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Details
1937 DELAGE D8-120 AEROSPORT COUPÉ
COACHWORK BY LETOURNEUR ET MARCHAND
Chassis No. 51018
Engine No. 51018
Bronze with burgundy leather upholstery
Engine: eight cylinder, in-line, two overhead valves per cylinder, 4,300cc, 90bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: four-speed Cotal electro-magnetic; Suspension: front, independent with underslung transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs and wishbones, rear, half-elliptic springs and hydraulic shock absorbers; Brakes: four wheel drum. Right hand drive.
Louis Delage was a man of style and exuberance and his long low eight-cylinder cars of impeccable performance reflected the image of their creator. The early four cylinder D1s were the company's mainstay in the early 1920s, followed by those jewel-like engineered eight cylinder Supercharged 1½-litre Grand Prix cars that gave Robert Benoist five Grand Prix victories in 1927 and were still winning Voiturette races with Dick Seaman in 1936. The D8 series eight cylinder engine developed by Maurice Gaultier became the best engine of all Delage models. It helped the company achieve its world renown during the 1930s. Naturally, the cars were bodied by the very best of Europe's coachbuilders.
The D8 was a glamorous car with its very imposing radiator that had similarities to Hispano Suiza. It was fast and had impeccable road holding. It was most suited to high speed long distance touring that favored the affluent customers who dictated that Delage was the status symbol of success. Although the Delage D8 Series became one of the most desired high performance cars in Europe, they were expensive. Louis Delage was reluctant to change this image to suit the varying economic climate and after a fall-out with his co-directors, he left the company in 1935. Shortly afterwards the firm merged with their rival competitors, Delahaye. They retained the individuality, but became more selective with their range, and a new Delage D8 120 was introduced in 1937 incorporating hydraulic brakes, a revised Delahaye style chassis with transverse leaf independent front suspension and a Cotal electro-magnetic gearbox. The engine was an eight-cylinder version of the existing six-cylinder Delahaye with a capacity of 4.3 litres providing a healthy 95bhp at 4,000 rpm in its initial form. In April 1938 The Autocar tested a D8-120 (4.3 litre drophead coupe) and attained nearly 98mph, confirming that with improved aerodynamics and/or slightly larger engines, these vehicles were capable of speeds exceeding 100mph.
Starting in 1937 the D8-100 and D8-120 received several beautifully proportioned bodies by Chapron, Pourtout and Letourneur et Marchand. At about this time many major European motor manufacturers were experimenting with streamlining, primarily to showcase the company image and sell expensive vehicles. Not surprisingly some of these vehicles were used for competition, and examples such as the Embiricos (Van Vooren) Bentley and the Louis Gerard (Figoni) Delage proved very fast and successful on circuits such as Le Mans. Undoubtedly, the star of the D8-120 range was the stunning Aerosport, which was largely the work of the brilliant young son of Letourneur, Marcel. He joined his father's company in 1928, following his training in England, and was responsible for many beautiful designs for Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Minerva, Voisin and of course Delage. Several journalists rank Marcel Letourneur, alongside Jean Bugatti, as one of the finest young French body designers from the 1930s. The Coach Aerosport was met with huge international acclaim, and although it first appeared during the 1936-7 model year, this design was chosen to represent part of the French Government's automotive display at the 1939 World Fair at Flushing Meadows, New York. A contempory advertisement by University Motors in 1938 commented, The big new Delage D8-120 is a most exciting car. It looks magnificent and it runs like a cheetah...The bodywork is the last word in aerodynamic elegance and the engine sweeps you along at any speed the road will allow.
Although historians differ on numbers, it would appear that a maximum of 14 Aerosports were built and just seven are thought to have survived. Chassis no. 51018 is truly a superb example of the classical Aerosport and was the fourth one built, completed in March 1937. The Aerosport design was shaped by the famous aerodynamicist Andreau and many of the details are borrowed from one of the most fantastic closed racing cars of the pre-war era, the 1937 streamlined Delage Berlinette V-12 built for LeMans. The car offered here is unique and more like the racing Berlinette than the other Aerosport Coupes extant. It is thought that 51018 may have been an interim/prototype model for the later series, as it displays design features unique to both the earlier and later Aerosports. Later cars, for instance, had the new faired-in headlamps that blended with the flowing fender lines. The tail treatment is quite different, and is definitely the most spectacular and curvaceous of all the Aerosport Coupes. However, as on the earlier examples the side mouldings are painted rather than chromed.
