1927

This 1927 Renault 15 CV is one of approximately 344 examples of the RA model built in 1927 and was outfitted with one-off cabriolet coachwork by Million-Guiet before being displayed at the 1926 Paris and New York motor shows. Chassis 287084 is said to have been delivered new to a family in Southampton, New York, who retained it for over 60 years before it was purchased by a Connecticut collector in 1989. Following a subsequent refurbishment, the car completed the 4,095-mile 1990 Great American Race and was later placed in long-term storage in the Hamptons, where it was rediscovered in 2017. It then received a mechanical refresh before being purchased by the selling dealer in 2021 and displayed at the 2024 Arizona Concours d’Elegance, where it is said to have placed second in its class. Finished in beige and brown, the car is powered by a 3,181cc L-head inline-six that features a single updraft carburetor, distributor and coil ignition, and a radiator mounted rearward of the engine. Additional features include a four-speed manual transmission, mechanically actuated four-wheel drum brakes with servo assistance, hydraulic shock absorbers, orange-painted wood-spoke wheels, JM bumper shocks, a beige convertible top, tan leather upholstery over three-place seating and a rumble seat, and a rear-mounted luggage trunk with fitted luggage. This Type RA Million-Guiet cabriolet is now offered with its Renault Classic build record, historical photos, and a clean Arizona title. The Type RA was introduced in September 1926 as a longer-wheelbase and more-luxuriously appointed variant of the 15 CV Type PG, which was replaced by the Vivasix line the following year. While sharing the PG’s 15-taxable-horsepower engine, the RA benefited from the brake servo, cantilever-spring rear suspension, and four-speed transmission utilized on higher-horsepower variants such as the top-of-the-line 40 CV. The Type RA was produced through 1928 when it was superseded by the Vivastella. This example’s Million-Guiet two-door open coachwork was separated from the frame for repairs during the refurbishment performed between 1989 and 1990. The car was repainted during the project in its current color scheme of beige and brown with orange pinstripes, replacing a two-tone green combination. Paint repair is said to have been performed under current ownership. Features include a sloping nose profile ahead of a louvered radiator shroud, front and rear bumpers mounted on JM Pare-Choc shock absorbers, Marchal headlights, a tilt-out windshield, rear-hinged doors, trafficators, a beige convertible top, and a fold-down luggage rack hosting a trunk under a beige canvas cover. Orange-painted artillery wheels feature body-color lock rings and are wrapped in 5.00/6.00×20 Michelin Confort Cord SS tires, as is a side-mount spare. Mechanical actuation of four-wheel drum brakes incorporates a mechanical servo that provides assistance in accordance with the intensity of driver input. The brakes were adjusted in January 2024. The right-hand-drive cabin houses a pair of bucket seats and a side-facing rear seat trimmed in tan leather while matching upholstery covers the door panels and rumble seat. Additional features include brown carpeting, wood door caps, a right-hand gated shifter, roll-up side windows, and a fire extinguisher. The five-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a wood-topped dash panel housing a Jaeger 75-mph speedometer and clock as well as gauges monitoring coolant temperature, oil pressure, amperage, and voltage. The five-digit odometer shows 17k miles, approximately 150 of which have been added under current ownership. The speedometer, clock, voltmeter, and temperature gauge do not work. The 3,181cc L-head inline-six features a Detroit Lubricator updraft carburetor, Mallory coil and distributor ignition, an electric starter, a dynamo, and a radiator positioned behind the engine. The car is said to have undergone a mechanical recommissioning by Restorations by York in Ridgefield, Connecticut, in 2021, while fluid changes, lubrication service, and electrical repairs were performed in January 2024. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Suspension incorporates solid axles and hydraulic shock absorbers with semi-elliptical leaf springs up front and a rear setup comprising a transverse upper spring and angled cantilever springs. Photos of the car before and during the 1989-1990 refurbishment are included in the sale. Renault production records and the Renault Certificate of Production list Million-Guiet cabriolet coachwork as well manufacturing number 120 and engine number 208, both shown in the photo gallery below. The selling dealer has been unable to locate chassis number 287084 on the vehicle. The identification number listed on the title is the car’s radiator number, 125 RA, which is shown stamped on the radiator in the gallery.