Most of you will probably think this looks at lot like a Renault 4. And indeed, this is what was left of a Renault 4 once Car Systeme were done with it.
Who were Car Systeme? They were a company founded in 1981, specializing in transforming Renault 4 and 6 models into some kind of beach-buggy style fun vehicle. For the sort of people who needed a summer car for their summer house in the South of France.
The JP4 started off as a used(!) Renault 4, which had its roof chopped off, doors removed and 27cm removed from the rest of the car. The leftovers were welded together, with the roll cage hopefully giving it a bit of structural integrity. If you’ve ever sat in a Renault 4, you know that these things are flimsy. I’m not sure if these mods made that better or worse, but the end result certainly looks like fun in the typical French “with any luck this all will stick together” kind of way.
Car Systeme folded in 1989, having changed ownership 4 times in its 9 years. Not bad.
Whenever I see pictures of this car, I immediately see images of young women in bikinis driving around on the Cote d’Azur. I obviously need to get out more...