1911 Renault Type CC Tourer
Founded by brothers Louis, Marcel, and Fernand Renault in 1899, this French manufacturer established America’s first major European luxury car presence with a 1909 showroom on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The Type CC, introduced in 1911 and also known as the 14CV due to its taxable horsepower, was offered as an intermediate tourer or limousine.
Powered by a 3.6-liter water-cooled inline four-cylinder engine, the Type CC featured advanced engineering for its era, including a four-speed gearbox and cone clutch. The car displayed Renault’s distinctive “coal-scuttle” hood design and dashboard-mounted radiator, utilizing thermo-siphon cooling that eliminated the need for a water pump.
Production continued until 1912, making these Edwardian automobiles exceptionally rare survivors from the dawn of luxury motoring. American dealers proudly marketed these French imports as “the car that will last forever.”
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