Description
It is Christmas Eve 1898 when Louis Renault and his brothers look at his first creation, a Voiturette (converted Dion-Bouton 3-wheeler). This vehicle would form the basis for the automobile company Renault Freres, founded in 1899, and the beginning of Louis’ career in the automobile industry. The interest in his creations is great and after a visit to the FORD factories in 1911, Louis decides that his company should become one of the largest industrial companies in France. It was the elite that showed interest and Renault was therefore synonymous with luxury and quality at that time.
In 2022 there are only a few Renaults ‘known’ from that early period, we realize that the vehicle we offer you here is very unique, namely a PI 18, built by bodyworker Felber et Fils (a big name in the noisy twenties years of the last century). This example, with the first registration in 1926, was equipped with a 4. 8 liter six-cylinder in-line with 24 hp, ‘Les 6 cylindres de luxe’.
The gearbox was manual and provided with 4 gears. In the context of safety but also ‘luxury’ drum brakes on all four wheels, Renault installed quite unique for that time. Little is known about the early history of this unique example until it was put up for sale at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction in 1986.
It was Frank Spain who added the car to his already extensive collection. At that time it is known that this copy has remained untouched and a completely original. Over the past 35 years the car has been stored and displayed (Tupelo museum) never was there the intention to use or restore this time capsule, why also, such a unique example in a unique original condition!
The PI 18 looks very complete, by the way, almost 100 years after the car was first registered. Some documents related to the auction in 1986 accompany our Renault, including the American registration from the state of Mississippi (the import and other taxes have of course already been paid by us). This is your chance to purchase a very rare pre-war Renault, do nothing, just put it down and enjoy nearly 100 years of automotive history.
