3D Renault Originals museum
In English it is a butterfly, in German a Schmetterling, while the French call it Papillon, pronounced pa-pee-on. This demonstrates that many German words sound like a declaration of war, while the French, although they cannot spell, makes everything sound like love.
French cars too are different, and none as much as Renault. Since 1899 the company has been building cars, an automotive pioneer for more than 120 years. People love historic French cars and to satisfy this, Renault has created its first virtual museum. It is called the originals and it is completely free online. The Originals is available in six languages – French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
The museum started with 21 of the brand’s iconic models, which will grow to 50 by the end of January and 80 by the end of 2022. It uses super slick technology called photogrammetry to create 3D models from a scan and a series of photographs. This replicates all the subtle details of a vehicle’s materials, including leather, wood, copper, plastic and various fabrics. Renault used experts such as Razorfish and Museo3D to build this remarkable display.
Once you have entered the Originals museum, click on Collections and scroll left (older) or right (newer). To view a specific model, click on it, then scroll to get a rotating 3D view, loads of pics and bits of interesting facts, and even a gallery of sounds, like the hooter or the engine sound.
The range even at this early stage is fascinating and can bring back memories. I remember my friend’s mother dropping us off at a garage party in the Renault 16. We may have been wearing bellbottom jeans.
Of course, everyone has a Renault 5 somewhere in their DNA, and many would have seen a Renault 4 or known someone who drove one. It is interesting to note that both these pioneers are now making a welcome return as electric vehicles, so the wheel truly has turned.
Another surprise is the mid-nineties Renault Clio Williams, a racing spec hot hatch built for homologation, with each of the 3800 cars having a numbered plaque on the dash. The Renault Clio is still going strong, now in its 5th generation.
Or you can scroll back to the beginning, to the venerable Type A that climbed the Montmartre, the AG1 Taxi, part of the fleet of taxis that rushed troops to the Battle of the Marne in 1914. Scroll forward to 1970 and you will chance on the Gordini, the performance tuner that later merged with Renault and did so much to build the Sports division in the years that followed.
If you like old cars and car history, the Originals is a trove of great visuals and well-researched facts, and, because they are adding new exhibits all the time, you can dip in from time to time to see what is new.
