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The Soraya, Camargue and Sonchamp photos

Prior to the start of the official production in August 1961, a number of R4 that look pretty much like the 'deuxième série de confirmation' were manufactured by hand between ~March and ~August. The most striking differences with the production series of October 1961 and later are the low fuel entry pipe and the flat bonnet. Three or four cars were used for the presentation to the dealers during Opération Soraya in March. According to the Album R4, 30 cars were assembled by hand for the press presentation in the Camargue in August 1961: 25 R4 (1120, 4cv) and 5 R3 (1121, 3cv). I don't know if the Soraya cars are included in the 30. During and shortly after the presentation, many photos appeared in various newspapers and magazines, among others Renault Magazine 44 and the Édition Spéciale, in various movies such as Operation Soraya and Ballade en Camargue, and on (press) photos, of which many are credited to Georges Menager.

In an attempt to clarify which cars there were, which types, which characteristics they had etc., I have collected on this page most of the >140 photos of this period that I know of, when identifiable by the license plate. Thanks Antoine for your contribution!

Occasion	License plate(s)	#	Remarks
Deuxième série de confirmation	3875JP75	1
Opération Soraya	1961RR75 - 1961RR78	4	RR: Régie Renault 1961RR78 is a proto-Super
Opération Soraya	1962RR75	1	RR: Régie Renault 1961RR78 is a proto-Super
Camargue	1631KL75	1
	2193W75 - 2197W75	5	W: immatriculation garage
	5871W75 - 5885W75	15	W: immatriculation garage
Sonchamp	6522LG75 - 6527LG75	6
Total:		33

This adds up to slightly more than 30. 3875JP75 probably does not belong to the 30, and 1962RR75 may be a new 1962 plate for a 1961 car, and perhaps more cars were assigned more than one license plate number during the period March - August. It is also assumed that the Régie kept a few cars apart for spares, and another one was sawn in half to show the internal structure better.

Who has seen photos showing other license plates than the ones shown below, especially 1961RR77, 2194W75, 5872W75, 5858W75 or 5523LG75?

Misconceptions about R3 vs R4

It is sometimes assumed that the R3 is a predecessor of the R4. In reality, the 3 and 4 were introduced simultaneously, together with the 4L in August 1961.

Further, R4 without the 3rd side window, without chrome parts and with the first grille are sometimes referred to as R3. From the outside, the R3 (1121, 3CV) can only be distinguised from the R4 (1120, 4CV) by the hatch logo. Inside the engine compartment, the different engines can be distinguished visually by the presence of 3 vs. 4 devils on the valve cover, and of course the oval plates showing the type number (1120 or 1121) are different. The 4L, on the other hand, is a 4CV 1120 like the R4, with the same engine, but equipped with abundant chrome parts, an opening 3rd side window and many other luxury parts.

Three devils, applied to the 3CV engine

For the Camargue photos and videos this means that it is only possible to distinguish a 3 from a 4 if the hatch is pictured. So, when the Album Renault 4 claims that 25 R4 (1120, 4CV) were present, this could have been either 4 or 4L.

Fun facts:

-	While the Soraya models have 1961, we can see 1962RR75 on a rare colour photo in front of the Château Rochefort en Yvelines.
-	The Soraya models do not have a Renault logo on the grille (similar for the présérie and the deuxième séries de confirmation).
-	Colours: 1631KL75 is red in the Camargue and blue in Paris Match. Also, the 2 front bumpers are different.
-	Right hand: 2196W75 and 2197W75 (4L) and 5879W75 (3 or 4) had right hand steering.
-	Window stickers: some of the 219xW75 and 58xxW75 series had a number sticker on the lower right corner of their windscreen in the same order as their license plate: 5871 is 1, 5875 is 5, 5877 is 7, etc. The right hand steering models had numbers on the lower left corner.
-	Identified types: R3: 5873W75 and 5875W75 R4: 5876W75 R3 or R4: 5871W75, 5874W75, 5877W75 and 5879W75 (likely including all numbers between 5871 and 5879) R4L: 5880W75 - 5885W75 (6).
-	Open roof: 3875JP75 and 5876-, 5877-, 5881- and 5883W75.
-	2194W75, 5872W75, 5878W75 and 5523LG75 are yet unknown from any photos! Who has seen them?
-	2195W75 and 5882W75 appear to be the most pictured ones.

