1913 Renault Type DP 22/24 HP

The company that would become France's biggest automobile manufacturer began with humble beginnings. It was founded in 1898 by Louis Renault and his brothers Marcel and Fernand. From the beginning, Renault vehicles were built with quality and skillful engineering. The earliest vehicle was a 1.75 horsepower DeDion-engined prototype with a sprung rear axle which would soon be copied by many other manufacturers. This was followed by the arrival of multi-cylinder models which boosted the company's popularity. By 1904, Renault was building their own engines. Initially, large-capacity four-cylinder engines followed by the AX twin. Despite the hesitation and reluctance of Louis Renault due to the complication, in 1908, Renault introduced their first six-cylinder model. By this point in history, a large percentage of Paris and London taxes were built by Renault. They were also the best-selling foreign brand in New York in 1907 and 1908. In 1908, having produced 3,575 vehicles, earned the distinction of being the country's largest car manufacturer.

Although the company produced large and luxurious vehicles, they also recognized the need to cater to the masses. In 1908 Renault introduced the AX which would remain in production until 1914. During that time, it remained virtually unchanged. It was a reliable, low-priced automobile that was powered by a water-cooled, side valve, two-cylinder engine with a displacement of 1060cc. It was a well-engineered engine with a counter-balanced crankshaft and oil pump lubrication.

During this time period, many of the cars appeared similar. The Renault was noteworthy for its unique appearance, thanks to its sloping nose. The radiator which was prominent on most other cars was placed behind the engine, resulting in a unique and instantly identifiable appearance. Similarly, most other cars used chain drive; all Renaults had shaft drive, eliminating a part of the car vulnerable to damage due to dust and the atrocious roads of the period.

One of Renault's flagship models of the pre-World War I era was the Type DP 22CV. It had a five-liter four-cylinder engine, a three-speed manual transmission, semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension and two-wheel drum brakes.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2019