Easy Renault — 6.1.4 Portable

The steering is unassisted but light (narrow 135-series tires). The turning circle is absurdly tight — you can U-turn on a country lane.

If you see one at a rally, walk over. The owner will likely have the hood open, not because it broke, but because they’re showing someone how it works . That’s the Easy spirit. Do you own an Easy Renault 6.1.4? Let us know your stories below. easy renault 6.1.4

But it is one of the last truly democratic cars — one that any person with basic tools, a Haynes manual, and a bit of stubbornness can keep on the road forever. The steering is unassisted but light (narrow 135-series

The “Easy” part? You can change a rear torsion bar without a spring compressor. Just jack it up, pull the bar, and slide in another. The legendary “3+E” gearbox (three forward gears + an overdrive fourth) is mounted on the dashboard via a steering column lever. It’s vague by modern standards, but once learned, it’s intuitive. And crucially: fully mechanical linkage — no cables to snap, no hydraulics to bleed. The owner will likely have the hood open,

You turn the key (no steering lock), pull the manual choke, pump the gas once, and the engine chugs to life — a pop-pop-pop sound like an old sewing machine. The gear lever is a long stalk sprouting from the dashboard. First gear is toward you and up. Second is toward you and down. Third is away and up. Fourth (overdrive) is away and down.

But what exactly is the “6.1.4”? Let’s unwind the myth. Launched in 1968, the Renault 6 was intended as a more civilized, comfortable, and practical alternative to the Renault 4. While the R4 was agricultural and charmingly basic, the R6 offered a modern, single-box shape (a precursor to the hatchback), a full-length folding rear seat, and a surprisingly plush ride. It was, in essence, a small family car for rural France and suburban Europe.