[harit]

Originally Posted by KPS

After DKG's wonderful story, I hope that this story will be interesting to all. I am writing this more as a witness rather than a restorer hence the story could lack DKG's intensity. This story................

Cheers KPS

Hi KPS,

Very interesting. As you rightly mentioned, many do not know this story and I also did not. Thanks. I first heard about this car when she was still in a workshop in Bangalore, but history was not told. Since I did not see the car, I did not persue history. And anyway history has become interesting to me only recently.
It is a remarkable restoration, but it was more like an assembly of a jigsaw puzzle as almost all the parts were there. Today people are restoring cars with missing parts. It may be better not to compare which restorations were more difficult, for example the Titus Auburn was missing its engine, body was mutilated, now see the result. We should not compare the degree of restoration because these are entirely different projects.
We could compare with the Cottereau which Julian restored. That even had missing parts.
When this car was described to me, it was mentioned as a 1904/05. Can you accertain the correct year? I am NOT saying that 1903 is wrong, just requesting you to check as far as possible.
I am collecting parts for my 1904/05 Daimler chassis, and it is painful.
You have spoken about the Sunbeam and Skoda. The Sunbeam was in Baroda when she was picked up, and the Skoda was in Mumbai in Sion. Are you sure about Kolhapur and Holkar? This is again only asking for a confirmation, I am not doubting what is said.
Regarding Mr. Sripathy, almost all know that he is capable of good work, but he does have cars lying around and going in the ground. I had heard of a 7 seater Plymouth about a year ago, I know about the Packard. I have met him at a rally in Bangalore, he was a friendly nice guy and I have no axe to gring with him. Maybe now that he has come in the lime light he will be encouraged to finish the cars lying with him. Some are his own cars as I understand.
Please put up some pictures while the restoration was on going. Very interesting.

Cheers harit

[KPS]

Firstly I would like to correct the info on the dates. It is confirmed that the car actually arrived in Bangalore on 8th January 1996. I had wrongly written as 1992. My apologize for this error.

I have checked with Mr. Sripathy on the various questions rightly posed by Mr. Harit and will explain as below

This is a 1903 Renault using a De Dion Bouton Engine, this being a 450 cc, single cylinder from the Type D. This engine configuration gives added substance to the year of the car. The information obtained from the Renault Museum which confirmed the car was late 1903. Interestingly this is one of the first cars where the radiator was moved behind the engine

Yes the Sunbeam was picked from a member (Shri P U Rana) of the royal family of Mogar, Baroda. This is confirmed as the Kohlapur car. Custom body which was surprisingly built be Sunbeam themselves (badge under the right side door). It was amazingly original and even the wonderful leather trunk did not show its age (picture attached)

The Skoda was bought from Ajju Dairy Farm, Pune. The late Mr. Raman confirmed the lineage of this car. It was a very unique car for such a small wonder. The gear box and differential was one unit and it has a rumble seat.

Cheers

KPS

[KPS]

The engine is a Type D using a single cylinder 450cc, 4.5 H.P. The carb is a static carb made of brass. There is one inlet and one outlet valve.

Details of the engine and how it was rebuilt.

As can be seen the engine has an aluminium body which was badly corroded. You can clearly see the fly wheel through the gap. Most of who saw the engine for the first time wondered how this could be fixed!



The cylinder as seen here is quite unique. There is actually no head on the top. On the top there is a cover which seals the water. The other unique feature is the the plug does not fire into the cylinder. The plug fires into a chamber attached infront of the cylinder above the valves.



The massive fly-wheels gives substantial momentum once the speed picks up. That is one big piston!



The engine has an aluminium body which was badly corroded. The first picture shows the dismantled pieces. The next two pictures shows how this was fixed. A template was made from wood (blue) and the aluminium was cast on this pattern. Filed to fit the gap and aluminium welding was done.







The next picture shows the redone engine body



Will continue into another post due to size.

[KPS]

The next picture is of the cylinder clearly showing plug hole and the chamber where the combustion takes place.



The Oil pump




The Carb



The engine mounted for the first time. One can clearly see the external valves.



The De Dion Bouton Engine is ready.

[KPS]

The car came with a three speed gear box with reverse operated by a lever located on the outside to the right. This car is shaft driven with direct drive on top gear. The car also came with a transmission brake as there were no brakes in the front.

Here are the pictures.

The gear box was fully rusted as there was no oil.


Mr. Sripathy figuring out the gear box


The front showing the transmission brake


The rear side of the gear box on to which the drive shaft is connected


The top, dismantled and completed gear box now mounted

[KPS]

The clutch is a reverse cone clutch. The cone has a leather belt which is riveted on to it.

The clutch in dismantled condition. The cone is clearly seen.




The cone with the rivets and leather belt.


Clutch is ready to be assembled.

[KPS]

The chassis had a main frame and a sub frame. On the subframe the engine and gear box rested whilst on the main frame the body rested.

[KPS]

Based on information obtained from the Renault Museum a lot of debate was done as to what should the body style. At first they opted for a design which was inspired from horse carriages. In fact this body was built but it was not found appealling enough. Finally it was decided to go for the beautiful touring style with rear entry and with wooden coachworks. This style I understand is similar to a double pheaton style.

In order to get the right proportions it was decided the build the body using paper first and then take the measurements to complete the same with wood. The wooden steering wheel was also done at the same time.

[wasif]

An amazing job !! What year was this all done in and how long did the entire job take.

It is obvious Mr. Sripathi is a great mechanic and understands old cars well.

Do continue with other pictures.

[KPS]

These are pictures of the car when completed. I will let the pictures speak for themselves. It is difficult to imagine that the bits and pieces which arrived in Bangalore on 8th January 1996 would metamorphose into this wonderful car.

[KPS]

The 1903 Renault post is dedicated to The Men who made it possible to bring such a historic car back to life. Mr. Papanna who was brave enough to dream and invest into this project. Mr. Sripathy who had the resoursefulness to realize Mr. Papanna's dream.

I do hope you enjoyed this as much I did.

Cheers

KPS

Mr. Papanna and Mr. Sripathy

[IndrojitSircar]

Does this car still belong to Mr. Papanna?

[KPS]

The car was completed by early 1998, almost two years after the Renault arrived in Bangalore. A lot of time was spent on research and correspondence between France and Bangalore

This car was sold to the Manjusha Museum at Dharmasthala. I think the year was 2001. This car is displayed to the public along with many other wonderful cars.

[IndrojitSircar]

Originally Posted by KPS

The car was completed by early 1998, almost two years after the Renault arrived in Bangalore. A lot of time was spent on research and correspondence between France and Bangalore

This car was sold to the Manjusha Museum at Dharmasthala. I think the year was 2001. This car is displayed to the public along with many other wonderful cars.

Thankx for that info.The work seems to be done very well indeed whatever others may say about the Getleman who has restored it and that is what matters.

[tantragna]

Superb! Wondering the excitement in those hearts who have got them restored.

Was browsing the net, saw this excellent work. It is a pimped up resto, but a damn neat one. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/iipcache/136664.jpg