Lot Ended
Description
Rare and interesting Type R2100 estate; ex-Dutch motor museum; highly
original; in the current ownership since 2015; large history file; lots to like
about this one
Launched at the
1937 Paris Motor Show, the Renault Juvaquatre saloon was an affordable car in
the 6CV taxation class that was heavily inspired by the German Opel Olympia and
featured Renault's first all-steel monocoque body shell.
Due to the outbreak of war, very few were made and it was replaced by
the Renault 4CV in 1948. However, as there was no estate version of the 4CV, the
Juvaquatre was revived as a shooting brake in 1950 (Type R2100), equipped with a
Type 670-2 845cc four-cylinder engine (58mm x 80mm bore and stroke) which
dropped it down into the 5CV tax class (the earlier 6CV saloon version was
1,003cc).
Weighing just 820kg, the Juvaquatre
shooting brake could carry a 300kg payload with folding rear seats to provide a
usefully large cargo area. Offering economy motoring combined with excellent
practicality, the Juvaquatre was equally suitable for both commercial and
private customers and had no real rivals in its day – although Citroen did
produce an estate version of the 2CV it was nowhere near as capable as the
Renault.
This unique versatility meant that the
Juvaquatre remained in production right up until 1960, although from 1956
onwards it gained a different engine and was renamed the Dauphinoise.
This wonderfully original Juvaquatre Type R2100
left Renault’s Billancourt works in June 1955 and has some nice period Robri
accessories such as the cast aluminium guards fitted to the lower wings, Art
Deco bonnet mascot and aluminium side strakes, all of which were available as
options from the factory.
While there is no early
history with the vehicle, by the 1990s it was owned by Autotron Rosmalen BV, an
exhibition centre and car museum in the Netherlands. A Dutch engineer’s report
on file dated February 1997 declares the car to be in good and highly original
condition throughout, stating that it should be valued at 10,000 guilders (about
£3,250 which is equivalent to around £8,000 today).
When the museum slimmed the collection down in 2004, some of the
cars were sold at a Bonhams auction in Henley-on-Thames. These included the
Renault, the catalogue description on file stating: ‘The grey upholstery is
original and overall the car reflects careful use prior to museum
display’.
Our vendor, an avid French car
collector and historian who was on the staff of The Automobile magazine
for many years, acquired the Renault in 2015 at which point it was still on
Dutch number plates and was in need of recommissioning.
He employed the services of a Renault-trained mechanic to go right
through the car and get it roadworthy. Although there are no invoices for this
work, notes on file state that it included a rebuilt carb; new starter motor;
new distributor; new leads, plugs, points and condenser; new 6-volt battery;
exhaust box repaired; cylinder head overhauled including valves ground in and
new head gasket.
UK registered in February 2016
with the age-related number 247 UYP, it has since been kept mainly at the
vendor’s second home in France, being used for local shopping trips and on a
couple of rallies in Normandy.
The
90,980 kms indicated (56,500 miles) is believed to be correct and is borne out
by the overall condition of the car which looks to be impressively sound, solid
and original. It comes with a large and interesting history file including
handbooks, maintenance manuals, Renault Club correspondence, Autotron Museum
paperwork, copies of Dutch registration documents etc.
Very little used in recent years due to the advancing years of the
vendor, it has been starting promptly and running well as we have moved it
around on site, although some precautionary checks would be advised before any
longer journeys are undertaken.
The Juvaquatre is
a rare sight on these shores so it could be a long time before you see another
for sale, let alone as nice as this one.
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]