The History of Renault car maker & VIN decoder

Renault's history dates back to December 24, 1898, when Louis Renault accepted a challenge to drive his Voiturette A-class up the steep Rue du Lepic in Montmartre, Paris. Thanks to this run, he received an order for his first 12 cars.

Louis Renault was born into a typical Parisian bourgeois family in February 1877. He was the youngest child in the family, but there were two brothers and two sisters growing up besides him. Louis' father, Alfred, was a successful businessman and his mother Louise was the daughter of wealthy shopkeepers. All of this allowed Louis to spend his childhood carefree and well off. From an early age, Louis showed an interest in all kinds of mechanical objects and gadgets. He spent most of his time in the barn of the house in Bilancourt, near Paris, which was owned by the Renaud family. Studying did not appeal to Louis, but somehow he was more than satisfied, completing his bachelor's degree. At the age of 20, Renault literally burst into the emerging automobile world. He rebuilt his De Dion-Boton three-wheeler into a small four-wheeler, to the design of which he added one of his inventions, a gearbox, which instantly devalued the car.

In 1905. The Renault Brothers were among the first to produce cab cars with 'lendolais' bodies. These cars, nicknamed 'brownings' because of their black color and their shape, became famous during the First World War, when 600 Parisian taxi-Renaults were mobilized in the shortest possible time to transport 5 thousand soldiers to the Marne River. On a name of the well-known fight cab and have received the name 'Marne'. Even a monument has been erected to this car. For the needs of the French army, the company also supplied other equipment: ships, aircraft engines (the first aircraft engine was assembled in 1908). Louis Renault even designed quite successful for that time tanks.

1946 - the year of the beginning of production of private cars of the post-war period. The factory produced 8,500 cars, most of them Juvaquatres and versions with a modified interior. They were equipped with hydraulic brakes and hydraulic shock absorbers. The model was produced until 1949, and its versions until 1959.

1965 was the birth year for the Renault 16. With a 1.5-liter engine, it pioneered the introduction of the hatchback as we know it today. This car with a versatile and comfortable interior, characteristic French soft suspension wheels became an elegant and practical car for the French middle class.

In the 1970s, the company begins a period of rapid growth: there are new factories in northern France, the joint venture Renault and Peugeot. Renault 5 and Renault 12 become the best-selling French cars in the world.

2009, a new crossover Renault Duster is officially presented. The car is based on the B0 Logan platform. It differs by increased by 40 mm wheelbase. Available in front-wheel and all-wheel drive versions. The volume of trunk space is reduced to 475 liters compared with the sedan version and increases to 1636 liters when the rear row of seats is folded down. In all-wheel drive version the volume of the trunk is less. Renault Duster has an engine crankcase protection and short overhangs. Do not forget to use Renault VIN decoder in order to avoid potential problems when buying a used car.

VIN Examples