The Renault Rodeo was a series of off-road mini SUVs produced between 1970 and 1987 by ACL for Renault. There were three generations, and at first the car was called the ACL Rodeo, changing to Renault Rodeo in July 1976.
Renault Rodeo at a glance
| Maker | ACL for Renault, France |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970–1987 |
| Type | off-road mini SUV |
| Drive | front-wheel drive, four-wheel drive by Sinpar as an option |
| Rodeo 4 (1970–1981) | Renault 4 van platform, 845 cc engine |
| Rodeo 6 (1972–1981) | 1,108 cc engine from the Renault 6, 1,289 cc from 1979 |
| Rodeo 5 (1981–1987) | new, smaller body |
| Special series | Rodeo Hoggar, four-wheel drive, 1984 only |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Renault Rodeo.
History of the Renault Rodeo
Rodeo 4 and Rodeo 6
The original Rodeo 4 of 1970 was based on the platform of the Renault 4 van and used an 845 cc engine. In 1972 a second model, the Rodeo 6, appeared on the same R4 van platform but with the 1,108 cc engine of the Renault 6; in 1979 it was improved and adopted the 1,289 cc engine of the Renault 5. The Rodeo 4 and Rodeo 6 were sold side by side from 1972 to 1981. Both were front-wheel drive, but the car could also be ordered with four-wheel drive supplied by Sinpar.
Rodeo 5
A new model with a smaller and entirely new body replaced the Rodeos 4 and 6 in 1981, called the Rodeo 5 or simply the Rodeo, and it was built until 1987. A limited series of all-wheel-drive versions was built in 1984 only, called the Rodeo Hoggar.
Other Rodeos
The Rodeo name was also used by Renault in Argentina for a local variant, the ‘Trafic’ Rodeo, unrelated to the French cars.
Design and features
- Renault 4 foundations: the van platform and mechanicals under a beach-car body.
- Sinpar four-wheel drive: an option on an otherwise front-wheel-drive car.
- Three generations: Rodeo 4, Rodeo 6 and the smaller Rodeo 5.
- Rodeo Hoggar: a limited four-wheel-drive series of 1984.
Renault Rodeo versions
- Rodeo 4 (1970–1981): 845 cc on the Renault 4 van platform.
- Rodeo 6 (1972–1981): 1,108 cc, then 1,289 cc from 1979.
- Rodeo 5 (1981–1987): smaller new body.
- Rodeo Hoggar (1984): limited four-wheel-drive series.
The Rodeo was built on the Renault 4 van platform and used engines from the Renault 6 and Renault 5. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Rodeo in Burgundy
Video by joel ducerne on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Rodeo, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, drive, Hoggar
