Delage D8S Cabriolet Special - 1935 by Perico001 Coachwork by Henri Chapron
Chassis n° 39332
Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais 2020
Bonhams
Parijs - Paris
Frankrijk - France
February 2020
Estimated : € 800.000 - 1.200.000
Unsold
In its day, the Delage D8 was the only French car that could be mentioned in the same breath as the 32CV Hispano-Suiza in terms of elegance and engineering excellence. Founded in 1905 by Louis Delage, the company had commenced production with a single-cylinder De Dion-engined runabout and within a few years was offering multi-cylinder designs. The publicity value of racing was recognised right from the start, a Delage winning the Coupe Des Voiturettes as early as 1908 and Louis himself taking the 1911 Coupe de l'Auto. Victories at the Grand Prix du Mans and the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race were achieved prior to WWI. In the 1920s the company became a major force in Grand Prix racing, and in 1924 set a new World Land Speed Record mark with a 10.7-litre V12.
Four-cylinder DI and six-cylinder DM models formed the mainstay of touring car production in the 1920s, and then at the 1929 Paris Salon Delage launched the Maurice Gaultier-designed D8. A magnificent 4.0-litre overhead-valve straight eight featuring an X-braced chassis and servo-assisted brakes, the D8 was destined to attract the creative attentions of Europe’s finest coachbuilders. The impressive list of D8 owners includes King Gustav V of Sweden, King Alexander of Yugoslavia, and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as well as leading businessmen, politicians, and film stars of the day.
As development progressed, higher-performance D8S and D8SS versions became available. Engine power was raised from 120 to 145bhp, weight reduced, the chassis lowered and the rear springs altered, the results being an increase in top speed to over 100mph (160km/h) and a marked improvement in both roadholding and handling.
Along with many other manufacturers of quality cars, Delage was badly affected by the economic downturn of the early 1930s. Despite a favourable reception for its new range, Automobiles Delage went into receivership in April 1935 and shortly thereafter was taken over by Delahaye. From then onwards, Delages were built to Delahaye designs but retained their own superior short-stroke engines and hydraulic brakes.
This magnificent and luxurious D8S Cabriolet was ordered from Henri Chapron on 11th May 1934 by the UK Delage concessionaire, J Smith & Co Ltd of Albemarle Street in London’s fashionable Mayfair district for their customer, a Mr Maquel. An official certificate, signed by Madame Chapron on 20th December 2019, confirms these details and states that it was delivered with body number ‘4624’. Further more, Mme Chapron states that this car seems to be the only D8S completed by Chapron with Cabriolet Special coachwork, which featured an ingenious method of concealing the hood when the latter is down (see below).
This Delage D8S is exceptional for several reasons. The D8S is the best chassis ever produced by Delage; more importantly, this car’s stunning body by Chapron, one of the finest coachbuilders of the 1930s, achieves a perfect balance between luxury and refinement. Wonderfully elegant, Chapron’s body completely conceals the hood when the latter is folded down, while the rear compartment has a fitted cover, making this often-problematical area of a convertible car a triumph of streamlined packaging. It also has a sumptuous red leather interior featuring an exotic wooden dashboard of great beauty.
On January 28th 1976, chassis number '39332’ was purchased by a car collector from Houston, and in the early 1990s was completely restored by specialists Blackhawk in Danville, California. Damaged by winter freezing, the original engine (number '136’) was replaced by engine number '132’, an excellent unit taken from a well known D8S that had been displayed since the 1960s at the Musée du Bec Hellouin in Normandy, France.
On 11th November 1994, '39332’ re-crossed the Atlantic, finding a new home as part of an important European collection where it has remained for the last 25 years. Carefully maintained and in running order, it underwent a complete overhaul in 2017. Never displayed in public for the last 25 years, it is simply a potential class winner at prestigious Concours d'Élégance all over the world, including Pebble Beach. Equally suited to continental touring or the concours lawn, this elegant D8S cabriolet will turn heads wherever it appears.
https://flic.kr/p/2k4yR6a
from Tumblr
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