1914 Renault Type ED

This car, chassis number #44431, originally belonged to Lily Livingston, mistress to tobacco magnate Pierre Lorillard. Ms. Livingston was Mr. Lorillard's primary heir, inheriting his thoroughbred horse business, despite the fact that he was still married to Emily Lorillard at the time. Ms. Livingston successfully ran Rancocas Stables and split her time between the New Jersey farm, France, Germany and England.

She was visiting France, in 1914, and ordered the car. It was shipped to the Renault Sales Branch in New York and bodied by Locke & Co.

In the 1940s, the car was owned by Alec Ulman, who drove it in a post-WWII AACA event in October 1945. In 1946, Henry Austin Clark drove it in the first Glidden Tour after WWII. Clark retained ownership into the 1970s, when the car was sold to an individual in the United Kingdom, who toured with it for the next 25 years.

Renault has been producing cars since late 1897. It was founded in 1899 as Société Renault Frères by Louis Renault, his brothers Marcel and Fernand, and his friends Thomas Evert and Julian Wyer.

Renault's first car was the Renault Voiturette 1CV which was sold to a friend of Louis' father. Renault realized the potential and benefits of motor racing and entered in the first city-to-city races held in Switzerland. Their success in the race resulted in rapid expansion for the company.

In 1899, Renault introduced their first production sedan car. Soon, the company was manufacturing taxis, buses, and commercial car vehicles. During World War I, the company produced ammunition, military airplanes and vehicles in support of the war.

Renault did not build bodies. That was left to coachbuilders, both European and American, such as Locke & Company.