Details
1906 RENAULT 20/30 HP LIMOUSINE
COACHWORK BY WINDSOR OF HOUNSLOW
REGISTRATION NO. X 825
CHASSIS NO. 6815/B
ENGINE NO. 853
BLUE WITH (ORIGINAL) BEIGE FABRIC INTERIOR
ENGINE: 4 CYLINDER, SIDEVALVE, 4,398CC; GEARBOX: FOUR SPEED; REAR WHEEL BRAKES; SUSPENSION: LEAF SPRINGS FRONT AND REAR. RIGHT HAND DRIVE.
THE STAID LITTLE TWIN CYLINDER RENAULTS SERVED AS RUNABOUTS AND TAXIS ALIKE, WHILE THE LARGER AND MORE STATELY 4'S AND 6'S WERE IN GREAT DEMAND AS TOWN CARRIAGES. THEIR HIGH BUILD AND COAL SCUTTLE BONNETS MOUNTED IN FRONT OF THEIR HUGE BRASS RADIATORS MADE THEM PARTICULARLY DISTINCTIVE. THIS RENAULT WAS THE FIRST CAR THAT LORD MONTAGU BOUGHT FOR HIS NEW MONTAGU MOTOR MUSEUM. AT THAT TIME, 1953, IT WAS TOO TALL FOR EXHIBITION IN PALACE HOUSE AND WAS KEPT IN THE ESTATE YARD IN THE VILLAGE AND BROUGHT OVER FOR EXHIBITION IN THE OPEN ON FINE DAYS !
IT WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY A MR CHRISTIAN OF OTTERBOURNE, HAMPSHIRE, WHO HAD THE COACHWORK BUILT TO HIS OWN DESIGN. IT'S TOWERING HEIGHT WAS A CONSESSION TO HIS HABIT OF DRIVING IN A TOP HAT, AND THE LUXURIOUS INTERIOR WAS MODELLED ON THE INTERIOR OF A FIRST CLASS FRENCH RAILWAY CARRIAGE. THE CAR REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY UNTIL 1951, THOUGH IT WAS RETIRED IN FAVOUR OF A 40HP FIAT IN 1927 AND STORED THEREAFTER. IT THEN PASSED QUICKLY THROUGH THE HANDS OF A WINCHESTER GARAGE PROPRIETOR AND A MAN IN ROTHERHAM BEFORE LORD MONTAGU PURCHASED IT. WHILST THE EXTERIOR OF THIS STATELY CAR HAS RECEIVED A SYMPATHETIC RESTORATION, THE MAGNIFICENT INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY IS STILL THE ORIGINAL.
THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT RUNNING ORDER AND INDEED THE ENGINE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A MAJOR REBUILD IN 1993. THIS INCLUDED RE-METALLING THE BIG ENDS, POLISHING THE CRANKSHAFT, FITTING NEW ALLOY SHIMS AND ATTENDING TO THE VALVES AND VALVE GUIDES. ROUTINE MAINTAINENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY IN ORDER TO ENSURE RELIABILITY DURING THE CARS REGULAR USE AND RECENT WORK HAS INCLUDED A CLUTCH OVERHAUL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRING SHACKLES.
THE DECISION TO PART WITH X 825 HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN LIGHTLY. RECENTLY, THE NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM TRUST HAS RECEIVED THE BEQUEST OF AN ALMOST IDENTICAL 14HP RENAULT LANDAULETTE FROM THE ESTATE OF JOHN WELCH. THIS LATTER CAR NOW ON SHOW IN THE MOTOR MUSEUM AT BEAULIEU, WAS FIRST DELIVERED TO QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND LATER USED BY KING GEORGE V. LACK OF SPACE PRECLUDES BOTH CARS BEING KEPT AND DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUM.
COACHWORK BY WINDSOR OF HOUNSLOW
REGISTRATION NO. X 825
CHASSIS NO. 6815/B
ENGINE NO. 853
BLUE WITH (ORIGINAL) BEIGE FABRIC INTERIOR
ENGINE: 4 CYLINDER, SIDEVALVE, 4,398CC; GEARBOX: FOUR SPEED; REAR WHEEL BRAKES; SUSPENSION: LEAF SPRINGS FRONT AND REAR. RIGHT HAND DRIVE.
THE STAID LITTLE TWIN CYLINDER RENAULTS SERVED AS RUNABOUTS AND TAXIS ALIKE, WHILE THE LARGER AND MORE STATELY 4'S AND 6'S WERE IN GREAT DEMAND AS TOWN CARRIAGES. THEIR HIGH BUILD AND COAL SCUTTLE BONNETS MOUNTED IN FRONT OF THEIR HUGE BRASS RADIATORS MADE THEM PARTICULARLY DISTINCTIVE. THIS RENAULT WAS THE FIRST CAR THAT LORD MONTAGU BOUGHT FOR HIS NEW MONTAGU MOTOR MUSEUM. AT THAT TIME, 1953, IT WAS TOO TALL FOR EXHIBITION IN PALACE HOUSE AND WAS KEPT IN THE ESTATE YARD IN THE VILLAGE AND BROUGHT OVER FOR EXHIBITION IN THE OPEN ON FINE DAYS !
IT WAS ORIGINALLY OWNED BY A MR CHRISTIAN OF OTTERBOURNE, HAMPSHIRE, WHO HAD THE COACHWORK BUILT TO HIS OWN DESIGN. IT'S TOWERING HEIGHT WAS A CONSESSION TO HIS HABIT OF DRIVING IN A TOP HAT, AND THE LUXURIOUS INTERIOR WAS MODELLED ON THE INTERIOR OF A FIRST CLASS FRENCH RAILWAY CARRIAGE. THE CAR REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAMILY UNTIL 1951, THOUGH IT WAS RETIRED IN FAVOUR OF A 40HP FIAT IN 1927 AND STORED THEREAFTER. IT THEN PASSED QUICKLY THROUGH THE HANDS OF A WINCHESTER GARAGE PROPRIETOR AND A MAN IN ROTHERHAM BEFORE LORD MONTAGU PURCHASED IT. WHILST THE EXTERIOR OF THIS STATELY CAR HAS RECEIVED A SYMPATHETIC RESTORATION, THE MAGNIFICENT INTERIOR UPHOLSTERY IS STILL THE ORIGINAL.
THIS CAR IS IN PERFECT RUNNING ORDER AND INDEED THE ENGINE WAS THE SUBJECT OF A MAJOR REBUILD IN 1993. THIS INCLUDED RE-METALLING THE BIG ENDS, POLISHING THE CRANKSHAFT, FITTING NEW ALLOY SHIMS AND ATTENDING TO THE VALVES AND VALVE GUIDES. ROUTINE MAINTAINENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PRIORITY IN ORDER TO ENSURE RELIABILITY DURING THE CARS REGULAR USE AND RECENT WORK HAS INCLUDED A CLUTCH OVERHAUL AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SPRING SHACKLES.
THE DECISION TO PART WITH X 825 HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN LIGHTLY. RECENTLY, THE NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM TRUST HAS RECEIVED THE BEQUEST OF AN ALMOST IDENTICAL 14HP RENAULT LANDAULETTE FROM THE ESTATE OF JOHN WELCH. THIS LATTER CAR NOW ON SHOW IN THE MOTOR MUSEUM AT BEAULIEU, WAS FIRST DELIVERED TO QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND LATER USED BY KING GEORGE V. LACK OF SPACE PRECLUDES BOTH CARS BEING KEPT AND DISPLAYED IN THE MUSEUM.