The French have a long and successful history of producing cars, many of which are iconic to this day. The Citroen 2CV and Renault 5 Turbo are two classics that attract a passionate following around the world. Stepping back through time, most of the French manufacturers had a humble beginning but produced cars that were used the world over and in different guises, such as trucks, taxis, or even ambulances. One example of this is the 1925 Renault Model NN which was produced from 1924 to 1930 with over 150,000 sold during that time. Not many survive today, which is why this seller is asking for $19,999 or best offer, with the car located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and available here on Craigslist. Thanks to T.J. for this tip!
For those not familiar with this car, it also held a starring role in the Tintin series of comic books, playing the part of a red taxi in ‘The Crab with the Golden Claws’. That version was a closed cab design to keep passengers separate from the driver, whereas our one is the convertible version, perfect for those summer trips around town. Given this car is almost 100 years old, it’s in remarkable condition and will have had plenty of care and attention paid to it over the years by its numerous owners. This style of body is the Torpedo body and in its vibrant yellow with contrasting black roof, stands out as a great icon of French design.
Moving through the car, the engine bay is clean and without any signs of oil leaks. The engine is a straight 4, 951cc block giving it between 15 to 17hp depending on the model. Eagle-eyed readers will notice that the radiator is not in the front of the engine bay – rather it’s at the back. This helped to give the front end of the car its distinctive shark-nose look with grills further down the fenders for cooling. Although this may have had a negligible effect on aerodynamics, the car did manage to reach a top speed of 43mph.
The interior is spotless too, with no scuffs or blemishes on the leather seats, or on the convertible roof. Most of the mechanical parts such as hoses and tires have been replaced recently and the seller states that this is a drivable classic, ready to go cruising. This leaves the next owner with a bit of a dilemma, should you preserve it in its museum condition, or get it out and about on the road as few people will have seen one of these in the wild?
Cool looking car. If you owned this, I would think you have a better chance at getting hit by lightning than seeing another one of these at your local cars ‘n coffee.
…this was Citroen’s Trefle competition….cool little car…does it have ac…? joking of course.
drive or not to drive? why buy a car to park it? I love driving, and this would be a beast to drive compared to today’s cars but i would enjoy the challenge and the honks from admirers.
Adorable little car who’s performance is about equivalent to the Model T. Just too primitive for most folks. At $20K, really a niche item for a museum but they want everything donated.
Be a cool street rod.
Having met the owner on several occasions and visited his shop where I first saw this car, I’ll attest to the accuracy and meticulous nature of his work. This is a gem and if I had room in my shop across the river, would entertain ideas of purchasing this and driving it home.