Like all Aerosports it really needs to be inspected in person to appreciate its outstanding beauty. Classic features include the fastback roof design with a central spine and split rear window. From the side profile the windowsills drop, matching the curve of the speared side moulding. The windows themselves follow the Labourdette Vutotal design, which eliminates conventional pillars by overlapping door and rear-quarter glass. There are fender skirts for the rear wheels and four glorious chrome exhaust pipes which feed into the right fender. Luxurious flowing fender lines and subtle curvatures blend along the whole length of the Delage, producing this rakish extravaganza.
Interior appointments are also luxurious and in this case the burgundy red leather upholstery and trim complements the exterior painted moulding and fender skirt treatment. Set in a fine wood grained dashboard are a full compliment of instruments dominated by a Jaeger tachometer and speedometer. Beside the large steering wheel is the Cotal shifter which allows clutchless upshifting. A fun novelty of these gearboxes is the ability to use all four gears in reverse!
This magnificent Aerosport was believed to have been sold new to a Mr. Goelitzer. Although the exact dates are unknown, we suspect that following the war the car passed into the hands of Shah Wali Khan (Viceroy of Afghanistan) who lived in Paris. Customs documents show that he exported the car to Peru for a Touring trip in May 1952. By the mid 1990s the Delage was back in France, ready for an exquisite and meticulous restoration to concours standards. During the restoration process the owner decided to show the prowess of his restoration by displaying it half complete. In this form the car was a sensation at the 1997 Retromobile show in Paris. The same year at the Bagatelle Concours d'Elegance it was awarded Le Prix de l'Enthousiasme et de la Fierte presente par Chrysler (the price of the enthusiasm and the pride by Chrysler). Since this time the restoration was fully finished and last year at the spectacular Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, this car won the coveted French Cup Trophy. Aerodynamically-designed coupes have enjoyed a huge resurgence in interest and no major collection seems complete without one.
COACHWORK BY LETOURNEUR ET MARCHAND
Chassis No. 51018
Engine No. 51018
Bronze with burgundy leather upholstery
Engine: eight cylinder, in-line, two overhead valves per cylinder, 4,300cc, 90bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: four-speed Cotal electro-magnetic; Suspension: front, independent with underslung transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs and wishbones, rear, half-elliptic springs and hydraulic shock absorbers; Brakes: four wheel drum. Right hand drive.
Louis Delage was a man of style and exuberance and his long low eight-cylinder cars of impeccable performance reflected the image of their creator. The early four cylinder D1s were the company's mainstay in the early 1920s, followed by those jewel-like engineered eight cylinder Supercharged 1½-litre Grand Prix cars that gave Robert Benoist five Grand Prix victories in 1927 and were still winning Voiturette races with Dick Seaman in 1936. The D8 series eight cylinder engine developed by Maurice Gaultier became the best engine of all Delage models. It helped the company achieve its world renown during the 1930s. Naturally, the cars were bodied by the very best of Europe's coachbuilders.
The D8 was a glamorous car with its very imposing radiator that had similarities to Hispano Suiza. It was fast and had impeccable road holding. It was most suited to high speed long distance touring that favored the affluent customers who dictated that Delage was the status symbol of success. Although the Delage D8 Series became one of the most desired high performance cars in Europe, they were expensive. Louis Delage was reluctant to change this image to suit the varying economic climate and after a fall-out with his co-directors, he left the company in 1935. Shortly afterwards the firm merged with their rival competitors, Delahaye. They retained the individuality, but became more selective with their range, and a new Delage D8 120 was introduced in 1937 incorporating hydraulic brakes, a revised Delahaye style chassis with transverse leaf independent front suspension and a Cotal electro-magnetic gearbox. The engine was an eight-cylinder version of the existing six-cylinder Delahaye with a capacity of 4.3 litres providing a healthy 95bhp at 4,000 rpm in its initial form. In April 1938 The Autocar tested a D8-120 (4.3 litre drophead coupe) and attained nearly 98mph, confirming that with improved aerodynamics and/or slightly larger engines, these vehicles were capable of speeds exceeding 100mph.
