Miguel Sánchez
At the end of the sixties, one of the most important stylistic movements for the world of motorsports appeared: the wedge design revolution. Led by Paolo Martín, Marcello Gandini and Giogetto Giugiaro, the horizontal surfaces and the right angles on which much of the sports design of the seventies and eighties would roll.
Furthermore, his taste for lowering the height to the ground resulted in a better aerodynamic penetration coefficient, even though this entailed the installation of doors with vertical opening. Not in vain, for these pencils in the pay of Pininfarina, Bertone or Italdesign the budget was at the service of the greatest possible visual effect.
A movement, a technical climb, within which we can identify such iconic prototypes as the Alfa Romeo Carabo, the Porsche Tapiro or the Ferrari Modulo. All of them authentic masterpieces of industrial design that, together with other examples, configured one of the greatest changes in the world of bodywork. In sum, something unappealable in its quality and influence.
However, beyond those great motorsport myths we can observe small and unforeseen precedents. In fact, our protagonist It is based on neither more nor less than a modest Renault 4 and no, it is not the product of some independent designer but something created within the style center belonging to the French house.
RENAULT 4 LIGNE FLÉCHE, ITS IMPRINT ON THE LATER R12
Few vehicles have been as practical, useful and versatile as the Renault 4. Seen both in agricultural efforts and in urban transportation and even competitions on land, paradoxically This one had very few special variants. In fact, beyond studies such as the Rodeo - a really interesting type of buggy - it is difficult to find prototypes made on its basis.
However, just a few days ago we managed to come up with that idea of a Renault 4 Coupé so well represented by the Ligne Fléche design studio. But let's go in parts. First of all, the truth is that we stumbled upon it by chance Well, not in vain, we were preparing an article on the R12 manufactured in FASA. And that, as we will see, was not a coincidence since they are designs linked together.
Characterized by a certain lateral wedge, the body of the R12 was the work of the brand itself with the participation of a group of designers among whom was found Robert Broyer. Hired as soon as he finished his studies, this restless stylist seemed to transcend the rigid limits imposed by the Régie Nationale. At the time, a really conservative company when it came to its bodies beyond wonderful extravagances like the Avantime or the Scénic Concept.
Thus, this young man was almost a decade ahead of the wedge design revolution thanks to the appearance in 1963 of the Ligne Fléche. a static model and that, although it may seem striking, was based on a modest R4 under the idea of betting with possibilities for its series production.
By the way, as you can imagine, Robert Broyer was key in the R12 line, transferring his ideas to that three bodies after having taken them to the limit in this design exercise. Design exercise that, in the face of certain dominant currents at the time, sought to create lines capable of exhibiting a cutting and sharp front betting on what, a few years later, would end up being the wedge shapes of the Carabo, the Stratos Zero, the Tapiro and their co-religionists.
THE FAILED DREAM OF A RENAULT 4 COUPÉ
Little information is known about the Ligne Fléche and, to be honest, it is something completely logical because in the end it did not go beyond the mockup phase. In any case, just seeing the longitudinal section of its plans noting how the position of the gear lever clearly reveals the R4 base is a true delight for any prototype lover.
Unfortunately, the Régie Nationale of those years - focused on popular motorsports without any license for even a whim - was a company where the mass appearance of something like a Renault 4 Coupé was totally impossible. What's more, I had enough to think about how contain the advance of German sedans; Even more so if we take into account how since 1960 the French company did not even have a model intended for the D segment.
In short, the dream of young Robert Broyer could not materialize but, after the years, no one can doubt the special thing about it within the extensive history interpreted by the Renault 4.
Pictures: Renault
