Renault 40CV Type Jp Touring Widerkehr

The immense six cylinder engine of this Renault 40CV has a displacement of nine liters, making it one of the largest Renaults ever built.

The immense six cylinder engine of this Renault 40CV has a displacement of nine liters, making it one of the largest Renaults ever built. This example is the only surviving version with a body by the French coachbuilder Widerkehr from Colmar. The car was delivered on 2 2 1922. A characteristic feature of the older Renault types is that the radiator is positioned behind the engine hood and has cooling fins on the sides. The radiator of the Renault 40CV has a capacity of 45 liters. The Renault 40CV is a successful attempt by Renault to secure a place in the very top segment of the market. The car, which is only supplied as a powered chassis on which a body can be built to the customers wishes, quickly becomes very popular with the beau monde. After the 1913 motor show in Saint Petersburg, the Russian tsar also orders two examples. In 1925 a Renault 40CV wins the Monte Carlo Rally, and a year later a car with a special single seat body runs an endurance test on the Montlhery circuit, breaking several records. In 24 hours the car covers a distance of 4,167.6 kilometers at an average speed of 173.65 km h.