Sinpar Plein Air Sinpar 1968 Unveilings: March of 1968 — The Renault 4 Sinpar 4x4 Torpedo. was first revealed at the Geneva Motor Show May of 1968 — The Plein Air was officially introduced to the motoring press on the fifteenth but was first seen five days earlier at Reserve Africaine in Thoiry, France. October of 1968 — Sinpar’s four-door convertible prototype was first seen at the 1968 Salon de Paris Outside Château de Thoiry Sinpar was originally a French automobile manufactured from 1907 until 1914. The name Sinpar was meant to suggest that the car was ‘without equal’ or ‘sans pareil’ in French. While the company had seemed to have disappeared following the outbreak of the First World War, but more than three decades later Léon Demeester, who had established the business back in 1907, resurrected it in Colombes near Paris. Sinpar began engaging in winch manufacturing and heavy-duty transmission sub-assemblies for four- and six- wheel drive trucks. These specialist items were provided to a range of industrial companies in France until 1975 when heavy equipment manufacturer, Saviem took over the company's activities. In the autumn of 1962 Sinpar launched an all-terrain light vehicle based on the Renault 4L. Initial sales were not substantial, but in 1964 when the French Army requested them to develop a new jeep -like vehicle. This new vehicle was a door-less and roof-less version of the Renault 4F called the Sinpar 4x4 Torpedo. It was first shown in March of 1968 as a prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, equipped with Sinpar's four-wheel-drive system. While the French Military ultimately chose another design by rival Citroen, Sinpar was quickly given a contract to build a front-wheel-drive version for Renault. However, a limited number of the Plein Airs were also converted to four-wheel drive before leaving the facility. Besides on their home soil, Plein Airs were also sold and delivered into Canada, Finland, Germany, Mexico, The Netherlands and The UK. Sinpar’s revised front wheel drive version first appeared on May 10, 1968 at the Château de Thoiry in connection with the opening of their African Safari Park, called Reserve Africaine in Thoiry, France where they were to be used them to transport guests. Though it was officially introduced the motoring press five days later. Called the Renault 4 Sinpar Torpedo Plein Air, the term ‘plein air’ translates to ‘open air’, as its name suggests, while the front of the vehicle remains identical to the 4L, they then lowered the Sinpar Original Publicity photo
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