Back in the 1970s, my parents decided to buy their very first brand-new car: a lime green, ex-demonstrator Renault 6. At the time, Renault was a niche brand in the UK, so niche, in fact, that their official marketing campaign actually suggested waving at fellow Renault drivers with a hearty "Bonjour Monsieur!" or "Bonjour Madame!"

Naturally, this French novelty came with its fair share of unforgettable adventures.

1. The Great Garage Swap

Not long after getting it, my mum took the car to the local garage for a service. After paying the bill, the mechanic nonchalantly told her, "It's out on the forecourt, drive it away." She did. But the second she walked through our front door, the landline started ringing off the hook, remember, this was long before mobile phones

It turned out she’d driven the wrong car home! In those glorious, security-free days, her key somehow fitted both her Renault and a completely random stranger's car parked right next to it

2. The Windsor Safari Park Disaster

To celebrate getting the car, my parents took us kids on an outing to Windsor Safari Park. The idea was simple: stay in the car with the windows rolled up and admire the wildlife. My parents, however, had completely underestimated the resident baboons

Within minutes, a gang of baboons descended on our pristine, lime-green machine. They ate the windscreen wipers, attempted to rip off the brand-new wing mirrors, and proceeded to perform... intimate acts on the roof. My parents watched in sheer, horrified silence as their new pride and joy was dismantled before their eyes. Meanwhile, my brother and I were in the back seat, absolutely howling with laughter

3. French Design vs. British Weather

Eventually, the car started having major issues getting started. A friend cheekily suggested that someone must be sneaking up our drive at night and peeing directly into the petrol tank. Taking no chances, my dad went out and bought a locking petrol cap, an addition that, in 1970s Britain, was viewed as a clear sign that society was rapidly collapsing

As it turned out, the neighborhood wasn't the problem; French engineering was. The car's roof gutters were designed in such a way that rainwater funneled directly into the petrol tank. Unsurprisingly, a car that feeds on rainwater didn't last very long in the UK

Conclusion

Before long, the lime green Renault was part-exchanged, bringing an end to its brief, chaotic reign in our driveway. Looking back, between keys that unlocked strangers' cars, baboon sabotage, and a fuel tank that collected rain, it’s really no mystery why you don't see many 1970s Renault 6s on British roads today!

Thanks to this website for the use of this photo