Matra Museum, Romorantin, France
Until November 2, 2025
Every year, the Matra Museum presents a temporary exhibition, this time dedicated to the “Renault Saga”. Open until November 2, this exhibition revisits the history of the brand, starting from its origins. While including many popular cars, the selection favors sporty or rarer models.
The oldest is a Renault Type D, which, as its name suggests, was one of the automaker’s first “productions”. Introduced in 1901, it is powered by a small De Dion Bouton engine, 480 cm3 and 4 hp. The Renault Type AG (also known as the G7) is undoubtedly one of the most famous Renault cars, better known as the “Taxi de la Marne”. Used as cabs in Paris by the G7 company, these cars were requisitioned by the French army during the First Battle of the Marne, on September 6 and 7, 1914, to transport reinforcements from Paris to the battlefield. It was also one of the first mass interventions of the automobile in a conflict.
In the 1930s, the large Vivaquatre sedan was also very popular as a cab and was found in Parisian cabs well into the 1960s! With its 6-cylinder engine, the Vivastella (1928-1939) is representative of the Renault sedans and limousines of the 1930s. At the end of the 1930s, Louis Renault proposed the brand’s 1st “popular” car, the Juvaquate, which was produced until 1960 as a sedan and utility vehicle. The Juvaquatre in the exhibition is an extremely rare coupé, as only 82 units were ever produced.
Studied in secret during WWII, the 4CV came out in 1946 and was the 1st French car to exceed one million units produced. The 1063 sports version took part in numerous races, both on the road, such as the Monte Carlo Rally, and on the track, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Several craftsmen exploited the 4CV’s mechanics to develop small racing cars, such as Brissoneau for the “Louis Rosier” Barquette on display. The Dauphine also had its sports version, the “1093”. Of the 2,000 examples produced, only a few hundred have survived.
These sporty little cars are in some ways the ancestors of the Gordinis, like the R12 on show, and then of the Renault Sports. Following in the footsteps of the R5 Turbo, Renault offers the Clio V6. With its rear-mounted 3L V6, it can exceed 250 km/h. The model on display is the last Clio V6 to come off the production line in 2006. The Megane RS Trophy R is the ultimate version of this family of sports cars, designed to chase record lap on the Nürburgring North Loop
Barely less performing, the R21 2L Turbo offered 175 hp and reached almost 230 km/h. The car on display is one of 33 4-wheel-drive models adapted for the French Gendarmerie’s fast brigades. Less “volcanics”, the Floride was an elegant little coupe based on the Dauphine, initially intended to conquer the American market. Renault offered them to a number of celebrities, including Brigitte Bardot and Princess Grace of Monaco, influencers before their time!
If the Renault 4, successor to the Dauphine, is well known, the R3 is much less so. It was a stripped-down, simplified version of the R4, with a smaller engine (only 3 fiscal HP, hence the name), designed to compete with the Citroën 2 CV. It was only produced for one year, and only 2,500 units were sold, without finding its public as they say. Around the same time, but at the other end of the range, the Rambler 6 also failed to find its audience. Built under license, this car of American AMC origin sold just 4,000 units in 6 years.
With the R16, Renault breaks new ground by offering the 1st family sedan with a hatchback, emphasizing practicality over aesthetics. This surprising choice proved to be a winning bet, and most generalist carmakers subsequently adopted this style. Although not really a sporty version, the R16 TX, recognizable by its 4 square headlamps and “Gordini” wheels, was intended to be a top-of-the-range model, offering a list of equipment still rare on this type of car, such as central locking and electric windows. The Renault 5, which produced over 5 million units, was a huge commercial success, and the model on display is a TL from the 1st year of production.
Among these production models, we find 2 curiosities. The 4L JP4 is a 4L-based transformation for a fun, offbeat vehicle. Production will remain limited, especially as the company behind this initiative has had a chaotic life. Projet 900 is a large sedan concept dating from 1959, with innovative architecture and offbeat styling, offering luminosity and habitability. The interior is very advanced, with the driver positioned on the front overhang, while the V8 engine (1.7L, 80 hp) is completely in the rear.
The Renault Saga would not be complete without a mention of Formula 1, and the exhibition includes one R26, the 2006 World Champion with Fernando Alonso, the Spanish driver’s 2nd title with Renault. Several Formula 1 engines are also on display.
The Matra Museum’s permanent collection also covers another important page in Renault history, with the Renault Espace family, of which Matra designed (and built) the first generations, right up to the Avantime, a large “monospace” coupe with limited commercial success. For the occasion, the famous (and only) Matra-Renault Espace F1 is brought closer to the temporary exhibition. An unlikely combination of a Williams FW14 Formula 1 rear axle assembly and an 820 hp Renault V10 engine, it can take its driver and 3 passengers at over 300 km/h to discover some of the sensations of a Formula 1 car.
Renault’s history is also on display, with a number of iconic models in miniature in showcases, complemented by large photos and Renault advertisements.
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