1956
Renault-1956
Pierre Dreyfus, chairman of the Régie Nationale des Usines Renault, launches the project “Voiture blue jean”.
1959
Renault-1959
The prototypes of the prospective Renault 4 flood the roads all over the world, from Sardiania and Guinea to the United States and Sweden.
1961
Renault-1961
In July, the Renault 4 replaces the ‘4CV’ on the assembly lines of the factories of Billancourt. The press gets acquainted with the car in August and soon afterwards the general public places the first orders. The car is sold for 30.000 Belgian Francs (+/- 750 Euro).
1963
Renault-1963
Sinpar, another car manufacturer from France, proposes a four wheel drive version to Renault. Meanwhile, a special version called the ‘Parisienne’ is called into the world.
1966
Renault-1966
In february of this year, the company reaches the milestone of one million sold cars.
1967
Renault-1967
The ‘little’ Renault is sold particularly well and is being modernized for the first time with for example a bigger grille in chrome.
1968
Renault-1968
Commercialization of the Renault 4: “Plein Air”, a completely playful model that quickly becomes a collection piece.
1974
Renault-1974
The first oil crisis takes place. Nevertheless, the Renault 4 continues to sell smoothly thanks to its small fuel-efficient engine and is even modernized by fitting the black plastic grille.
1977
Renault-1977
The limit of 5 million copies, all versions together, is reached. Renault becomes the largest car manufacturer in Europe.
1978
Renault-1978
The great innovation of the year: the GTL version. The showpiece of the Renault 4, which is equipped with an even more powerful and economical engine, is immediately recognizable by its lateral protection.
1980
Renault-1980
The Marreau brothers make it to the 3rd place in the Paris-Dakar rally on board of their Renault 4.
1981
Renault-1981
First appearance of JP4, manufactured by Car Système and the commercialization of 5000 copies of the Renault 4 ‘Jogging’
1983
Renault-1983
By taking over the dashboard of the Renault 5, the Renault 4 succeeds in measuring a younger image. This is the latest modernization the car gets.
1985
Renault-1985
The year in which the Renault 4 celebrates its 25th anniversary, the limit of 7 million vehicles is exceeded. A special version is assembled in an edition of 2200 copies, which is given the name ‘Sixties’.
1986
Renault-1986
Although in Belgium the names TL and GTL are retained, the French Renault 4’s are renamed Savane or Clan.
1988
Renault-1988
The Renault 4 says farewell to the German market with a limited series of ‘Salu’, after 27 years of success and more than 900,000 imported vehicles.
1992
Renault-1992
The last 1,000 Renault 4’s, which are sold for the equivalent of 7,500 Euro, leave the factory in December and carry the significant name ‘Bye-Bye’. The production counter is permanently discontinued on 8,134,424 copies.
2016
Renault-2016
The reproduction is started by Carbecue. Only the front is used to realize an outdoor kitchen.
1934
Eend-1934
Family-owned Michelin took over the bankrupt Citroën company.
1935
Eend-1935
France at that time had a large rural population which could not yet afford cars. Citroën used the survey results to prepare a design brief for a low-priced, rugged “umbrella on four wheels” that would enable four people to transport 50 kg of farm goods to market at 50 km/h: the TPV project.
1936
Eend-1936
Pierre Jules Boulanger took charge of Citroën and wanted to develop the ideas to a further point. One design test was that the customer should be able to drive eggs across a freshly 1934 ploughed field without breaking them.
1937
Eend-1937
The first prototypes were bare chassis with rudimentary controls, seating and roof. Test drivers wore leather flying suits for the extra protection. 20 TPV experimental prototypes had been built and tested. The prototypes had only one headlight, all that was required by French law at the time.
1938
Eend-1938
The TPV was deemed ready, after 47 technically different and incrementally improved experimental prototypes had been built and tested
1939
Eend-1939
A pilot run of 250 cars was produced and later on the car received approval for the French market. Brochures were printed and preparations made to present the car, renamed the Citroën 2CV, at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show.
