The Renault 4CV is an economy car produced by French manufacturer Renault from August 1947 to July 1961. It was the first French car to sell over a million units and was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine. The 4CV was a four-door sedan of monocoque construction, 3.6 m in length with front suicide doors and using Renault’s Ventoux engine in a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. The 4CV was originally conceived and designed covertly by Renault engineers during the German occupation of France during World War II, when the manufacturer was under strict orders to design and produce only commercial and military vehicles. The first prototype was completed in 1942 and two more prototypes were produced after that.
