget orientated R3 in order to compete directly with the 2CV.

The Renault 3 was a commercial failure. The production run lasted just two years

The car launched in 1961, the same year as the R4; however, the Renault 3 featured a smaller 603cc engine and was priced 4% lower than the entry level R4. Although both were pretty much identical to look at, the R3 came without the third side rear windows, hubcaps, interior door linings or screen washer. Chrome plating was scrapped on the vehicle's grille and bumpers; instead, these parts were coloured the same as the body.
In the end Renault needn't have bothered. As there was such little difference in price and performance between the two cars, everyone just bought the Renault 4 in the first place - and buy it they did. The R4 became one of the world's biggest motoring success stories.
As for the rather forgotten Renault 3, production ended in October 1962. The car is a very rare sight today but it showed that Renault were on to a good thing from the off with the R4.