1940
Eend-1940
France had declared war on Germany following that country’s invasion of Poland. An atmosphere of impending disaster led to the cancellation of the Motor Show less than a month before it was scheduled to open. The launch of the 2CV was abandoned.
1941
Eend-1941
During the German occupation of France in World War II Boulanger personally refused to collaborate with German authorities to the point where the Gestapo listed him as an “enemy of the Reich”, under constant threat of arrest and deportation to Germany.
1943
Eend-1943
The Nazis had attempted to loot Citroën’s press tools. this was frustrated after Boulanger got the French Resistance to re-label the rail cars containing them in the Paris marshalling yard. They ended up all over Europe, and Citroën was by no means sure they would all be returned after the war.
1944
Eend-1944
The development and production of what was to become the 2CV was also delayed by the incoming Socialist French government.
1949
Eend-1949
Postwar French roads were very different from pre-war ones. Horse-drawn vehicles had re-appeared in large numbers. The few internal combustion-engined vehicles present often ran on town gas stored in gasbags.
1950
Eend-1950
Only one hundred thousand of the two million pre-war cars were still on the road. The time was known as “Les années grises” or “the grey years” in France.
1951
Eend-1951
Citroën introduced the 2CV Fourgonnette van. The “Weekend” version had changes enabling a tradesman to use it as a family vehicle on the weekend as well as for business in the week.
1952
Eend-1952
Production had reached more than 21,000 with export markets earning foreign currency taking precedence. Boulanger’s policy, which continued after his death, was: “Priority is given to those who have to travel by car because of their work, and for whom ordinary cars are too expensive to buy.”
1955
Eend-1955
Cars were sold preferentially to country vets, doctors, midwives, priests and small farmers. The speedometer got a light for night driving, side repeaters were added and there was bigger engine available with a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
1958
Eend-1958
Belgian Citroën plant produced a higher quality version of the car (AZL3). It had a third side window and improved details.
1961
Eend-1961
The 2 CV 4 × 4 2CV Sahara appeared and the car had ample off-road capability, but at twice the price of the standard 2CV. 694 were produced until 1968 and one more in 1971. Many were used by the Swiss Post as a delivery vehicle. They are on this day still highly collectable.
1963
Eend-1963
Director of publicity Claude Puech came up with humorous and inventive marketing campaigns. Products of this campaign are still worldwide known.
1972
Eend-1972
Citroën launches the AK 400 Fourgonette.
1974
Eend-1974
The highest annual production was in 1974. Sales of the 2CV were reinvigorated by the 1974 oil crisis. The 2CV after this time became as much a youth lifestyle statement as a basic functional form of transport.
1975
Eend-1975
A base model called the 2CV Spécial was introduced with the 435 cc engine. Also many changes were made on this model with the aim of reducing the price even more.
1981
Eend-1981
A yellow 2CV6 was driven by James Bond (Roger Moore) in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only. Citroën launched a special edition 2CV “007” to coincide with the film. It was fitted with the standard engine and painted yellow with “007” on the front doors and fake bullet hole stickers.
1988
Eend-1988
Production ended in France after 40 years but continued at the Mangualde plant in Portugal. This lasted until 1990, when production of the 2CV ended with a total production of 5.144.966.
2016
Eend-2016
De reproductie wordt opgestart door Carbecue. Alleen de voorkanten worden gebruikt om een buitenkeuken te realiseren.
1888
Fiat-1888
Fiat was founded in Turin by Giovanni Agnelli, being the acronym of Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino. Notably, the company is still controlled by the Agnelli family to this day.
1957
Fiat-1957
The Fiat 500 was introduced to the motoring press, as intended to bridge the gap from scooters and microcars to larger and more expensive automobiles. It went on to become a symbol of mid-century style, and as some describe “worldwide ambassador for Italy.”
