FUTURE MEMORY | TOYS & MODELS

Scale model of an automobile, the Renault Be Bop , made by Norev . This example is reference 237419, included in the "Renault Toys – Concept Car" series. It is made in China, I don't know its production period. Metal body painted in metallic yellow, with printed details. Metal base, unpainted. Glazing represented in black tinted transparent plastic with molded details; Renault emblem molded and accented on the rear window. Detailed plastic rims with "chrome" finish, plastic tires with molded details. With suspension. The nominal scale seems to be around 1:55 and the overall length is approximately 2.9 in. About 1.7 oz. This model represents an automobile, the 2003 Renault Be Bop " concept car ", equipped with a 1998 cm³, 228 hp (168 kW) Renault "L4" engine.    I have a friend who almost exclusively collects "concept cars" , or automotive styling exercises, if you prefer. It's a fascinating topic that allows us to study the birt...

Scale model of an automobile, the Renault Clio , made by  Norev . This example is reference 230398, included in the "Renault Toys – Clio" series. It is made in China, possibly in 2008. Metal body painted in metallic blue-gray (" Bleu Gris "?), with printed details. Metal base, unpainted. Glazing represented in  transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield. Detailed plastic rims with "chrome" finish, plastic tires with molded details. With suspension. Opens rear door, lacking "glass". The nominal scale seems to be around 1:55 and the overall length is approximately 2.9 in, or 3.1 in including the towing device. About 2.1 oz. This model represents an automobile, the 2005  Renault Clio , possibly equipped with the 1149 cm³, 75 hp (55 kW) Renault D4F "L4" engine. Top speed around 104 mph.    Especially as service or rental vehicles , I successively drove several examples of the first three generations of the Renault Clio. Unlik...

Scale model of an automobile, the Renault Twingo , made by  Norev . This example is reference 228047, included in the "Renault Toys – Twingo" series. It is made in China, possibly in 2008. Metal body painted in blue, with printed details. Metal base, unpainted. Glazing represented in transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield and panoramic sunroof. Interior details in pale blue plastic. Detailed plastic rims with "chrome" finish, plastic tires with molded details. With suspension. Panoramic roof with sliding opening. The nominal scale seems to be around 1:50 and the overall length is approximately 2.7 in. About 1.8 oz. This model represents an automobile, the 2004  Renault Twingo , possibly equipped with the 1149 cm³, 75 hp (55 kW) Renault D4F "L4" engine. Top speed around 104 mph.    The first time I drove a Renault Twingo , I found it so funny, with its rounded body painted in a vibrant Bleu Outremer and its smiling, frog-like appearance....

Scale model of a race car, the Renault 8 Gordini "Tour de Corse 1965" , made by Norev. This example is reference 423397, included in the "Les P'tites Legendes Sportives" series. It is made in China, I don't know its production period. Metal body painted in blue, with printed details, including racing number "116". Black plastic base. Glazing represented in transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield. Interior details in black plastic. Detailed plastic rims with metallic gray finish, plastic tires with molded details. No suspension. The nominal scale is 1:54 and the overall length is approximately 2.9 in. About 1.4 oz. This model represents a race car, the  Renault 8   Gordini  1100 of the Régie Renault team, driven by the duo  Pierre Orsini – Jean-Baptiste Canonici  to victory in the " X Tour de Corse 1965 ". Given my passion for the formidable Alpine A110 , it's natural that I'm interested in the Renault Dauphine an...

Scale model of an automobile, the Renault 4CV , made by Norev . This example is reference 423395, included in the "Renault Toys – Les P'tites Mythiques" series. It is made in China, I don't know its production period. Metal body painted in cream, with printed details. Black plastic base. Glazing represented in transparent plastic with details molded in the windshield. Interior details in black plastic. Detailed plastic rims with "chrome" finish, plastic tires with molded details. No suspension. The nominal scale is 1:54 and the overall length is approximately 2.7 in. About 1.1 oz. This model represents an automobile, the 1946 Renault 4 CV ¹ , equipped with the rear mounted 760 cm³, 19 hp (14  kW) Renault Billancourt "L4" engine. Top speed around 56 mph. In the mid-seventies, when my interest in vehicles intensified , the heyday of the Renault 4 CV, or " joaninhas " (ladybugs), as I heard them called in Portugal ² , was already a distant...