Renault NN Tourer

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Frenchman Louis Renault built his first passenger motorcar in 1898. From 1901 the firm also sold vehicles in Britain, forming a UK company three years later and becoming a major supplier of taxis, particularly to the London Hackney carriage trade.

Before 1919, most Renaults were supplied in chassis form only and bodied by outside coachbuilders. Engines were typically four-cylinder units of L-head type with their cylinders cast in pairs. Early Renaults had a distinctive look, caused by positioning the radiator behind the engine to give a so-called ‘coalscuttle’ bonnet. This unusual design feature continued throughout the 1920s and it was not until 1930 that the range had the radiator positioned at the front.

Following the Great War, the Renault range consisted of a 6-cylinder model and three smaller vehicles powered by 4-cylinder engines. The 6-cylinder vehicle was of leviathan proportions, being powered by a 9.1-litre engine while at the lower end of the scale was the KJ model, built between 1922 and 1924, which was to continue as the NN until 1929 and was Renault's answer to the Citroën 5CV. Known as the 8.3 in Britain, where the car was particularly popular, it had four-wheel brakes, was priced at £219 for the tourer version and was capable of a maximum speed of 50mph with fuel economy being a frugal 40-45mpg.

This RHD Renault NN Tourer was first registered in London in March 1927 and retains its original, transferable number, YE 9780. Our vendor acquired the car through a BCA auction in 2007 to join his private collection, although he never registered it in his own name. The V5C records only four keepers in total, the current recorded keeper acquiring it in 2002.

Although there is precious little history with the car, the BCA catalogue stated the following: "Restored some years ago, it has recently been sympathetically refreshed and has good serviceable weather equipment. It is reported to drive well and to be mechanically free from faults with a current MOT".

It has spent the last dozen years in heated storage and remains exactly as it did when acquired. Said to be in good running order, it would doubtless benefit from some precautionary recommissioning before venturing forth once more.