3875JP75

3875JP75 Paris Match

3875JP75 Renault Magazine

1961RR75

1961RR75 Operation Soraya

1961RR76

1961RR76 Operation Soraya	1961RR76 Operation Soraya	1961RR76 Operation Soraya
1961RR76 Operation Soraya

1961RR78

1961RR78 Collection Antoine

1961RR78 Operation Soraya

1961RR78 Operation Soraya Super

1962RR75

1962RR75 Collection Antoine

1631KL75

1631KL75 Alle Modelle	1631KL75 Ballade en Camargue	1631KL75 La Renault 4 de mon pere
1631KL75 Paris Match	1631KL75 Paris Match

2193W75

2193W75 Collection Antoine

2195W75

2195W75 Action Automobile	2195W75 Automobile	2195W75 Autovisie
2195W75 Edition Speciale	2195W75 Edition Speciale	2195W75 Gazoline
2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images
2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images
2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Getty Images
2195W75 Getty Images	2195W75 Mecanique Populaire	2195W75 Paris Match
2195W75 Pilote	2195W75 Pour Vous Madame	2195W75 Pour Vous Madame
2195W75 Vierkant Renault 4

2196W75

2196W75 Press photo

2197W75

2197W75 Collection Antoine

5871W75

5871W75 Africa brochure	5871W75 Automobile	5871W75 Edition Speciale
5871W75 Velocidad

5873W75

5873W75 Gazoline	5873W75 Pinterest	5873W75 Press photo
5873W75 Renault Magazine	5873W75 Renault Media

5874W75

5874W75 Edition Speciale

5875W75

5875W75 Edition Speciale	5875W75 Gazoline	5875W75 Renault 4 off road tests
5875W75 Renault 4 off road tests	5875W75 Renault 4 off road tests	5875W75 Renault Media

5876W75

5876W75 Auto Journal

5876W75 Auto jourmal

5876W75 INA.fr

5877W75

5877W75 INA.fr

5877W75 Tour Carbonniere

5879W75

5879W75 Press photo

5880W75

5880W75 10	5880W75 Alle Modelle	5880W75 Autokampioen
5880W75 Edition Speciale	5880W75 Edition Speciale	5880W75 Gazoline
5880W75 Porte Gardette	5880W75 Pressemappe 40 jahre	5880W75 Pressemappe 40 jahre
5880W75 Renault 4 off road tests	5880W75 Renault 4 off road tests	5880W75 Tour Constance

5881W75

5881W75 Album Renault 4	5881W75 Autokampioen	5881W75 Gazoline
5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images
5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images
5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images
5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images	5881W75 Getty Images
5881W75 Mecanique Populaire	5881W75 Paris Match	5881W75 Paris Match
5881W75 Publicite	5881W75 Renault Magazine	5881W75 Renault Magazine
5881W75 Renault Magazine	5881W75 Renault Magazine

5882W75

5882W75 Auto Journal	5882W75 Autokampioen	5882W75 Autonotizie
5882W75 Edition Speciale	5882W75 Gazoline	5882W75 Press photo
5882W75 Promotion	5882W75 Promotion	5882W75 Renault Media
5882W75 Renault Media	5882W75 Renault Media	5882W75 Velocidad

5883W75

5883W75 Auto Journal	5883W75 Autokampioen	5883W75 Autonotizie
5883W75 Ballade en Camargue	5883W75 Ballade en Camargue	5883W75 Gazoline
5883W75 Mecanique Populaire	5883W75 Press photo	5883W75 Press photo
5883W75 Press photo	5883W75 Prove su strada	5883W75 Renault Magazine