The yellow Renault 5 of La Poste offered by Eligor under reference 1391 is a true symbol of the French postal history from the 1980s. This miniature perfectly captures the essence of an era when the PTT was modernizing its fleet with these iconic little yellow city cars.
This faithful replica is aimed at passionate collectors of public service cars and enthusiasts of French telecommunications history. It reflects a pivotal period when Régie Renault was massively equipping public services.
Features of the miniature
- Model: Renault 5 La Poste PTT
- Brand: Renault
- Year: 1972-1985
- Scale: 1/43
- Color: PTT Yellow
- Manufacturer: Eligor
- Reference: 1391
- Protective case included: Yes
The Renault 5, revolution of the modern city car
Launched in January 1972, the Renault 5 was born from Michel Boué's ambition to create a revolutionary city car. This visionary designer imagined a compact, practical, and modern vehicle capable of appealing to urban customers seeking economical mobility. The "122" project quickly became a strategic challenge for Renault in the face of competition from small European cars.
The technical characteristics of the R5 marked a break with automotive codes of the time. Its three-door body, rear hatch, and transverse design optimize habitability despite contained external dimensions. The Cléon-Fonte engine of 782 cm³ developing 34 horsepower offers performance suited for urban use while ensuring remarkably low consumption.
The commercial success exceeded all hopes of the Régie. With over 5.5 million units produced by 1996, the Renault 5 became one of the best-selling French cars in history. It quickly established itself among both individuals and businesses and administrations, notably La Poste, which adopted it massively.
Renault in the 1970s, the era of democratization
At the time of the R5's creation, Renault was undergoing a major transformation. The national Régie, led by Pierre Dreyfus then Bernard Vernier-Palliez, continued its automobile democratization strategy initiated with the 4L. The goal was to offer vehicles accessible to the greatest number while innovating technologically.
The history of Renault dates back to 1898 when Louis Renault founded his company in Billancourt. After enduring the two world wars and participating in the reconstruction effort, the diamond brand became a state Régie in 1945. This period of nationalization allowed for significant investments in research and development, leading to revolutionary models like the Renault 4L and then the R5.
The 1970s marked the peak of this social automobile philosophy. Renault developed a coherent range from the R5 to high-end vehicles, all while keeping attractive prices. This strategy solidly positioned the brand as a reference for popular French cars.
The anecdote of the PTT and the democratization of the telephone
The massive adoption of the Renault 5 by the PTT coincides with one of the greatest French technological revolutions: the deployment of the national telephone network. In the early 1970s, France was facing a considerable delay in telecommunications with only 4 million lines for 50 million inhabitants. The government then launched an ambitious technology catch-up plan.
These small yellow Renault 5 vehicles were seen daily in towns and countryside, transporting technicians and equipment to install and maintain new infrastructure. Their trunks contained the necessary tools for laying telephone lines that would transform French society. Between 1974 and 1984, the telephone network expanded from 6 to 23 million lines, a feat made possible by these service vehicles.
The efficiency of these vehicles directly contributed to the success of the telecommunications plan. Their compact format allowed for easy access to dense urban areas, while their reliability ensured the continuity of technical interventions. This period saw the birth of the first electronic telephone exchanges and the beginnings of Minitel, innovations that placed France at the forefront of global telecommunications.
Today, these Renault 5 PTT nostalgically evoke that era of intense modernization. They symbolize an efficient public service and a France undergoing technological transformation, a time when social innovation and technical progress advanced in concert.
Complete your miniature collection
This Renault 5 PTT Eligor naturally finds its place in a collection dedicated to public service vehicles. It perfectly harmonizes with other miniatures representing the evolution of French administrative fleets, notably the Citroën 2CV of La Poste or the Renault utility vehicles of the subsequent years.
Postal history enthusiasts will appreciate completing this piece with other PTT vehicles representing different eras. The collection can be enriched with models Peugeot 504 or specialized vans, showcasing the technological evolution of postal services.
This Eligor miniature also attracts classic Renault collectors wishing to document the social impact of the brand. Associated with civilian versions of the R5 and other models from the 1970s, it perfectly illustrates the democratization of French automobiles from this pivotal decade.
