Renault Voiturette-First Automobile with Gearbox

The first automobile equipped with a gearbox Renault Voiturette was built at Billancourt (France) by Louis Renault back in 1898, when he was only a little over 20. He reconstructed the small tricycle of de Dion’s to a 4-wheeled automobile and changed the driving belts and chains making much noise, which were used before, with an innovation - a gearbox, having three forward gears and one backward. The drive power for the first, direct gear was delivered via an articulated shaft onto the differential gear of the rear axle. Later on this concept was also implemented for constructing other automobiles and basically is still used today almost unchanged.

The first Renault automobile had a 1-cylinder engine with water-cooler, produced by De Dion-Bouton firm; the diameter of its cylinder was 66 millimeters, piston stroke 80 millimeters. Its volume was 273 cubic centimeters. The total power of this engine located in the front part of automobile was 1.3 kilowatt (1.75 horsepower). The Voiturette, having a weight of around 350 kilograms plus two passengers, made up to 32 km/h, consuming 6 liters of petrol per 100 kilometers.

Right after the automobile demonstration Louis Renault arranged for his friends he got 12 orders, most of which were generously paid. In order to execute these orders Renault had to found a firm. This way in 1899 a company titled Societe Renault Freres was founded by the instrumentality of his brothers Marcel and Fernand. That very year the firm produced 72 limousines with closed body style, so-called “Renault-coupe.” In 1990 another model of Renault brothers appeared, this time with a more powerful engine making 2.6 kilowatt (3.5 horsepower). Later on the engines were provided by De Dion-Bouton firm. The Renaults of that period had 2 radiators located on the sides of the bonnet.