BigLorryBlog

Back in 1972 Commercial Motor was unlucky enough to test drive the Renault 4 van (aka the Fourgon) – and here’s a picture of it taking a bend at 10mph!
Overall CM tester Trevor Longcroft was impressed by the van’s performance, although not necessarily by its appearance – stating: “It does not have a particularly attractive body shape.”
But what does impress him is the uncluttered cabin – a consequence of the Fourgon having bugger-all to clutter it up with. I think it’s safe to say that Guantanamo Bay detention camp cells have more in the way of creature comforts!

He wasn’t overly impressed with the non-cancelling indicators and the “inconsistent response to brake-pedal effort” sounded rather worrying.
But my favourite quote of all refers to the van’s handling: “Driving the unladen vehicle along stretches of derestricted road I on occasion experienced a floating sensation attributable, I think, to the soft suspension of the vehicle.”
No kidding! Check out the body roll in this photograph. Another 5mph and he would have scraped the mirror on the tarmac.
But, despite looking like crap, and having the same handling abilities as a blancmange, the Renault Fourgon did have a few positive aspects. For a start it was cheap – with an on-the-road price of £632. It also had an extremely handy roof flap for carrying oversized loads. Also, let’s not forget that dash-mounted gear lever. Thirty-odd years later and just about every van on the market has one of those.