RENAULT 40CV

1924 Renault 40CV

1924 Renault 40CV

Also referred to as the model NN1, the Renault 40CV of 1924 was designed by Louis Renault and replaced the Renault types KJ and MT. It was powered by a large 9.1-litre straight-six engine mounted in the front of its extremely long chassis and it drove the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission. This engine developed 104 kW and drove the car to a top speed of 145 km/h.

The NN1 was produced from 1924 through to 1928 as the successor to the Renault KJ and MT and it was replaced by the NN2, a larger and heavier car. In 1929 the NN2 was discontinued after only 12 months as both the Renault Monasix and the Renault Juvaquatre were ready and both were introduced in the same year.

The 40CV’s seemingly endless chassis was often used by leading coach builders to produce a number of sumptuous two-door coupes and four-door landaulet sedans with a very sophisticated finish.

Renault’s image was that of a manufacturer of popular cars and because of that their cars were rarely sought out by a luxury clientele. However cars such as the 40CV were a match for the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost or the Hispano Suiza H6 even though, in the case of the 40CV, its design was beginning to appear a little dated.

It has been recorded that 150,000 of these cars were produced.

About Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy, a long-time car enthusiast, was Technical Research Librarian with the NRMA from 1970 until 1985. He worked part-time as a freelance motoring journalist from 1977 until 1985, when he took a full-time position as Technical Editor with Modern Motor magazine. Late in 1987 he left to set up a full-time business as a freelance motoring journalist. Ewan is an associate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers - International. An economy driving expert, he set the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance travelled in a standard road vehicle on a single fuel fill. He lists his hobbies as stage acting, travelling, boating and reading.
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