Chassis 38236
- British-market Delage D8 'SS' with elegant Fernandez et Darrin
cabriolet coachwork
- Extensive newly uncovered history, including period
photographs, correspondence, and family records
- Discovered and subsequently restored by Delage authority Tony
Newell
- Retains a large degree of originality
- An exciting opportunity for driving enjoyment or returning to
its original splendor
Among the great French automobiles of the Classic Era, few names
command greater admiration than Delage. Renowned for combining
refined engineering with elegant coachwork, Delage reached its
zenith during the early 1930s with the magnificent D8. Built around
a smooth and sophisticated inline-eight, the D8 became the
preferred canvas for Europe's leading coachbuilders, who clothed
its chassis in some of the most graceful bodies of the period.
British-market D8 "SS" examples, prepared through London importer
J. Smith & Co., represented an especially exclusive and sporting
variation of the model and today rank among the most desirable of
all Delages.
Of the many distinguished coachbuilders associated with Delage, few
possessed the flair of Fernandez et Darrin. Founded by Howard
"Dick" Fernandez and Thomas Hibbard's former partner Jacques Darrin
before the latter established his own separate firm, Fernandez et
Darrin became known for clean proportions, restrained
ornamentation, and bodies that perfectly balanced elegance with
sporting character. Their work on the D8 remains among the finest
expressions of French coachbuilding during the period.
Offered here, chassis 38236 is one of the firm's most charismatic
creations. Delivered as a right-hand-drive British-market car, it
was clothed by Fernandez et Darrin with an elegant close-coupled
cabriolet body originally finished in deep cream with French Blue
accents over light blue upholstery. Early history associates the
Delage with the household of celebrated conductor Sir Thomas
Beecham and Lady Humby Beecham before it passed into the ownership
of British enthusiast Roy Armstrong-Wilson in 1952.
Armstrong-Wilson would later immortalize the Delage in an aptly
titled memoir, Car of a Lifetime, recalling its effortless
performance, remarkable refinement, and striking presence while
describing it as "magnificent and unforgettable." Period family
photographs from this ownership provide an invaluable record of the
Delage in its original configuration, preserving details of the
Fernandez et Darrin coachwork that were long thought lost.
Following Armstrong-Wilson's ownership, the Delage gradually
disappeared from view. By the 1960s it had fallen into severe
disrepair, eventually finding its way into a scrapyard before being
acquired by Len Richards, who began using it as a source of spare
parts for another Delage. By the time A.G. "Tony" Newell discovered
the car, it had been stripped of its lamps, front wings, gearbox,
cylinder head, seats, and much of its instrumentation. Most
enthusiasts would have regarded the remains as beyond saving.
Tony Newell, however, saw something different. Recognizing the
importance of preserving an original Fernandez et Darrin-bodied
Delage, he acquired the remains and embarked on a painstaking
reconstruction that would span years. Crucially, the Delage
retained its original engine block, numbered 119, while a cylinder
head sourced from engine no. 92 was fitted during the restoration.
The surviving Fernandez et Darrin original coachwork-including the
bonnet, scuttle, doors, and rear bodywork-was carefully preserved,
while missing components, such as the front wings, were fabricated
where necessary. Newell himself later acknowledged that period
reference material was scarce and regretted not having sufficient
documentation to reproduce certain details exactly, particularly
the original front wing treatment. That honesty, combined with the
remarkable photographic record that has since emerged, provides an
unusually transparent account of the car's restoration.
Following Newell's stewardship, the Delage passed through
distinguished European and American collections, including
ownership by Raymond Jolivet in France before ultimately joining
the collection of noted enthusiast Otis Chandler. Acquired by its
most recent owner in 2005, the car has spent the past two decades
in long-term private ownership and has rarely been seen
publicly.
Perhaps most significantly, recent research has transformed the
known history of chassis 38236. Period photographs, correspondence,
personal recollections, and Delage Registry records graciously
shared by the Armstrong-Wilson family have substantially expanded
the car's documented provenance, reconnecting its elegant early
life with its extraordinary story of survival and rescue. Together,
these materials establish one of the most complete historical
records known for a Fernandez et Darrin-bodied Delage of this
era.
As offered today, chassis 38236 presents an exciting opportunity
for the next custodian. The car is an enjoyable and sporting Delage
to drive as it stands, while the wealth of newly uncovered
documentation-including period photographs and firsthand
accounts-provides an exceptional roadmap for anyone wishing to
restore the Delage to its original splendor. Whether enjoyed on
tours and rallies or thoughtfully refined over time, this is a
charismatic prewar French sporting automobile with a remarkably
well-documented history and tremendous potential.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
