Hachette is working on a Renault 4-series and then the R3 cannot be forgotten. This is the most basic R4, with a smaller engine, too. It is the third time that an R3 is made in a 1:43 scale, and they all come in the same shade of grey. It’s a mystery to us that nobody has come up with the idea to sell this car in blue-grey. Surely worth mentioning is the baby blue 4L, which was part of a fleet of Renaults seen during the 1962 Winter Games. This is a pre-production car without the signature crease in the middle of its bonnet. The same event also showed a series of Dauphines and Estafettes. Just about all of them wearing roof racks for skis. The third R4 model, which appeared recently, is the R4 F6 Combi. Although various F6 vans had already been made, a combi version never saw the light of day before. So this extension of the R4 series does fill another gap in the display cabinet. Furthermore, the 4 GTL as used by the Pope and a Group A R4 have now also appeared.

Fire fighters and busses

At some times certain newsstand series do not come up with new Renault models for months, all of a sudden to launch a multitude of them. In the ‘Les plus beaux camions the Sapeurs-Pompiers’ series it’s time for a Renault M200 600-litre tanker with body of the Corps Departmental as used on the island of Réunion.

Two buses have been released in the ‘Autobus & Autocar du Monde’ series. The blue one is a SAVIEM Chausson SC1 as it was sold in 1960 as a coach to the Moroccan CTM, which was used to travel Casablanca-Marrakech and back. Norev previously released an SC1, but this comes with enough differences to give both models the right to exist.

The same goes for the Renault TN4F Gaz de Ville, which was converted in 1940. This allowed the Paris bus company to maintain public transport in times of fuel scarcity. The raised roof houses a large gas balloon. The open cabin was how they were sold at the time.

Merchandise

Renault Merchandise has some novelties, too, such as the R.S. 2027 Vision (reference 77 11 785 574) and Mégane R.S., the previously shown, but now in camouflage outfit (ref 77 11 940 348). Some time ago the Trezor appeared also (ref 77 11 785 144) while the Symbioz pictured below is for sale in 1:43 scale size with the dealer (ref 77 11 785 157). All these models have been made by Norev. Up next are two Renault 12s from very different parts in the world. The blue one comes in a 1:32 (approx.) scale and is from Turkey. This is the Toros, the last R12 made by Renault. The manufacturer is Birlik Oyuncak. Do have a search during the holidays. The black 12 Alpine (1:43) appeared in an Argentinian newsstand series focussing on cars from that country. Ebay offers the solution here.

Commercial verhicles

Otto comes up with a great series of novelties every three months. Take this Renault Mégane Maxi Kit Car, which gave Philippe Bugalski a win in the 1996 Tour de Corse. The 5 EBS convertible, built between 1987 and 1996 by EBS in Belgium, is of a very different order, sporty too, though. This is a much-coveted GT Turbo in Blue Sport guise.

At the very bottom you can find the first nine models that appeared in the new series ‘Les Utilitaires Renault’. This is another newsstand series dreamt up by publisher Hachette. It’s full of imagination. One funny model follows the other in this series. A number of Goélettes and Galions already appeared, but this series manages to give a twist to the cars again and again. Speaking of which: how about an Estafette ice cream van from Renault Classic? Or a Renault Master I market stall van of a French butcher... and they have only just begun.