Renault Specifications

Send This Page To A Friend
Renault Specifications


Founded by Louis Renault and his brothers Marcel and Fernaud as the Société Renault Frères in 1898. Louis provided the engineering expertise, while the brothers concentrated on running the business. Their first car, the “Voiturette”, was sold to a friend of Louis after he took a test ride. The company turned to motor racing to raise their profile, and Louis and Marcel quickly garnered success in the first French city-to-city races. Marcel was tragically killed in an accident during the 1903 Paris to Madrid race, and although Louis would choose never to race again, he remained committed to motor racing, his company taking out the inaugural Grand Prix race of 1906 in a Renault AK 90CV.

Renault went on to manufacture cars, taxis, buses and commercial vehicles in the pre-war years, however they turned to munitions, airplanes and even the Renault FT-17 tank during World War 1. Louis Renault was honored by the Allies for his company's contributions to their victory, and by wars end Renault was the number one private manufacturer in France. A dark period for the manufacturer came during the next conflict, Renault using their factories to manufacture trucks for Nazi Germany. Just how Louis Renault should have played his hand during this dark period of history remains debatable, but following the liberation of France in 1944 he was arrested and sent to prison; he would be killed (broken neck) before having time to prepare his defense.

The Renault industrial assets were seized by the provisional government, their factories becoming a public concern. Against the odds, new chief Pierre Lefaucheux would lead the company into a resurgence, mostly attributable to the wonderful 4CV model, a car that rivaled the German Beetle and British Morris Minor.
1898 Renault Type A  

1898 Renault Type A

1904 Renault Type XA  

1904 Renault Type XA

1907 Renault Model 1 8-9 hp  

1907 Renault Model 1 8-9 hp

1913 Renault Victoria Rothschild DG  

1913 Renault Victoria Rothschild DG

1914 Renault 40CV Type ES  

1914 Renault 40CV Type ES

Latest Classic Car Classifieds