Allez-y's guide to dating your R4 Berline

Here are some quick hints for estimating the age of an R4, based on outside visual details. It doesn't go into technical details like engines, carburettors, distributors etc, nor does it deal with paint colours or seat/bench tissue. Too many different varieties have been applied in the course of time, often simultaneously on different models. Consult an expert if you want to know more about that kind of thing.

Most chrome and other deluxe parts were usually applied on deluxe models like R4L, Super, Parisienne etc. but not on basic models like R3 and R4.

If a part was only slightly modified, like for instance the addition of an ashtray or different air vents to the first model dashboard etc, I ignored it.

This page is based on the French models, but more or less applicable to all western European models excluding Spain, but there are more countries with specific details. Deluxe models like Super and Parisienne and also Safari, Sixties, Jogging etc. are also different in many ways. Note that an R4 of a certain model year was usually available from august or september of the preceding year. The years listed below in the table are model years.

    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Remark
Engine Voltage 6 12
Gear * 3 (328) 4 (334) 4 (354)
Dynamo / Alternator Dynamo Alternator
Tank (liter) 26 34
Jack 1st ('à vis') 2nd ('parallélogramme')
Battery Cabinside Up front
Cooling liquid bottle Metal Glass Plastic
    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92
Inside Neimann anti-theft No Yes Neimann optional since 1964
Rearview mirror
*
*
*
*
*
On dashboard (trapezoid) On windscreen (rectangle)
Steering wheel 1st (2 or 3 spoke) 2nd (2 spoke) 3rd (2 spoke) 4th (2 spoke)
Dashboard 1st 2nd, brown 2nd, black 3rd (black/grey/beige) 1977/1978: small trays for Safari/GTL
Clock 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Hand brake Front left, on front brakes
*
Between seats, on rear brakes 782 and 845cc keep brake in front after 82
Gear handle Round Pear Pear (with gear numbers) 1st press photos only steel handle
Rear shelf None Metal, loose Metal, hinged Plastic, hinged Basic models did not have one at all
    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Remark
Outside front Indicator lights Round Round
*
Rectangular white/orange
Licence plate On hood On bumper (for 1100cc)
Grille 1st chrome (narrow) 2nd chrome (wide) 3rd, plastic (black) 3rd, plastic (grey)
Logo (on grille) 1st (on 1st grille) 2nd (flat) 3rd (angle) 4th 5th (on 3rd grille) 1st chrome on 4L, Super, Parisienne
Windshield wiper rest position Left Right
Air inlet under windscreen Metal Plastic (ugly!)
Front bumper
*
Flat Round (chr.) Round (chrome) Round (grey) Tubs in '62 and later standard+fourg.
Swing hole in front bumper * Yes Yes No
    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Remark
Outside side Front right wing logo No Yes No Never on basic models
Front wing parking lights Yes No Never on basic models
Left rearview mirror Optional Round Oval (chrome) Oval (black) Rectangular Safari had black left rearviewmirror
Hub caps * Concentric ? No Never on basic models
Chrome strips on doors, wings Long Short None Never on basic models or GTL
Chrome strips below doors Wide Narrow None Never on basic models or GTL
Side window frame Metal Plastic
Opening side windows
*
2nd window sliding on deluxe models Never on basic models
Door hinges Outside Inside
Door handles basic models used to have plastic, deluxe models chrome. Later all plastic
    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Remark
Outside back Hatch logo 3/4/4L *
*
Renault (chrome) Renault 4/4TL/4GTL (bl. metal) Renault 4 L/TL/GTL (black plastic)
Hatch opener Straight Foldable with spring
Rear window heating No Yes (on deluxe models)
Hatch closure 1st T-shape Narrow 1 Narrow 2
Hatch hinges Welded Bolted 1st Bolted 2nd
Moustache Yes No Yes No
Rear bumper
*
Flat Round (chrome) Round (grey)
    62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 Remark

- In general, basic models like the R3 and R4, and also the Fourgonnettes don't have chrome parts like bumpers, hub caps etc.; instead, they have grey bumpers, grey door handles, grey headlight rings etc. During the GTL-epoch on the other hand, the basic models had chrome bumpers, whereas the GTL had grey painted bumpers etc.

- The R3 and R4 (basic), and later the basic 'L' version, do not have the 3rd side window

- Tripod hub caps were only applied on the 1962 Super

- The 1963 basic model has tubular bumpers

- External rearview mirror was optional on basic models

- Steering wheel 1st generation: until '68 basic models have 3-spoke, until '67 deluxe 2-spoke

- Licence plate: models with 956 / 1100cc engine have it on the bumper

- Grille 1st generation: basic models don't have chrome clip-on grille

- Rubber bumper blocks appear to have been optional for deluxe models from the very start

- Chrome strips were mounted on the TL until 1982

- The GTL does not have chrome strips

- Within the 3 types of dashboard and clock, various minor differences exist, differences related to the ventilation, ashtray etc.

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