The Renault firm began manufacturing small cars at Billancourt, Paris, in 1897 and due to the reliability of the cars, were successful in early races in Europe in the hands of the brothers Louis and Marcel Renault.
This model has a twin cylinder side-valve engine rated at 8 h.p. with a propellor shaft drive to a normal rear axle through a three speed and reverse gearbox. The notable feature of these little cars was the mounting of the radiator behind the engine. Cooling air was drawn through the radiator by blades on the flywheel.
Today, petrol consumption on this 42-years-old car averages 37 m.p.g., maximum speed is 40 m.p.h., and the car has averaged 24.7 m.p.h. over a journey of 200 miles across England.
The car was sold by Cleland's of Edinburgh to Sir John Finlay in February, 1911, and it was on his estate at Aberlour, that the car was found and restored to it's present condition.

The (Y2-2) Renault Two-seater was the second Matchbox, Model of Yesteryear to be numbered Y2 and was made from 1963 to 1968.

Variations/Rarities: They are always green with red seats. The shades of green can vary from light to dark with the light green versions being less common.
The first issue had a gap between the rear edges of the bonnet where it joined to the radiator plate. Subsequent issues were modified to having a raised filler plate cast behind the bonnet to eliminate the gap.
The steering column & wheel can be cast and painted or black plastic.
The spare tyre carrier can have three or four prongs.
The handbrake/gear-lever and the headlights were brass plated but can sometimes be found in bare metal.
The rear lights and numberplate can be cast together or separately and finally a brace was added to the inside of the rear mudguards and the chassis.
Of course the boxes will differ over time.

There are no particularly rare versions although nice boxed versions will always get a reasonable price compared to some of the more common MOY's.

This giftware model was only ever released as a silver-plated version in the Matchbox Giftware series.

Scale: 1:40

1911 Renault Two-Seater

Spare tyre carrier

Radiator casting

Rear wing brace

Rear numberplate types