Renault 40 CV NM: picking up where I left off in 2015

One of the longest Works In Progress in recent memory ... my last post on this Profil 24 model was April 19, 2015.





The 40 CV NM was a land speed record car (click here for details). A nine litre, side-valve six making 140 horsepower was probably par for the course in 1926, and follows on all the big Grand Prix motors of the previous 15 years. I haven't seen specs but I am guessing, from the tall hood, a very long stroke; and from the displacement, a very low maximum rev limit. 140 hp at 800 RPM, perhaps? The link above includes a couple of very entertaining videos.



It looms over Harry Miller's delicate little cars, with their 1.5 litre motors making up to 250 hp through a combination of supercharging and a much better understanding of the impact of proper valve timing on specific power output.



This car managed to set a few LSR records, including 24 hours at an average of 141 km/h. Must have been frightening.



I dug this out while deciding whether to redo the paint on the Vette, or let it go as is. (Don't ask). Since 2015, I removed the molded-in door and hinged the supplied spare door, using 0.5 mm rod in a 1.0 mm tube as the hinge, so the interior will be visible.



Next is to attack the interior while I look for some more of the Tamiya AS19 paint. Stay tuned!