Does your R4 have a name?

[Paul Narramore]

Now, as a rule, no cars or motorcycles I own or have owned is given a name. I don't see the point. However when I bought our last Citroen 2CV six or seven years ago (my fifth in over forty years), and re-chassised her for our daughter's approaching wedding, my wife and I had just watched the Audrey Tatou film 'Amélie' and had spent the weekend in Paris walking the street of Montmatre where 'Amélie' was filmed. So our 2CV became Amélie and I got stickers of her name made on vinyl for her to display.

Now I have a 1986 red R4GTL, I got to wondering what name to give her. It had to be a French girl's name, preferably with an accent, perhaps even a cedilla. That would be posh. Actually there aren't too many French girl's names with accents. 'Ysabel' sounded nice with a Y instead of an I. I got talking the other day with a French Canadian friend and his Breton wife and they thought 'Renée' would be nice, but not the masculine 'René'. Yesterday in the workshop, 'Walk away Renée' by the Four Tops came on the radio so that's it. Renée.

 

[malcolm]

Mine is called Claude van Rouge.

 

[Eoynteenie]

A lot of R4's are called Rene and prob a lot of renaults

Mine was called Rene by my sister who owned him before me.

The reason? 'Allo 'Allo!, the old TV show about a french cafe during the 2nd world war. The cafe owner was called René, who was loved by all the ladies in the show, personly I think the R4 has quiet an ugly look but nearly all the girls I have met when I drove him called him 'cute'.
Also the couple who owned Rene as part of a collection, (Renaults of every type all around!) where a gay couple, keeping with the actor who played Rene in 'Allo 'Allo!, Gorden Kaye, who was also gay.

So the name stuck.

We have had many saabs in our family life, some getting names like 'The Rally' due to a race exhaust system, 'Skippy' due to the failed shocks, 'Krakatoa' due to the engine blowing up on the way home.

Also my bora is called Marmite, should explain itself really.

 

[petak]

Most times i cal him/her "čvrka" local name for renault4.....
But sometimes when i am in good mood then it is "plavuša" ......."plava" is croatian word for blue color..........translated to english it would be blondy

 

[mojobaby]

When I was 4 years old, Father Christmas/Santa Claus gave me this car

My mom suggested that I call it Genevieve, after a 1953 movie of the same name.

As you can see, I still have the car, after all these years. So when I bought my R4 in 2002,and thought about giving her a name, the obvious choice was Genevieve

 

[mr-reno-139]

Well my Yellow Peril kind of self describing can't quite recall who first used the name mght have been malcolm ☺
Was going to be Fourgon Conclusion but as it's never been totally completed decided against it

 

[MrMick]

my one called Yvette, its what malcolm called her ,

 

[Bobble]

one of mine's is called Rosalie, again one from Malcolm

 

[malcolm]

What has happened to Rosalie? MOT history suggests the old girl is in the queue.

In my defence it was the owners before me who came up with the excellent names for Claude, Ornella, Blanche and Yvette, i don't claim resposibility for Yellow Peril either. Rosalie was one of mine, as was Ermintrude.

 

[Neil]

Similar to mr-reno-139 above, mine is also self describing....

She's called SLIGHT RATTLE, but more about that in the appropriate section.
I didn't fancy chopping 12 inches off the broom-handle to form a bridge between my ear-drum and the rocker cover, so i splashed-out €14 on one of these.....

 

[Bobble]

Hi Malcolm, yes she's still in the queue at the moment but is soon to see the light of day again nearly finished the F6 then a car to finished off and then it's Rosalie's turn .

 

[JonathanT]

When I was 4 years old, Father Christmas/Santa Claus gave me this car
View attachment 16273
My mom suggested that I call it Genevieve, after a 1953 movie of the same name.

As you can see, I still have the car, after all these years. So when I bought my R4 in 2002,and thought about giving her a name, the obvious choice was Genevieve

Mojo- Your little tin car (well they are both tin -big and small) is delightful. I love tin toys.
Genevieve is such an apt name for both cars.


Mine is called Womble. Not really because of the Childrens TV show 'The Wombles'

but because of a comment made by Vulgalour on this site that he might be seen Wombling about in his car

 

[David M]

I've never named my cars. I must say that Van Rouge is what I would love to call my R4 van. I's not red and will always be restored in its corporate Renault colours of white, yellow and black.
The idea of fourgonette conclusion would be an appealing meme when I complete that job.

 

[Paul Narramore]

Well Ysabel and Yvette were two options I liked before deciding on Renée. My 2CV is/was Amélie but there can only be one Amélie. We've been to our daughter's wedding in her, and two 2CV World Meetings in France (Salbris) and Spain (Aragon).

 

[JonathanT]

Similar to mr-reno-139 above, mine is also self describing....

She's called SLIGHT RATTLE, but more about that in the appropriate section.
I didn't fancy chopping 12 inches off the broom-handle to form a bridge between my ear-drum and the rocker cover, so i splashed-out €14 on one of these.....
View attachment 16278

Im liking the Stethescope. Noticing the 'FIVE YEAR WARRANTY' I wonder if it covers sticking the wrong end in your ear

 

[pepper]

My last one was called BB by lord Stanley.

The latest one is called Harvey due to the number plate beginning HRV.

 

[Paul Narramore]

I have on order a pair of vinyl stickers (£3.50 each) for 'Renée' which I shall stick on the front and the back of the car. I'll post a picture when I have done it.

 

[Niels Svane]

Mine is known as the Beige Avenger but mostly just called the french bread (thats what light bread is called here in Denmark)

 

[Paul Narramore]

I have had these made by a sticker specialists and the cost a mere £3.50 each. If anyone is interested I can provide their contact details.

 

[Malcolm Brown]

My 1981 GTL under renovation has been called Rene (Rene le Renault)