Vehicle Description
Chassis #34738 was bodied by the renowned French coachbuilder Henri Chapron, and is the only Chapron-bodied D8 C known to survive today. Chapron was known not only for his impeccable, understated style, but also for the exceptional build quality he imparted in his automobiles. Rather unusually, this beautiful Delage was not originally registered in France, but rather in Renfrewshire, Scotland, on July 14, 1931, as HS6322 (a registration number which remains with the car to this day). By 1939, it had changed hands to Roland Stanley Bevan of Taunton, Somerset, who maintained it for 20 years, after which it was purchased by Douglas Henry Shrimpton of Dorset. Subsequently, around 1960, the car was purchased by Vojta Mashek, a renowned early French automobile collector from Chicago. In 1966, Mashek sold the Delage to Homer Fitterling of South Bend, IN. Fitterling was well known for, among other things, an every-year collection of Corvettes, a great number of Duesenbergs and this very Delage, which he reportedly used to tow the Duesenbergs to shows. The most recent caretaker, a longtime collector in the Midwest, purchased the Delage from Fitterling in 1973. It was intact, solid, and ran well, but it was ready for restoration. Between 1992 and 1994, the job was entrusted to the renowned facility of LaVine Restorations of Nappanee, IN. Subsequently, the car was displayed at the 1994 Meadow Brook Concours d' Elegance, and from 2004 to 2007 was exhibited at the ACD Automobile Museum in Auburn, IN, in their Gallery of Classics. Though now two decades old, the restoration presents exceedingly well, having been carefully freshened with new Aubergine paint on the main body, complementing the black fenders. The style is conservative but extremely elegant, featuring a close-coupled style body with a long bonnet, gracefully formed cycle fenders and fabulous torpedo-shaped running boards with integrated storage boxes. A large cabriolet top with exposed irons looks elegant up or down, and an upholstered trunk rounds out the look. This is a fabulous-looking automobile from any angle. The light gray leather seating presents in outstanding condition and is trimmed by exquisite inlaid woodwork on the dash and door panels. The Jaegar instruments are faced in cream to contrast the dark wood. The body features excellent brightwork and the engine compartment has been superbly detailed, having been lightly used while in the stewardship of the last owner. It is offered with an extensive history file covering its ownership and restoration, including correspondence with Delage registrar and historian Peter Jacobs, as well as a copy of the Profile Publications volume on the D8, in which this car is pictured.
