Custodians of history

Renault has lent Steve Cropley of Autocar its 1911 AX. He has enjoyed, he says, coaxing it into life on the handle, ekeing out its meagre power on hills, and humouring its cone clutch. He drove it from London to Paris in 1996 and describes it as “as big a challenge as sliding a Caterham through Clearways”. Years ago Mr Ronald, Renault’s PR man, lent me this same AX to take me and my wife on one of his publicity runs, and I enjoyed it. It is splendid to know it remains in Renault’s care.