August 20, 2025

Preview: Gecko Models 1/35th scale 4CV "Saigon Taxi"

The 1/35th scale Renault 4CV "Saigon Taxi" is the latest subject to suit your Vietnam diorama from Gecko Models. We look at the early CADs & the cars in our preview...


Preview: Gecko Models 1/35th scale 4CV Saigon Taxi

4CV Saigon Taxi
From Gecko Models
Kit No #35GM0130
1/35th scale
The Subject: The Renault 4CV Taxi in Vietnam
During the mid-20th century, Vietnam’s urban centres—especially Saigon—saw a transformation in public transport, and the Renault 4CV played a surprisingly central role. Originally crafted in France as a post-war economy car, the 4CV found new purpose on the streets of Vietnam, where its compact frame and nimble handling made it perfect for weaving through crowded boulevards and tight alleyways. These small taxis, often painted in bright hues, became a familiar sight, ferrying passengers through the city’s vibrant chaos with surprising efficiency.

A typical Renault 4CV taxi in Saigon until the early '70s. The 4CV appears to have been the standard model and they all used this two-tone paint and font for the taxi's number.
The car’s design lent itself well to the demands of Vietnamese taxi services. With its rear-mounted engine and lightweight build, the 4CV was both fuel-efficient and easy to maintain—an ideal choice for drivers looking to maximise earnings while minimising upkeep. Its affordability meant that many independent operators could enter the taxi business, and its reliability ensured it could handle the daily grind of urban traffic. In a time when motorised transport was still gaining traction, the 4CV helped bridge the gap between tradition and modernity.
Beyond its mechanical merits, the 4CV became a cultural fixture. It was more than just a vehicle—it was part of the city’s rhythm. Locals grew accustomed to its rounded silhouette and distinctive hum, and it often appeared in photographs and stories that captured the spirit of Saigon in the 1960s. For many, riding in a 4CV taxi was a shared experience, a small but memorable part of everyday life that connected people across neighbourhoods and generations.
Though the 4CV has long since disappeared from Vietnam’s taxi fleets, its legacy endures. Collectors and model-makers continue to celebrate its charm, and vintage enthusiasts regard it as a symbol of a bygone era. In the story of Vietnam’s urban evolution, the Renault 4CV holds a special place—as a modest machine that quietly shaped the way people moved through their cities.

The kit: Gecko Models 1/35th scale 4CV "Saigon Taxi" 
Gecko Models' new 1/35 scale kit "4CV 'Saigon Taxi'" is a curious but no doubt well-received new kit from Gecko Models. Being the only kit in this scale in injection-moulded plastic (there are some in 3D resin out there). This kit will feature a single car, and we do not know if there is a driver or a person waiting to get in the cab as we see in the box art but we will let you know when we find out!

Features:
- This kit contents parts one 4CV taxi
- Photo-etched parts & a decal sheet are included.
Some of the etch will be on the windscreen wipers, which will be very fine. The clear taxi sign & windows for the clear parts.
We can see many other Renaults forthcoming using the same wheelbase and era / timeframe.
The rear-engined Renault is shown with cooling vents here. No word on if you can show off the engine, but we would expect no engine present in this case.
-Clear parts & opening front doors are also a feature.
This kit has not been advertised by distributors yet—who are usually the first people to know of them—so there is no pricing or other information yet. We will let you know when we know more.

You can find out more about Gecko Models kits on their website