Renault 1929 RY1 Monasix

3 minute(s) of a 217 minute read

Further to the above I have just ordered another 2 lengths (12 metres, 38 ft) of steel tube to become the frames for the two seats. Like almost everything else in this car they will be constructed from the ground up without the aid of anything but imagination aided initially by my well used copy of the Lagonda Rapier Coach builder's Dimensions.

Bj.

8-10-2015

Finally the penny has dropped. Up until now I had been miss-reading the statistics given on the Renault d'Avant Guerre forum site. I now understand that not only was 1929 the last year of production of Renaults with the Radiator "behind" the engine but of those made, the French "Club" can only identify 11 survivors of my RY1, 1929 model. If and when I complete my restoration this will increase that number by almost 10% to make an even dozen. I wonder if any made it to the USA and if any have survived. For some obscure reason the bulk of these cars, made in France for the "home" market were built as Right Hand Drive.

Bj.

8-11-2015

Many of the European prestige/sporting marques retained a RHD option well into the 1970-80s! In particular Lancia. Their justification was that it was safer for drivers to be near the edge  where they could see the road particularly on Alpine Roads where there were no barriers (armco) to prevent them falling off. We have driven on some of these roads in the Italian Tyrol where the only edge marking was the tape for the "electric fence" to stop the cows and goats from straying onto the road. Even then in some places the goats would have needed to clamber up an almost sheer rock-face to reach the road.  Exciting motoring especially in the 1934 Lagonda Rapier, I just hope that I can manage one more trip but I need to finish the Renault first. The steel tube for the seat frames arrived today another step in the right direction.

Bj.