Starting in 1937 the D8-100 and D8-120 received several beautifully proportioned bodies by Chapron, Pourtout and Letourneur et Marchand. At about this time many major European motor manufacturers were experimenting with streamlining, primarily to showcase the company image and sell expensive vehicles. Not surprisingly some of these vehicles were used for competition, and examples such as the Embiricos (Van Vooren) Bentley and the Louis Gerard (Figoni) Delage proved very fast and successful on circuits such as Le Mans. Undoubtedly, the star of the D8-120 range was the stunning Aerosport, which was largely the work of the brilliant young son of Letourneur, Marcel. He joined his father's company in 1928, following his training in England, and was responsible for many beautiful designs for Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Minerva, Voisin and of course Delage. Several journalists rank Marcel Letourneur, alongside Jean Bugatti, as one of the finest young French body designers from the 1930s. The Coach Aerosport was met with huge international acclaim, and although it first appeared during the 1936-7 model year, this design was chosen to represent part of the French Government's automotive display at the 1939 World Fair at Flushing Meadows, New York. A contempory advertisement by University Motors in 1938 commented, The big new Delage D8-120 is a most exciting car. It looks magnificent and it runs like a cheetah...The bodywork is the last word in aerodynamic elegance and the engine sweeps you along at any speed the road will allow.
Although historians differ on numbers, it would appear that a maximum of 14 Aerosports were built and just seven are thought to have survived. Chassis no. 51018 is truly a superb example of the classical Aerosport and was the fourth one built, completed in March 1937. The Aerosport design was shaped by the famous aerodynamicist Andreau and many of the details are borrowed from one of the most fantastic closed racing cars of the pre-war era, the 1937 streamlined Delage Berlinette V-12 built for LeMans. The car offered here is unique and more like the racing Berlinette than the other Aerosport Coupes extant. It is thought that 51018 may have been an interim/prototype model for the later series, as it displays design features unique to both the earlier and later Aerosports. Later cars, for instance, had the new faired-in headlamps that blended with the flowing fender lines. The tail treatment is quite different, and is definitely the most spectacular and curvaceous of all the Aerosport Coupes. However, as on the earlier examples the side mouldings are painted rather than chromed.
Like all Aerosports it really needs to be inspected in person to appreciate its outstanding beauty. Classic features include the fastback roof design with a central spine and split rear window. From the side profile the windowsills drop, matching the curve of the speared side moulding. The windows themselves follow the Labourdette Vutotal design, which eliminates conventional pillars by overlapping door and rear-quarter glass. There are fender skirts for the rear wheels and four glorious chrome exhaust pipes which feed into the right fender. Luxurious flowing fender lines and subtle curvatures blend along the whole length of the Delage, producing this rakish extravaganza.
Interior appointments are also luxurious and in this case the burgundy red leather upholstery and trim complements the exterior painted moulding and fender skirt treatment. Set in a fine wood grained dashboard are a full compliment of instruments dominated by a Jaeger tachometer and speedometer. Beside the large steering wheel is the Cotal shifter which allows clutchless upshifting. A fun novelty of these gearboxes is the ability to use all four gears in reverse!
This magnificent Aerosport was believed to have been sold new to a Mr. Goelitzer. Although the exact dates are unknown, we suspect that following the war the car passed into the hands of Shah Wali Khan (Viceroy of Afghanistan) who lived in Paris. Customs documents show that he exported the car to Peru for a Touring trip in May 1952. By the mid 1990s the Delage was back in France, ready for an exquisite and meticulous restoration to concours standards. During the restoration process the owner decided to show the prowess of his restoration by displaying it half complete. In this form the car was a sensation at the 1997 Retromobile show in Paris. The same year at the Bagatelle Concours d'Elegance it was awarded Le Prix de l'Enthousiasme et de la Fierte presente par Chrysler (the price of the enthusiasm and the pride by Chrysler). Since this time the restoration was fully finished and last year at the spectacular Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, this car won the coveted French Cup Trophy. Aerodynamically-designed coupes have enjoyed a huge resurgence in interest and no major collection seems complete without one.