One of the biggest mysteries about the Titanic revolves around luxury car that would be worth millions today
Published on Feb 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Feb 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Titanic was full of mysteries, but did you know that one of the biggest involves a missing car that, if found, could be worth a h ig sum of money?
The ship carried a single automobile on its maiden voyage, a 1912 Renault Type CB Coupe de Ville owned by American first-class passenger William Carter.
It sank with the liner in April 1912 and has never been confirmed as found in modern dives.
More than a century later, the question is not just where it is, but what could possibly be left of it.
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The Titanic is full of mystery
Carter bought the Renault while traveling in Europe and arranged for it to be shipped back to the US in what was the most luxurious cruiser of the 1910’s, the Titanic’s forward cargo holds.
After the disaster, he filed an insurance claim for $5,000, which is approximately $167,000 to $172,000 today, giving a rough idea of just how serious a purchase it was in 1912, when cars were still very much a rich person’s luxury.
The car’s story also comes with a Hollywood-shaped misconception: the movie Titanic‘s famous back seat scene made the Renault feel like it was sitting out in the open, ready for anyone to break in.
Research around the real luxury car suggests it was likely packed for transport, potentially inside a large crate, not casually parked like a showroom display.
That matters because a sealed crate could have offered some protection as the ship went down, at least in the earliest moments.
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The luxury car would be worth millions today
On paper, a Renault Type CB can sell for strong money at auction, with recorded sales in the hundreds of thousands, but could you imagine how much it would go for if it survived the Titanic sinking?
This would be the only confirmed automobile carried on the Titanic, tied to one of the most documented maritime disasters in history, and associated with the world’s most famous shipwreck site.
The problem is that the ocean does not care about whether it’s the owner of a piece of maritime history or not.
Thin bodywork, coupled with the wood framing used in many cars of the era, and 3.8km of pressure and decay mean the Renault is unlikely to be sitting there intact. Although parts of it may still remain.
That combination is what keeps the mystery alive: potentially priceless history, probably reduced to fragments, still hidden somewhere under the sea.
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As a Content Writer since January 2025, Daisy’s focus is on writing stories on topics spanning the entirety of the website. As well as writing about EVs, the history of cars, tech, and celebrities, Daisy is always the first to pitch the seed of an idea to the audience editor team, who collab with her to transform it into a fully informative and engaging story.
