Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville

1912 Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville

The 1912 Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville that was on the Titanic was purchased by William Carter of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in Europe who was traveling with it and his family. Historians know the car was on the ship by a documented entry on the ship's cargo manifesto. It is the only automobile known to have been on Titanic and was being shipped in a crate held in a cargo hold located in the forward section of the ship.

When the Titanic sank in the early morning of April 15, 1912, Carter and his wife and two children survived the disaster but the car sank with the ship. After the disaster, Carter filed a claim with the Lloyd's of London insurance company, seeking reimbursement from the White Star Line for the value of the Renault, which was $5,000.

Wreck

Since the 1997 film, salvagers have been searching the wreck for the car. The forward section of the ship where the cargo hold that contained the car was located is still relatively intact, however it is still unknown if the car itself is. If the car is someday discovered to be intact and salvageable, it would be worth millions of dollars at auction.

In popular culture

The car as it appeared in the 1997 movie

The car was made famous in the James Cameron film, when Jack and Rose make love in it. A replica was requested by James Cameron and 20th Century Fox. They looked for Carter's original documents for the vehicle and the car was recreated almost exactly.

The car as it appeared in Titanic The Legend Goes On (2000)