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1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville for sale!
Stock #:
25222
Exterior Color:
Tan
Interior Color:
Black/Brown
Mileage:
0
Vehicle Original VIN : 25222

Elegant 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville featuring rare coachwork
Elegant 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville featuring rare coachwork and carries an intriguing history that intertwines with automotive enthusiasts and prestigious institutions. Its tan exterior with brown fenders, coupled with a leather front bench and cloth rear cabin, exudes elegance and vintage charm. Under the hood lies a 2.8-liter inline-four engine, paired with a three-speed selective sliding-gear transmission with reverse, delivering a driving experience true to its era. The presence of rust around the radiator cowl and inside the right-front fender, along with cracking on the body can be seen and Currently not running. Showing 63k miles, and total mileage is unknown.

This 1920 Type EU Coup de Ville was delivered new to Auto-Palace Concessionaires on 1 October, and thusly purchased by a wealthy Parisian family. With its elegant Henry Binder Coupe de Vill body, this Renault must certainly have been an eye-catching, chauffeur-driven affair. The car s finely detailed HERA window regulators are noted period accessories which only the most well-heeled individuals would have elected for installation.

Approximately 10 years later, the car was purchased during a prop-finding trip to Paris by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for use in their films; notable screen credits include the 1931 film Mata Hari starring Greta Garbo, and a role as the star car of the 1941 Marx Brothers feature The Big Store. At some later point, it was acquired from an MGM backlot by the renowned antique automobile collector Lindley Bothwell of La Habra, California. Bothwell did little with the car, and later sold it in October 1966 to businessman, collector, and owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Terry Hulman. Hulman reportedly had the Renault restored to its present polychrome brown livery and a period-style upholstery at this time, whereupon the car was shipped to his collection in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Upon Hulman s passing in 1977, it was transferred to the assets of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation and displayed within their public museum for much of the following decade. It was deaccessioned from the museum s holdings in October of 2020 and acquired by the consignor. Since purchase, the consignor has had the fuel tank and fuel delivery system sorted, and reports that the car performs without issue.

Now accompanied by personal correspondence between Bothwell and Hulman, this remarkable and uniquely outfitted 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville boasts both undeniably interesting provenance and charming aesthetics.
  • An interesting and elegant Renault featuring rare coachwork and remarkable provenance
  • Previously owned by MGM Studios; featured in the 1931 film Mata Hari starring Greta Garbo, and the star car of the 1941 Marx Brothers film, The Big Store
  • Powered by an inline-four cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission
  • Later owned by renowned antique car collectors Lindley Bothwell and Terry Hulman
  • Deaccessioned from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in October 2020
Price: 49,500

Vehicle Description

Vehicle Original VIN : 25222

Elegant 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville featuring rare coachwork
Elegant 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville featuring rare coachwork and carries an intriguing history that intertwines with automotive enthusiasts and prestigious institutions. Its tan exterior with brown fenders, coupled with a leather front bench and cloth rear cabin, exudes elegance and vintage charm. Under the hood lies a 2.8-liter inline-four engine, paired with a three-speed selective sliding-gear transmission with reverse, delivering a driving experience true to its era. The presence of rust around the radiator cowl and inside the right-front fender, along with cracking on the body can be seen and Currently not running. Showing 63k miles, and total mileage is unknown.

This 1920 Type EU Coup de Ville was delivered new to Auto-Palace Concessionaires on 1 October, and thusly purchased by a wealthy Parisian family. With its elegant Henry Binder Coupe de Vill body, this Renault must certainly have been an eye-catching, chauffeur-driven affair. The car s finely detailed HERA window regulators are noted period accessories which only the most well-heeled individuals would have elected for installation.

Approximately 10 years later, the car was purchased during a prop-finding trip to Paris by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for use in their films; notable screen credits include the 1931 film Mata Hari starring Greta Garbo, and a role as the star car of the 1941 Marx Brothers feature The Big Store. At some later point, it was acquired from an MGM backlot by the renowned antique automobile collector Lindley Bothwell of La Habra, California. Bothwell did little with the car, and later sold it in October 1966 to businessman, collector, and owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Terry Hulman. Hulman reportedly had the Renault restored to its present polychrome brown livery and a period-style upholstery at this time, whereupon the car was shipped to his collection in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Upon Hulman s passing in 1977, it was transferred to the assets of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation and displayed within their public museum for much of the following decade. It was deaccessioned from the museum s holdings in October of 2020 and acquired by the consignor. Since purchase, the consignor has had the fuel tank and fuel delivery system sorted, and reports that the car performs without issue.

Now accompanied by personal correspondence between Bothwell and Hulman, this remarkable and uniquely outfitted 1920 Renault Type EU Coup de Ville boasts both undeniably interesting provenance and charming aesthetics.
  • An interesting and elegant Renault featuring rare coachwork and remarkable provenance
  • Previously owned by MGM Studios; featured in the 1931 film Mata Hari starring Greta Garbo, and the star car of the 1941 Marx Brothers film, The Big Store
  • Powered by an inline-four cylinder engine and three-speed manual transmission
  • Later owned by renowned antique car collectors Lindley Bothwell and Terry Hulman
  • Deaccessioned from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum in October 2020
Price: 49,500

Vehicle Warranty

Most new vehicles come with a factory warranty and some used vehicles have a remaining factory warranty. Please contact us for the warranty details specific to this vehicle.

Terms and Conditions

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- Cashier's Check/money order
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General Terms

Notice to Bidders: The vehicles we list for sale at eBay are also for sale at our retail location. Please contact us to confirm vehicle availability.

We reserve the right to end an auction early. Deposit: We require a non-refundable $500 deposit within 48 hours of winning the auction. Please call to make arrangements for payment. We accept the following forms of payment: Cash in person, certified funds, institutional financing. All sales transactions must be completed within 7 calendar days of auction close.

Prices are subject to change without notice. Although every effort is made to present accurate and reliable vehicle information, use of this information is voluntary, and should only be deemed reliable after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. It is the sole responsibility of the customer to verify the existence of options, accessories and the vehicle condition before time of sale. Any and all differences must be addressed prior to time of sale. No expressed or implied warranties, including the availability or condition of the equipment listed is made. EPA mileage estimates are for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary depending on driving conditions, driving habits, and vehicle maintenance.

Fees and Taxes

State or local taxes, title, license fee, processing fees, registration fee, dealer documentary fee, finance charges, emission testing fees, and compliance fees are additional to the advertised price.