Back in the 1990s, a retro wave swept through the auto industry, injecting a heavy dose of nostalgia with cars like the Nissan Figaro and the Volkswagen New Beetle. Owned by BMW at the time, the now-defunct Rover Group was also cooking up a modern take on a classic icon by reviving the Mini Cooper. Renault wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines, either.
Enter the 1996 Fiftie, a retro-modern tribute celebrating half a century since the launch of the 4CV. Much like the original, the concept took the shape of a rear-wheel-drive car with the engine mounted at the back. But while its inspiration came from humble beginnings, the throwback show car was based on something far more exotic: the Renault Sport Spider.
It’s impossible to tell the Fiftie used a lightweight sports car as its foundation, but at the time, the decision made perfect sense. Previewed by a 1995 concept before going on sale a year later, the Sport Spider also featured a rear-wheel-drive layout with the engine mounted behind the seats. Sadly, the hatchback didn’t inherit its 2.0-liter engine; instead, it received a then-new 1.2-liter unit that later powered the original Twingo and Clio.
Photo by: Renault
Compared to its 1946 ancestor, the revival sacrificed some practicality by ditching the rear doors and seats. Although technically a hatchback, it had a folding roof with removable panels tucked beneath the rear windscreen. The latter flipped open to reveal a modest cargo area located ahead of the engine. This unusual layout echoed the 4CV’s optional soft top, which provided unlimited headroom.
Since the exterior styling leaned heavily on the past, the concept didn’t directly influence Renault’s future models. However, its intricate taillight design eventually found its way onto a production vehicle: the mesmerizing Avantime. This coupe-styled, two-door minivan nearly made it to the United States wearing a Nissan badge.
Not necessarily the prettiest city car we’ve seen, the Fiftie had unusual proportions and was technically a rear mid-engined car. Its naturally aspirated four-cylinder sat ahead of the rear wheels, though not as far back as in the 4CV. Power was sent to the road through an automated manual gearbox that eliminated the clutch pedal.
Photo by: Renault
Although unassuming at first glance, the Fiftie featured a carbon-fiber body mounted on an aluminum chassis. Renault never disclosed the curb weight, but the Sport Spider tipped the scales at under 1,742 pounds (790 kilograms). Even so, the retro-modern hatchback wasn’t particularly quick, as the engine produced just 60 horsepower, or roughly a third of the sports car’s output.
Then again, the Fiftie wasn’t built to chase Nürburgring records. Renault’s goal was to pay homage to the first French car to surpass one million units sold. This bridge to the past continued inside, where everything was deliberately simplified in a nod to earlier times. The concept featured a center-mounted instrument cluster like some versions of the 4CV, while the warning lights were integrated into the steering wheel’s spokes.
Although the seats were fixed, getting comfortable in the Fiftie was still easy. Renault made not only the steering wheel and pedals adjustable, but also the entire dashboard, which could slide fore and aft. Rattan door panels added to the cozy atmosphere, complemented by seats upholstered in linen and cotton.
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Source: Renault
For obvious reasons, there were no plans to put the car into production. Had Renault given the Fiftie the green light, it likely would have been expensive, given its Sport Spider underpinnings and carbon-fiber body. Perhaps the company could have based it on a first-generation Twingo or Clio instead, but ultimately chose not to challenge the Beetle and the Mini directly.
However, retro-inspired models did arrive a couple of decades later. The Renault 4 and 5 have returned to showrooms across Europe after a long hiatus, joined by the smaller Twingo. They’re all EVs, but the diamond-logo brand has done an excellent job honoring the original designs while giving them a thoroughly modern twist.
The Fiftie was adorably quirky in true French fashion and a fitting tribute to one of the most important cars in the country’s automotive history. Renault remains just as daring today with its revival of iconic nameplates, without overplaying the retro card.
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