1958
Fiat-1958
The sport version was launched and had a more powerful engine in it. Later that year a new version with sunroof was presented.
1960
Fiat-1960
The Fiat 500 ‘Giardiniera’, the estate version of the family was launched and had some changes to make it more comfortable for a family.
1965
Fiat-1965
The 500F replaced the 500D, and would go on to become the most popular of all variants (one reason, perhaps, this model was selected by MoMA).
1966
Fiat-1966
After the appointment of Vittorio Valletta, FIAT signed a contract of technological cooperation with the USSR. According to that contract, the Italian automaker helped to establish several assembly factories for production of Fiat 124, also known as VAZ-2101 in the USSR.
1968
Fiat-1968
A new version of the 500F, the 500L hits the market. The main change was carried out in the interior, which was much more modern. It included a renewed dashboard and was a model with much more comfort and stylish that was committed to satisfy a more demanding customer, hence the L in the branding,…
1969
Fiat-1969
The FIAT group took control of another Italian automaker Lancia, founded by Vincenzo Lancia.
1972
Fiat-1972
The last model Nouva 500 hit the market: the Fiat 500 R (“Rinnovata” in English “renewed”) which was in production up until 1975. It was more austere than the previous model and was designed to take over the previous model for that matter.
1975
Fiat-1975
The original Fiat 500 was one of the smallest cars in the world at the time of its production, measuring 127 inches in length, 50 inches in width and 54 inches in height.
1979
Fiat-1979
The FIAT holding took control over Autobianchi and Ferrari, later followed by Alpha Romeo and Maserati. By those acquisitions, FIAT monopolized the Italian automobile market.
1980
Fiat-1980
The company also took control over several large two-wheeled motor vehicles manufacturers, including Gilera, Piaggio and Vespa
1997
Fiat-1997
FIAT constructors and engineers are responsible for creation of the 1.3-litre V16 Multijet engine, which is one of the most successful engine in the market. This diesel engine rightfully earned the title Engine of the Year.
2000
Fiat-2000
FIAT diesel engines are often used by other automobile manufacturers, including Alfa Romeo, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Citroen, Iveco, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Saab and Suzuki
2007
Fiat-2007
50 years after the very first model, the Fiat 500 was relaunched as a modern reinterpretation of the original design from 1957. The starting point was the Fiat Trepiuno Concept; a prototype presented in Geneva Autosalon in 2004.
2008
Fiat-2008
The new Fiat 500 wins the Car of The Year award. It’s the 9th winning of the award and FIAT has still the highest amount of this award.
2014
Fiat-2014
The Italian company took full control over Chrysler. The transaction cost of this acquisition was 3.65 billion dollars.
2016
Fiat-2016
De reproductie wordt opgestart door Carbecue. Alleen de voorkanten worden gebruikt om een buitenkeuken te realiseren.
1952
Mini-1952
The British Motor Corporation (BMC) was formed in 1952 by joining the Nuffield Organization (Morris, MG, Riley, and Wolseley) with the Austin Motor Company. It was during BMC’s reign that the Mini was designed and introduced.
1956
Mini-1956
Mr. Issigonis, the designer set on the project, got instructions to move from the bigger car projects he had been working on and to move on a small car project. Although Issigonis was given free reign for the car, he was required to use a current production engine.
1959
Mini-1959
The Morris Mini Minor, later to be known as the first Mini built, came off the production line. 19,749 Minis were produced by the end of 1959.
1961
Mini-1961
157,059 were produced in this year. Of those, the new 1961 Cooper developed by John Cooper accounted for 1775 cars of which only 11 of the first 500 are on the Mini Cooper Register’s list of survivors as of mid-2011.
1962
Mini-1962
The Austin Seven name was changed to Austin Mini. Morris versions continued on as Morris Mini-Minor until Mk I production ended.
1964
Mini-1964
The Mini Cooper S wins the toughest rally in the world; Monte Carlo by Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon. The returning car and crew were hailed as conquering heroes, and BMC’s publicity machine made the most of it.
