The Pretenders

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... 

...although Citroën didn't think so in 1961 when Renault launched their R4.   

Renault's 4 CV was, by the end of the fifties, very dated. More powerful than Citroën's 2 CV, it was also more cramped, had poorer road holding, handling and comfort. 

The Regie took the decision to build a front wheel drive, independently suspended, utilitarian car, using the 2 CV as a blue print. 

Despite protestations from Citroën, the state-owned company blatantly copied the dash-mounted gearchange, tubular-framed removable seats, detatchable body panels, fabric roof and even the "nose down tail up" attitude of the 2 CV.

The allegations of plagiarism continued when Renault launched the Fourgon light van - a copy of the AK and later, in 1968 with the Plein Air - a copy of the Méhari.

Thirty years later, Nissan offered the S Cargo light van, based on Micra running gear. This was an affectionate tribute to the 2 CV - even its name was a pun on the French word "escargot" meaning snail.