Restoration 1912 Renault - Part 2

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To continue yesterday’s story about the restoration of the 1912 CB Renault…

Over the next two years, Darryl stripped all the parts and repaired and replaced as necessary, including the chassis, steering, suspension and brakes. He undertook all the work himself or with the help of friends, apart from those welding, machining and specialist tasks (such as the re-tempering of the springs) that were beyond his equipment or experience. The wire wheels were unusable apart from the centres so he refurbished them and rebuilt the wheels with new spokes and rims from the UK.

The differential and gearbox were both missing the odd small part and were damaged from storage but were in remarkably good internal condition. The engine was also battered but internally the (substantial) bearings were sound, and although the pistons and bores were worn, were still usable. The inlet manifold was rebuilt and an Australian-made ‘Koala’ carburettor fitted in lieu of the missing Renault original. While another suitable single-spark magneto could have been sourced the Bakelite distributor panel at the front of the camshaft was missing and proved impossible to find. Although copying an original would have been difficult but not impossible, Darryl decided to substitute a four-spark magneto in the interim.

The original radiator was in remarkably good condition and only required some cosmetic repairs. A little after the car’s 101st birthday the engine was fired up and the rolling chassis was driven (briefly) for the first time in at least 70 years.

The bonnet that came with the car was not the original and needed resizing by a professional sheet metalworker, while Darryl completed the sealing of the engine compartment by fabricating the undertray.

The coachwork style was modelled from photos of an existing CC Renault in the UK and critical dimensions were estimated from these and measurements of other veteran cars in South Australia, including those in the National Motor Museum at Birdwood. Darryl’s only previous coachwork experience had been from restoring a Bullnose Morris and he chose the Roi des Belges style but with simple curves negating the need for access to rolling machinery.

Over the next three years, he completed the coachwork and cladding and the fuel system and (limited) electricals were installed. The completed body was fitted to the chassis and more test driving was undertaken before Darryl made the mudguards and set up the windscreens and hood supports. The upholstery and hood fabric were fitted by a professional and the finishing touches only just completed before the car was entered in the National Veteran Vehicle Rally in Clare SA in September 2017.

Since then, Darryl had the engine professionally rebuilt (new valves, pistons and rings) with his attendant dismantling and reassembly. He reports that at the most recent outing the performance had improved although the car would still be much happier motoring on the flat boulevards of Paris than the hillsides near his home.

We understand that there are less than 20 survivors of this model including several in museums (and the ‘Downton Abbey’ car) and we from PreWarCar.com are pleased that in some little way we have been able to assist him to get this one back on the road. A phoenix from the ashes indeed!

Watch here a video of the end result!

Photographs sent in by Darryl Grey.

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