Vehicle Description
From its inception in 1905, Automobiles Delage earned a fine
reputation for producing motorcars of advanced design and
uncompromising quality. The firm managed to exist as an independent
organization through the early Great Depression until liquidation
and reorganization under Delahaye corporate parentage from 1935 to
1953. Advanced engineering and quality characterized Delage
throughout its existence, including pioneering work with overhead
valves, overhead camshafts, supercharging, and a wide variety of
four, six, eight, and 12-cylinder engine configurations, plus the
industry-leading adoption of four-wheel brakes by 1918. The Delage
D8-120 was the company's first new model produced following
financial difficulties that had led it to collaborate with longtime
rival Delahaye, under the supervision of a new corporate leader,
Walter Watney. It utilized an inline eight-cylinder engine similar
to the Delahaye's competition-oriented six-cylinder powerplant,
only, of course, with two additional cylinders, for an output of
about 115 horsepower. This engine was mounted upon a sturdy frame,
with advanced front suspension incorporating a transverse leaf
spring. With beautiful custom coachwork by any one of Europe's
finest shops, it was a marvelous, swift grand tourer, capable of
carrying passengers and their luggage to 95 mph on the Rue
Nationale. Those aforementioned coachbuilders found the D8-120 a
superb basis for their work, with excellent proportions that lent
themselves to powerfully designed bodies with long hoods. Most
often the cars were seen with flamboyant chromed side exhaust
emerging between the hood and fenders, a touch similar to that seen
on the supercharged Duesenbergs, Auburns, and Cords of the period -
and showing that styling cues did not always flow one way across
the Atlantic. Henri Chapron Carrossier was one of the most prolific
coachbuilders in France, penning a wide variety of bodies for the
Delahaye 135 series. Chapron's signature style was usually at the
forefront of fashion, yet with a degree of maturity and restraint
that set it apart from the more flamboyant Portout or Saoutchik
designs. When one pictures a Delage of this era, the car usually
captured in their mind's eye is a Chapron creation, most often a
cabriolet, a body style at which the coachbuilder particularly
excelled. Information previously provided from the Chapron archive
indicates that chassis 51624 with body 5254 was delivered on 7
September 1937, just prior to the Paris Salon de l'Automobile held
at the Grand Palais in October. According to research by the late
Delage authority Francois Jolly, chassis number 51624 may have been
delivered new to a prominent French actress of the era, whose name
was unknown to him. Interestingly, the car is known to have worn
the British registration ELM 508 which is a prewar London
registration, so it is also possible that the first owner was in
fact in the UK. Following World War II, the actress's D8-120 was
indeed across the Channel, as it was reportedly in the British
ownership, according to notes by Delage registrar Peter Jacobs, of
a G. Maude of Cheshire, who then advertised it in the April 1957
issue of Motor Sport. Later British owners included J.W. Heaney,
Jr., according to the late Sidney Fulker. Mr. Jolly's research
further indicates that the Delage was imported to the United States
and owned by Robert Muelke. An industrial designer and promoter of
early custom automobile shows on the East Coast, Mr. Muelke was an
early American connoisseur of the marque, famed for his long-term
ownership of the special D8-120 S Pourtout Aero Coupe that later
won Best of Show at the Pebble Beach Concours d 'Elegance in 2005.
The Delage was subsequently part of the small, select collection of
Mark Gibbons of Cambridge, Massachusetts, alongside a
Pourtout-bodied Talbot-Lago T-150 C SS, a Rolls-Royce Phantom II
Henley Roadster, a Bugatti Type 57C, among other wonderful
rarities. The D8-120 then returned to Europe in the hands of Louis
Vuitton dynasty heir Herve Ogliastro, who commissioned its present
restoration by the renown French firm, Carrosserie Lecoq. In this
era, Lecoq was one of the best-known restoration shops in Europe,
renowned for its numerous victories at concours d 'elegance
worldwide. As part of this comprehensive work the car was
refinished to its present livery; the body's wooden frame was
extensively redone, but its sheet metal appears to have been
well-preserved, as some original finishes can still be seen
underneath the fenders. Much of the chrome trim was redone but
certain original touches remained intact, with the Chapron body
number "52" still visible on the underside of one of the windshield
pillar caps. Following completion of the restoration, the Delage
was exhibited at the 1992 Louis Vuitton Classic at Bagatelle,
winning the Prix special du Jury. Most recently, this Delage has
been cherished within a private California collection, its
restoration meticulously preserved. Today, 51624 presents in
stunning condition in the elegant livery of sage green over a lush
ivory interior. Paint and body quality are exceptional, the car
having been maintained in superlative condition since its
restoration. Fit and finish are outstanding, and the brightwork
presents in fine order. The cockpit, which is trimmed in beautiful
ivory leather, shows only the slightest creasing from use but
remains supple and beautifully presented. The rear seats are quite
usable for additional passengers, making this a fine choice for
touring or concours events alike. The original, matching-numbers
engine (number 51624) is mated to a four speed Cotal pre-select
gearbox, operated via the delicate H-pattern gear lever on the
steering column. Aside from looking the part, it performs
beautifully. In keeping with the rest of this car, the engine is
beautifully detailed with proper finishes, correct hardware and
correctly presented ancillaries. The same goes for the
undercarriage which, again, is fully detailed and exceptionally
clean as one would expect from a concours-quality restoration such
as this. In sum, the D8-120 was not just a worthy effort to carry
the Delage name, but had a special romance about it, all its own.
It is a fit automobile with which to utilize Peter Ustinov's famous
quote - that a gentleman drives an Alfa Romeo, is driven in a
Rolls-Royce, but gives only a Delage to his favorite mistress. The
Delage is an automobile that every enthusiast of prewar cars must
experience at least once, and this example, bearing superb
coachwork and a well-preserved restoration, would be worthy of
anyone's enjoyment. It is a lovely specimen of one of the company's
most delightful models. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7597-1937-delage-d8-120-chapron-cabriolet/
