Built to last. From what I've read and heard these Renaults were popular taxis in Paris, France prior to WWI. They might in fact have saved France from falling in 1914 when WWI started. The German flanking advance was stopped at the river Marne in what has come to be known as the "Miracle of the Marne". As the Germans tried to break the lines French reinforcements numbering 3000 men were rapidly transported to the front using 600 Renault taxis - each carrying 5 soldiers. This was probably the first time in history that the modern invention the car was used to rapidly transport troops directly to the battlefield. The Germans were driven back and dug in for the reminder of the war. It's also argued among car historians that while the car may have been born in Germany, France was its nursery. For a while France produced the most cars in the world and numerous of inventions were pioneered by them in the 00's and 10's.
What always amazes me is the beauty of some automobiles built before 1930 even though 99 percent of them were not "styled" by a design department. Harley Earl at General Motors elevated styling in importance when previously reliability was paramount in the eyes of the car buyers. European and American coachbuilders built some exclusive car bodies on production chassis for wealthy customers, but the 1927 LaSalle was probably the first "styled" mass produced car for upper class customers. The 1928 Ford Model A was probably the first "styled" mass produced car for the common man. This 1907 Renault looks like it does because engineers controlled the entire design, yet it is noble and attractive even though it wasn't styled by a design department.
It's as massive as it is impressive.The illusion of narrowness is caused by the ratio with the unusual length. When I saw a static one being displayed at an exhibit it literally dwarfed the Model T sitting across the aisle from it. Most early European cars were larger and more powerful that those we had here, in part because they had a lot more paved mileage than we did, in part because their manufacturers ostentatiously catered mostly to upper classes and commercial operators.
Its hard to believe that the Car hasn't been restored, but then again everybody has an opinion on complete restoration and restored or even just refurbished, this society today has been Poisoned ! Anyway, Thanks for sharing a Vehicle i never thought went that for back, very very nice !
+Sawyer Hines Perhaps, but manufacturing new parts for this "thing" must be fairly simple. You'll hardly need some modern day tolerances for the tools and parts you use and the over century old rough mechanicals are crude by today's standars but also simple to replace.
It's such a substantially well designed a great looking car for so early in the game. So much innovation and quality came out of France in the early days of automobile development. It's great to see such a remarkably intact original car. It's probably the only on in the US like it.
Truly amazing, I believe this is the oldest gasoline-fueled car I have ever seen being driven, on film and otherwise. This particular model is a popular exhibit in auto museums but it's always static and I suspect some are non-functional replicas, at least here in North America where only millionaires could afford to import it back in the day. I don't recall the actual figures but I remember the price tag was staggering. What a beautiful classic you have there!
Although the French were very innovative with their automobiles, luxury cars were almost an afterthought; most early luxury cars produced in France were made for export, as the majority of the French people considered cars to be a utilitarian item.
I wasn't able to see from this video what the engine was like. But I saw in another video an engine with exposed valve gear and total loss oil system in a 1905 medel. If this one built same way my god how primitive. The Model T came out in 1909 had enclosed valve gear and some sort of lubrication system.
So I wonder why people never talked about early Renault production cars as much as a Model T... These where from the same era... Both appealed to mass markets.. Ford was not the only one!
Thanks for the tour!! Would those kerosene headlights stay on during the driving of that car? I imagine it wouldn't go any faster than 25? Would have liked to seen a little video you driving it around! - just locally that is, you need not get on the freeway!
Can the radiator be used as a means of heating the interior when its cold? Not necessarily talking about this specific car but enclosed sedans?(Marne-taxi?) Putting the radiator by the torpedo wall looks like a smart gesture if you think of it that way.