1965
Mini-1965
By brilliant driving of Timo Makinen and Paul Easter, the second win of the Monte Carlo Rally is a fact.
1966
Mini-1966
Despite finishing first on the road again, Makinen and Easter were disqualified from the 1966 Monte Carlo Rally results for alleged “headlight infringements”. Many people believed this was because the French organisers couldn’t accept that a 10-foot long car could defeat more potent opposition, so the French Citroen team was declared the new winners.
1968
Mini-1968
This was a year of change. No more Monte Carlo wins as the opposition’s sporting cars had gained ascendancy. BMC went broke and merged into British Leyland with new management and ideas to cut costs. John Cooper later recalled saying Sir Donald Stoke’s saying to him, “We employ 150,000 people here, what do we need…
1969
Mini-1969
Filming began on a movie that would cement the Mini Cooper’s iconic status for ever: Paramount Studios 1969 release of The Italian Job.
1970
Mini-1970
278,905 were produced in 1970. Total Minis to date, 2,442,567. In the coming years, Mini is the best selling car in Great Britain.
1976
Mini-1976
Mini Cooper continued on in reduced numbers in the UK. Despite the successes, the last Mini Cooper rolled off the line in 1976 after some take-overs in the company. The Mini Cooper was dead for now.
1983
Mini-1983
At the Motorfair an MG salesman was asked if it would be a good idea to re-introduce the Mini Cooper – he said that “The Mini Cooper belongs to yesteryear”. One person who disagreed with him was John Cooper who never gave up on the idea of resurrecting the Mini Cooper.
1984
Mini-1984
In Japan in the 1980’s the old Mini had become a cult car, and they were selling around 3,000 cars a year. They even asked the possibility for a new Mini Cooper model, but UK Austin Rover boffins abstained it.
1990
Mini-1990
Rover announced that Rover Special Products had developed a new car with input from the Coopers to mixed reviews. From this year the Mini Cooper became a mainstream production car again.
1994
Mini-1994
BMW Group took over the Rover Group and soon made it clear that the Cooper name would be an integral part of the new project, with John and Michael Cooper acting as consultant to the new project. BMW invested heavily to keep the old Mini in production to tide it over until the new project…
2002
Mini-2002
Michael Cooper sold the John Cooper Works and rights to the name fully to BMW who began factory fitment of the tuning kits and promoted the JCW brand to the MINI model line-up.
2016
Mini-2016
The reproduction is started by Carbecue. Only the front is used to realize an outdoor kitchen.
1925
Kever-1925
Bela Barenyi, an 18 year old Hungarian student, submitted a chassis design for a Volkswagen in 1925 and is recognised as designing the basic Volkswagen Beetle.
1934
Kever-1934
Ferdinand Porsche, an Austrian automotive engineer, created the Volkswagen Beetle after receiving a contract from Hitler in 1934 for prototypes.
1936
Kever-1936
The Beetle’s air-cooled flat 4 engine was designed by Franz Reimspeiss not Ferdinand Porsche. Even with 20+ million being built to date, he had less than twenty dollars for this work.
1938
Kever-1938
In 1938 production of Hitler’s ‘KdF-Wagen’ (“Kraft durch Freude” or “Strength through Joy”) started. The public hated the name and called it ‘Volkswagen’ or people’s car. In this year, The New York Times first called it the ‘Beetle’.
1949
Kever-1949
In 1949, the Beetle Convertible went into production and, in 1950 the Beetle became the best-selling car of the decade with a share of around 40% of the market.
1952
Kever-1952
The first UK Beetle landed in 1952, imported by British servicemen stationed in Germany. In 1964, the 100.000th Beetle arrived in the UK and in 1971 the 14 millionth followed.
1955
Kever-1955
The millionth beetle, built in 1955, is on show at the Wolfsburg Autostadt Museum. It’s completely gold with diamante encrusted bumpers and trim with a plush pink interior.
