A chauffeur's Mystery. ( Upd. Renault ED)

The perforated side radiator grille indicates that this Renault is equipped with one of the big 4-cylinder engines, probably an 18 or 22 HP. The detachable wheels were introduced by Renault in 1913 and had to be ordered as an option.

My guess is that this car is a 1913 ED.

Late pre war Renaults can be hard to identify since there were many similar- looking models, but this style of radiator surround was introduced for 1912. This is a large, but not one of the largest Renaults- in 1913 there were no less than 11 models of between 8 and 45ch(hp). This could be a 22hp model of 1913- which was not exactly small, at 5.1 litres. After the war Renault concentrated on a small 10hp car until a completely new style was introduced for 1923, so this is almost certainly a 1912- 14 car, and a very fine example.

It is a Renault, of course! But which one, of all the chassis types that Renault produced, this is, will prove a real nut to crack. To me, the car looks just about like any near-big pre-war Renault.

The rear dumb irons, which are not visible in this photo, could have given a clue.
The wheel base, being rather, but not too, long, along with the likewise short-looking engine hood could indicate the car sports a 4-cylinder engine. But that´s just a guess.

One fact is that the wheels are not equipped with the patented hub with two locking claws. This allowed the wheel to be removed very easily. The photo shows that the wheels have an older split-rim or other construction. So an absolute pre-WW1 there.

To me, the shape of the scuttle (just behind the enormous radiator) and the side of the rear portion of the body give me a Renault-produced feeling about them. But again, the four wings and the front roof treatment look rather british to me.

But who am I to guess? Not an easy one.

I can agree on Renault ED 1914 / 1915 maybe coachwork by Whitlock of Kensington London?

Arrol-Johnston made a 15.9 and a 23 before the 1st War, both of which had coal scuttle bonnets. LM 7084 would be from a London registration series commencing in July 1914.

The car has detachable wheel rims similar to the Rudge-Whitworth, did Renault use these?

Surely a Renault? or is that too easy...

Someone should be able to search the license plate, which looks like LM7084.

editor, the car is showing remarkable resemblance with a 1914 Renault ED