Renault Type A

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Renault
Renault Type A at the 2018 Paris Motor Show
Renault Type A at the 2018 Paris Motor Show
Type A
Production period: 1898-1900
Class : Microcar
Body versions : Phaeton
Engines:
Otto engines : 0.2-0.27 liters
(0.75-1.3 kW)
Length: 1900 mm
Width: 1150 mm
Height: 1400 mm
Wheelbase : 1100 mm
Empty weight : about 250 kg
successor Renault Type B
Louis Renault with the first model of the Type A in 1898
Renault Type A (1899) in the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu
Renault Type A (1899) in the Musée National de la Voiture du Tourisme in Compiègne
Renault Type A (1899) in the Laganland Motor Museum in Lagan (Sweden)
Renault Type A (1899) owned by Renault

The Renault Type A was the first automobile designed by Louis Renault itself.

history

With the Type A , Louis Renault built his first automobile in 1898 and used his most important invention, the drive without chains ( cardan shaft ). The model was the further development of a prototype built in 1898 , from which the almost 0.2 liter engine was initially adopted. It was first exhibited in public in June 1899, but must have been available beforehand.

The success of the Voiturette Type A came about very quickly due to its simplicity in production. As early as 1899 , 71 of a slightly revised version with a displacement of 0.27 liters and significantly more power were sold. Production ended in 1900.

The total number of pieces of Type A is not known. In 1900 the Renault Type B was available, which received a more powerful 450 cc engine. Both models were offered in parallel for a short time.

Cardan drive was quieter than the previously used chain drives, but was initially only suitable for smaller and less powerful engines. The patent on the cardan shaft secured the financial independence of the young family company .

technology

With this first model, Renault already followed the arrangement of the front engine and rear-wheel drive known as Système Panhard and thus turned away from the "horse-drawn carriage" design with engines under the driver's seat or in the rear and a splash guard on the front, which was widespread at the time. The Type A was powered by a bought-in single-cylinder engine from De Dion-Bouton and was actually developed to drive Tricycles . The Type A with rear-wheel drive already had a simple brake on the rear axle and an auxiliary brake that acted on the transmission. With the first version a speed of 22 km / h was possible, with the more powerful 28 km / h.

Engine (1898)

Engine (1899-1900)

as above, but:

Power transmission

Chassis and suspension

  • Steering : rod lever, vertical steering column, steering wheel
  • Rigid axles front and rear
  • Suspension: front and rear axles with 2 elliptical leaf springs each , arranged lengthways
  • Brakes: brake levers, acting on brake bands on the rear axle; Foot brake acting on the gear
  • Wheels: wire- spoke wheels
  • Tires: pneumatics

Dimensions (1899)

  • Length: 1900 mm
  • Width: 1150 mm
  • Height: 1400 mm
  • Empty weight: 225–250 kg
  • Wheelbase : 1100 mm
  • Front track : 850 mm
  • Rear track: 930 mm
  • Front tire: 650 × 65
  • Rear tire: 750 × 65

Present stock

The vehicle with the British registration number O 810 is in the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu , UK . The Musée National de la Voiture du Tourisme in Compiègne , France, exhibits a vehicle. There is a vehicle in the Laganland Motor Museum in Lagan (Sweden) . Another vehicle is in the Museu Nacional de l'Automòbil d'Andorra in Encamp in Andorra . Renault also has a copy with yellow rims.

literature

  • Jacques Rousseau: Guide de l'Automobile française. Éditions Solar, Paris 1988, ISBN 2-263-01105-6 (French).
  • Gilbert Hatry, Claude Le Maître: Dossiers Chronologiques Renault. Voitures Particulières. Tome 1: 1899-1905. Editions Lafourcade, Paris 1977.
  • René Bellu: Toutes les Renault. Des origines à nos jours . Éditions Jean-Pierre Delville, Paris 1979, ISBN 2-85922-023-2 (French).
  • Author collective: Renault. 100 Years of Motoring Progress.
  • Ulrich Bethscheider-Kieser: Renault. Under the sign of the rhombus. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1995, ISBN 3-613-01658-3 .
  • Edouard Seidler: The great RENAULT challenge.

Web links

Commons : Renault Type A  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Rousseau: Guide de l'Automobile française.
  2. ^ Gilbert Hatry, Claude Le Maître: Dossiers Chronologiques Renault. Voitures Particulières. Tome 1: 1899-1905. Editions Lafourcade, Paris 1977.
  3. ^ A b René Bellu: Toutes les Renault. Des origines à nos jours . Éditions Jean-Pierre Delville, Paris 1979, ISBN 2-85922-023-2 (French).
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h Renault Type A (1898) on www.histomobile.com (English, accessed on July 6, 2014).
  5. ↑ a b c d e Renault Type A (1899–1900) at www.histomobile.com (English, accessed on July 6, 2014).