Renault Type 12CV Series CB Coupe de Ville
|
Car producer : |
Renault |
|---|---|
|
Model: |
Type 12CV Series CB Coupe de Ville |
|
Year: |
1912 |
|
Type: |
Landaulet |
The Renault corporation was founded in 1899 as Société Renault Frères by Louis Renault and his brothers Marcel and Fernand. Louis was a bright, aspiring young engineer who had already designed and built several prototypes before teaming up with his brothers, who had honed their business skills working for their father's textile firm. While Louis handled design and production, Marcel and Fernand managed the business.
The first Renault car, the Renault Voiturette 1CV, was sold to a friend of Louis' father after giving him a test ride on 24 December 1898.
Early Renault cars used De Dion engines, but in 1902 the Société began to manufacture them in-house. There were twins and fours, in sizes from 1.7 to 4.9-liters. Marcel Renault won the 1902 Paris-Vienna race in a 3.8-liter Type K racing model, besting 70-hp Panhards with engines nearly four times the size.
In 1903, Renault began to manufacture its own engines; until then it had purchased them from De Dion-Bouton. The first major volume sale came in 1905 when Société des Automobiles de Place bought Renault AG1 cars to establish a fleet of taxis. These vehicles were later used by the French military to transport troops during World War I which earned them the nickname "Taxi de la Marne." By 1907, a significant percentage London and Paris taxis had been built by Renault. Renault was also the best-selling foreign brand in New York in 1907 and 1908. In 1908 the company produced 3,575 units, becoming the country's largest car manufacturer.
The brothers recognized the value of publicity that participation in motor racing could generate for their vehicles. Renault made itself known through succeeding in the first city-to-city races held in Switzerland, producing rapid sales growth. Both Louis and Marcel raced company vehicles, but Marcel was killed in an accident during the 1903 Paris-Madrid race. Although Louis never raced again, his company remained very involved, including Ferenc Szisz winning the first Grand Prix motor racing event in a Renault AK 90CV in 1906.
Louis took full control of the company as the only remaining brother in 1906 when Fernand retired for health reasons. Fernand died in 1909 and Louis became the sole owner, renaming the company Société des Automobiles Renault (Renault Automobile Company).
Renault fostered its reputation for innovation from very early on. At the time, cars were luxury items. The price of the smallest Renaults at the time were 3000 francs; an amount equal to ten years pay for the average worker. In 1905 the company introduced mass-production techniques and Taylorism in 1913.
There were few changes to Renault designs in the years before the war. Pressure lubrication was added in 1911, and six-cylinder engines from 1910. The largest of the sixes, a 7.5-liter model, was designated 40 CV (for its French horsepower rating). With a bore increase resulting in 45 CV, it remained in production through 1929.
Renault Series B Type V1 is one of the larger Renaults built and is fitted with a 4.4-litre 20/30hp 4-cylinder engine coupled to a 4-speed transmission. Built on a 130 inch wheelbase chassis.