1961
Kever-1961
Co-founder of Domino’s pizza Jim Monaghan sold his 50% share of the company for a 1959 VW Beetle, the business is now a worldwide success.
1969
Kever-1969
This year the first Herbie film of the series came out with the famous Beetle race car. The white #53 is still one of the most popular paint jobs for the car. The VW Beetle has featured in many films from The Shining to James Bond’s Quantum of Solace.
1972
Kever-1972
On 17th February 1972, with vehicles produced at 15.007.034, the Beetle broke ‘Tin Lizzy’ from Ford Motor Company’s record, to become the new world champion.
1974
Kever-1974
Shells of the last two Beetles made in Germany are preserved in wax at Volkswagens Milton Keynes parts store. The last Wolfsburg-built Beetle was in July.
1999
Kever-1999
During Fight Club rehearsals, Brad Pitt and Edward Notron found they hated the new Beetle and in one scene where they had to hit cars with baseball bats, both insisted one had to be a Beetle.
2014
Kever-2014
In this year the Beetle had an enormous aftermarket upgrade in power when a British engineer strapped a 1500hp jet engine on to it, theoretically being able to reach 140mph.
2016
Kever-2016
The reproduction is started by Carbecue. Only the front is used to realize an outdoor kitchen.
2015, JULY
Carbecue-2015-juli
The first idea came from a photo that went viral on social media of a VW Beetle that was put in the corner with a built-in grill.
2015, AUGUST
Carbecue-2015-augustus
One acquaintance had a depreciated Beetle from 1963 and without any doubt I decided to take it over. The idea was to cut the car literally through the middle, products could be built into the front and back.
2015, OCTOBER
Carbecue-2015-oktober
It was a complete surprise for everyone at home when the car came drove up the yard: “What are you going to do with that barrel?” ‘I’m going to make a Carbecue’ ‘A what!?’
2015, DECEMBER
Carbecue-2015-december
Before anything could be built in, the engine had to be disassembled first. The job turned out to take longer than expected.
2016, FEBRUARY
Carbecue-2016-februari
The engine was out of the car by now, but it also became clear that many sheet metal of the body was in poor condition. This led to ideas for looking for new body material and placing it on designed frame of our own.
2016, APRIL
Carbecue-2016-april
The body panels of the Mini Cooper was easy to find and purchase. Therefore, we decided to develop this model first.
2016, MAY
Carbecue-2016-mei
The very first prototype of Carbecue was a fact and even then already equipped with dimmable lighting.
2016, JULY
Carbecue-2016-juli
In the coming weeks, we searched for several models with available body parts, just enough to realize a complete front.
2016, AUGUST
Carbecue-2016-augustus
The parts of the VW Beetle were the first to arrive. Soon the possibility is seen to build in more than just a grill.
2016, SEPTEMBER
Carbecue-2016-september
Due problems in the development of the Beetle, the focus was made on the comparable model: Citroën 2CV. In this model, the Au Bain Marie system and the hotplate were used first.
2016, NOVEMBER
Carbecue-2016-november
With some delay came the stuff for the Fiat 500 from Italy, which would form as a small model together with the Mini Cooper.
2017, JANUARY
Carbecue-2017-januari
The last model that we would take to task was the Renault 4. The spaces in the front were even bigger than the Beetle and 2CV. Additional applications such as the refrigerator and wine coolers could be added.
2017, MARCH
Carbecue-2017-maart
Also at the Beetle and the 2CV, we found a way to build in the refrigerator.
2017, DECEMBER
Carbecue-2017-december
All models have been developed and could be purchased together with all applications on a larger scale.
2018, JANUARY
Carbecue-2018-januari
The building has been divided into a showroom together with a welding room, assembly room and office.
2018, JUNE
Carbecue-2018-june
From the 9th of June, the doors opened and the Carbecues can be admired in the showroom and you are most welcome!