Vehicle Description
The American-born designer and engineer Howard "Dutch" Darrin began
his storied career in the coachbuilding industry shortly after
World War I. While serving in France as a pilot for the US
military, he met fellow designer Tom Hibbard. Hibbard previously
worked for Brewster before leaving to form Le Baron Carrossieres
alongside Ray Dietrich - more accurately, the pair got sacked for
moonlighting on company time! Hibbard had been in France exploring
opportunities to sell and produce Le Baron designs when he met
Howard Darrin in 1923. The two men stayed in Paris, forming the
design firm Hibbard & Darrin and creating some truly spectacular
bodies for many of Europe's finest motorcars. Darrin's technical
knowledge proved handy in the development of a new type of alloy
casting technique specifically for car bodies, intended to replace
squeaky and temperamental wood joints in critical structural
points.
In the wake of the stock market crash, Tom Hibbard took a job as a
deputy to Harley Earl at GM's new Art & Colour Section in 1931,
while Darrin remained in Paris. He partnered with a wealthy South
American-born banker named J. Fernandez, whose interests included
fine furniture and custom car bodies. The partnership was ideal for
Darrin, as Fernandez acted primarily as the money man, leaving the
designer free to create his sophisticated and flamboyant visions
with little oversight. As before, the bodies built by Fernandez &
Darrin sat atop the world's finest automobiles, including
Rolls-Royce, Hispano-Suiza, Delage, Packard, and Duesenberg. It was
one of Darrin's most fruitful periods, and he amassed a vast
portfolio of breathtaking designs. Common threads among Fernandez
et Darrin bodies included an emphasis on "lowness" with masterfully
graceful lines and a sense of effortless motion in every curve.
Fernandez and Darrin's partnership may have lasted only five years,
but the American's brilliance shone brightly during this brief yet
fertile period in his storied career.
One of the most striking designs born of the Fernandez et Darrin
era is this breathtaking four-passenger cabriolet atop the Delage
D8 SS - one of the finest sporting chassis of the period. The 'SS'
was not an official factory offering, but rather product of the UK
importer J. Smith. To appeal to spirited British drivers, Smith
improved the standard D8S by fitting a quartet of SU carburetors on
a custom intake manifold, fitting a 3.60:1 rear axle, and bumping
compression to 7.5:1. The modifications made the SS a true 100mph
automobile, particularly when fitted with svelte coachwork such as
this stunning close-coupled drophead coupe.
This car is believed to be one of two examples bodied by Fernandez
et Darrin to this specification, though the two cars differ in
detail. Chassis 38236 is a coveted SS model, making it fair to
assume this car was delivered new to the UK, though little else is
known of the early history. It has been in continuous private
ownership since 2005, when the current owner acquired it directly
from the renowned collector Otis Chandler. While boasting similar
lines and proportion to its sister car, chassis 38236 is unique
with its 'swept panel' design with beautifully flowing fenders
thanks to the spare mounted to the metal touring trunk. The
radiator is topped with a magnificent Victoire mascot by Rene
Lalique, and its lack of bumpers, color-matched wheel discs, and
Marchal lamps accentuate the sporting purpose.
Finished in a distinctive burgundy and beige color scheme, 38236
wears an older but well-preserved restoration. The interior is
trimmed in swaths of tan leather, including, rather unusually, the
entirety of the four-spoke steering wheel. Instrumentation consists
of Jaeger dials, and a center-mounted shift-lever operates the
conventional gearbox for the ultimate in pre-war sporting motoring.
In the past two decades in current stewardship, the car has been
largely on static display and rarely shown publicly. It has been
serviced in preparation for sale and will benefit from further
recommissioning prior to touring. Marrying the finest Fernandez et
Darrin coachwork and Delage's sublime D8 chassis, 38236 represents
an exceptional opportunity to acquire a stunning and elegant
coachbuilt French grand routier for your collection, with the
chance to reintroduce it to the world, where it will undoubtedly be
much admired by all who see it.
Offers Welcome, Trades Considered
