No name is more associated with the rise of early American motor racing than Willie K. Vanderbilt. By 1900 he organized his own races in Newport, Rhode Island. The most important of all car races in America moved to Long Island and became the Vanderbilt Cup. Seven Renault racing cars participated.
In 1906 Vanderbilt concentrated on the small but viable market for advanced racing cars. High-level racing cars were purpose-built during this period. Equipped with huge engines, the very temperamental machines were supported by manufacturers.
Vanderbilt visited Renault to see if they could deliver some of their ultramodern 35/45hp racing cars to his American friends. This powerful and highly developed racer was a smaller version of the successful Renault Grand Prix car and better suited for private drivers. Vanderbilt obtained about ten orders and paid Renault 150,000 dollars for this series. Each of the racers was mechanically identical, but varied slightly in body details, probably adaptations to better suit the physical proportions of the owner. Some cars were fitted with road equipment (lights, mudguards,) and others remained lightweight just for use in racing.
The 35/45 proved to be a perfect racer, extremely refined but durable and not too brutal. It was a super car that the owner could crank himself. The type AI served as a basis, but the chassis structure was completely adapted for this specific purpose. The engine and gearbox were placed more than sixty centimetres to the rear of the frame. As far back as possible in order to still be able to use a drive shaft of an acceptable length. The 7,430 cc engine is coupled to a four-speed gearbox. It has an ingenious scroll wheel that translates the H-shift pattern of the gearbox into a pattern with the gears behind each other (right next to the driver). A remarkably short drive shaft connects the gearbox to the characteristic Renault differential. A final transmission ratio of 2:1 enables a considerable top speed. The well-known Renault radiator behind the engine operates on the thermosyphon principle. The radiator is mounted almost in the middle of the length of the car with as little influence as possible on driving behaviour (favourable weight distribution.) The long, elegant bonnet and radiator guide the air over the heads of the occupants when the car is being driven at speed.
The presence of the Renault cars on the American racetrack did not go unnoticed. Louis Raffolovitch won the 24 hour race at Morris Park in Brighton Beach. Most likely it was with this car. Another Renault 35/45 Vanderbilt would win the same race in 1909. The private drivers achieved massively different victories with their Renaults. A number of them simultaneously fulfilled their roles as fast means of transport on public roads. Willie K. Vanderbilt toured Europe with his own Renault 35/45, as documented in his motor memoirs from that period.
This particular Renault AI Vanderbilt racer from 1907 remained in astonishingly good and complete condition. The car with a 7.5 litre 4-cylinder engine (chassis number 8938, engine number 225) was first discovered in 1946 by a famous opera singer James Melton in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The Renault was modestly restored and fitted with headlights and mudguards. The car then came into the hands of William Spear Jr., who was known for his multiple participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Pictures: The advertisement of Renault (above) mentions the victory of the make during the 24 Hours of Morris Park on 6 and 7 September 1907.
In 1957 Indianapolis Speedway owner Tony Hulman was looking for the most important racing machines for the Indianapolis Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The Renault remained under the care of this museum for more than sixty years.
The history prior to the possession of James Melton is still being researched, along with that of the other four still existing Vanderbilt Renaults. Because the cars are so similar, it almost takes science to distinguish them. After studying numerous historical photographs, there is strong evidence that this specimen was the car that Louis Raffolovitch drove to victory in the Brighton 24 Hours of 1907. It is the only one with an original large fuel tank with an oversized filler pipe that can clearly be seen on photographs of the winning car. During the race the car was driven without an aluminium rear end, so the tank was fully visible. The tank and filler caps are original and carry the factory stamps.
In 2016 the gearbox was rebuilt and the Renault got new paint and interior parts in preparation for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. When renewing the interior, the original leather was discovered under the fifties upholstery. This was carefully removed and documented. Beautiful new leather was carefully applied after the original that was kept with the car. This Renault AI Vanderbilt was present at Pebble Beach that year at the reunion of the four remaining Vanderbilt Renaults. On the 5th of March this car was auctioned by Bonhams for 2.9 million euros!