Fewer than 20 Renault AI 35/45 HP Runabouts were produced, and four of the five remaining 1907 racers — often called simply “Vanderbilt Renaults” — graced the 18th fairway at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
A bit of history: Founded in 1899, Renault soon emerged as a force to be reckoned with in racing. The marque won multiple early city-to-city races throughout Europe, including the 1902 Paris-to-Vienna race, where Marcel Renault finished first in his unassuming 16 HP car. The petite Renault beat several more established marques that had over four times the horsepower and arguably more prestige. Renault’s pedigree was later cemented by several additional wins, most notably that of the first French Grand Prix race, in 1906. These races put Renault on the radar of racing enthusiasts worldwide—and one stateside multimillionaire in particular.
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