Vehicle Description
Louis Renault was expected to follow his father and brothers into
the family button and textile business but he had other ideas.
After a stint with boiler maker and future automaker
Delauney-Belleville and a year in the French Army, Renault's
mechanical interests blossomed and he began building a small, light
automobile using a De Dion engine. Unlike most of its
contemporaries, the new Renault automobile had a front-mounted
engine, shaft drive to the rear wheels, and a steering wheel
instead of a tiller. He demonstrated his first car on Christmas Eve
1898, and his impressed friends wanted replicas. Joined by brothers
Marcel and Fernand, Renault Freres was born and the firm grew
rapidly. Within a year, the company's cars had fared well in
competition, and the engines had grown size and cylinder count. By
1913, Renault had grown to become the largest automaker in France,
with a reputation for luxury cars of exceptional quality, often
fitted with the latest in formal coachwork. In the formative years
from 1904 to 1928, Renault's primary identifying features were a
shovel nose bonnet and a radiator positioned between the engine and
the firewall, something many competitors soon adopted. Following
World War I, the Renault product line included both a traditional
four-cylinder range, and a six-cylinder model as it expanded its
offerings. The Type GR was the top four-cylinder model, powered by
a long-stroke 4,534cc Monobloc engine rated at 18 taxable
horsepower (CV, or chevaux vapeur). Lacking a water pump, it relied
on thermosiphon cooling, and the engine was fired by a Dynastart
combination generator and starter. Powerful, durable, and suited to
high-quality coachwork, the Type GR was an excellent mid-range
Renault for the upscale driver. This rare Type GR tourer wears
stylish and sporty skiff-style open coachwork by the seldom-seen
coachbuilder Belvallette & Cie, and bears chassis number 64533,
suggesting the chassis was built in 1918 and that the body was not
completed until 1919. The charming, nautical-inspired body features
African Mahogany decking and a full canvas top with matching side
curtains. The two-tone light blue livery suits the boat-like body,
and is believed to be close to the original color scheme. Accents
are provided by black fenders and light gray coach lines, with body
color artillery wheels. A copy of the production ledger shows it
was first delivered to New York, and while the original owner's
identity is a mystery, they undoubtedly had fine taste in motorcars
and the means to afford such a car! The history picks up again in
1962 when George Shafer of San Bernardino, CA sold it to the
world-famous Harrah's Collection of Reno, Nevada. William Harrah
had an eye for rare and interesting cars, and surely recognized the
significance of this Renault when he acquired it. The GR remained
in the Harrah's Collection until the early 1980s, when many of the
cars either became part of the National Motor Museum in Reno or
were sold at auction. Photos on file show the car as-found when it
came out of Harrah's and was acquired by M. Sharp of Glendale, CA.
Looking a bit tired but remarkably complete, it was the ideal
candidate for a straightforward restoration. It came into the care
of its most recent owners in 1996, who returned it to Europe, for a
full restoration by Carrosserie Lecoq Paris, with the work
completed in 2002. The process is well documented in an
accompanying photo album, showing every aspect of the rebuild, from
the coachwork, to the chassis, to the engine and mechanical
overhaul. Refinished in two-tone ocean blue with tan leather
upholstery, it is handsomely presented and well-detailed
throughout. Carefully maintained since restoration, it has mellowed
nicely, and shows signs of occasional use while remaining worthy of
display. As recently as February 2019, it won the "Rolling
Sculpture" award at the Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance, a testament
to the care and attention it has received. This Renault Type GR is
accompanied by several volumes of restoration photos, a Harrah's
Verification Certificate, copy of a Nevada title in Harrah's name,
and an owner's manual. It is a stylish and eminently charming
European tourer, and is ideal for many Vintage and Veteran motoring
events world-wide. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7505-1919-renault-type-gr-skiff/
