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1935 Delage D8-85 news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Clabot Roadster Coachwork: Henri Chapron Chassis Num: 40168 |
| High bid of $330,000 at 2007 RM Auctions. (did not sell) | |||
This vehicle is very elegant with a few flamboyant features such as the excessive, but stylish, use of chrome. The car has a drop-top configuration with seating for two. There is a rounded front end grille which nearly juts over the vehicles front fender. The long bonnet slopes slightly towards the windshield with the rear of the vehicle sloping downwards. The fenders give the illusion of motion at a stand-still.
Louis Delage was partially blind at birth but this did not seem to be an issue for creating some of the more memorable, graceful, and elegant automobiles of all time. When he was young he worked with some of the greatest engineering talents of the time. It was not long before he was building cars that bore his own surname.
Delage was an ambitious individual and very loyal to his country, France. He set out to win honor for France on the racetracks of Europe, which he did in 1913 when a Delage won France's top honor, the Grand Prix de France.
In 1924 Delage introduced the Grand-Luxe road going car. Up to this point, his passion and expertise had been applied to only racing machines. The Grand-Luxe was the result of years of experimentation, testing and winning. It had an innovative design and powered by an overhead camshaft engine with twin ignition. In 1929, the GL was replaced by the new D8.
In 1932 the D8 S and D8 SS were introduced. These cars featured an increased in horsepower, double drop frames, lightweight components, and a lower and sleeker bodystyle. As was the case with many other marque's of the time, The Great Depression was too much to avoid or outpace. Delage was forced into liquidation in April of 1935.
This makes the Delage D8-85 the final series to be completely designed and built by Delage. It was introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October of 1934 with an estimated 100 examples being constructed.
This example was commissioned by an Algerian doctor, built by Henri Chapron and updated later by Clabot. Robert Clabot had been trained at Saoutchik and opened his own carrosserie in 1946. Most of his work dealt with the Citroen CV-11, but he did accept commissions on several other chassis. The results were typically flamboyant, and distinct, that reflected his time spent working with Saoutchik.
This car features a modern grille that pre-war inspiration. The headlights are faired into the fenders and compliment the waterfall grillwork nicely.
The Algerian doctor kept the car until the 1960s when it was purchased by Mr. Wagannaar of Bergen, Holland. Under his care a restoration was commissioned and the car was finished in light green. After Wagannaar died, the car was purchased by Stichting Beheer Automobiel Museum Deventer in the Netherlands. It remained there for many years before being purchased by UK auctioneer Jeffrey Pattinson. In 2003 ownership changed again. It was treated to a comprehensive program of upgrades including a mechanical restoration.
This car was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook where it was estimated to sell for $450,000 - $650,000. Bidding reached as high as $330,000 but it failed to satisfy the reserve and the vehicle was left unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2007
The Delage Automobile Company was established in 1905 in Levallois, a suburb of Paris, France by Louis Delâge. Delâge was a young ambitious engineer who had previously been employed for the Peugeot car company. The company was originally an assembly plant that acquired engines and drive trains from other manufacturers to use along with their own body designs that were purchased from others.
The Delage Automobile Company became a very formidable force in the area of pre-war voiturette racing. Delage focused on Inline-8 and V12 power-plants and won various events that included the Coupes de L'Ato, along with Voiturette races at both Dieppe and Boulogue. These vehicles carried race-bred engineering and robust chassis' that were a tribute to the marques racing heritage.
In 1907 Delage moved his company to Baudin Street in Levallois, as the workshop was becoming too small and orders were pouring in.
From the start, Delage entered his vehicles and in motor races and never stopped. In 1908 the company found success in competing in Grand Prix motor racing, and operation in new production facilities. Delage owned a 400m2 factory in ‘08, and in the same year he won the '500 km Dieppe Grand Prix', with an average speed of 50 miles per hour. By 1909 the Delage Company became making their own engines along with fabricating advanced body designs. Michelat, considered a prominent car engineer joined the company this year, and François Repusseau was in charge of building the bodies.
The workshop was flooded by the Seine River in 1910, so the Delage Automobile Company was moved yet again, this time to Verdun Boulevard in Courbevoi in 1912. Up until World War I in 1914, Delage vehicles were winning lucrative races. At this time the new factory in Courbevoie was converted into military production.
In 1911, Michelat designed the X type, which won the 'Coupe de l'Auto' at Boulogne. Following the war, the Delage Auto Company continued to prosper as racing orientation was increased, and Delage turned producing high quality touring and luxury saloon vehicles moved by six cylinder engines. The original Delage vehicle was the 1918 CO type, which came with a 20 HP 4524 cc six cylinder engine. In 1921 this merged into the CO2 type, which was the first vehicle with front brakes.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression of the 1930's had a very negative effect on the Delage Company and the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1935. The Courbevoie plant was closed and all of its contents were sold. The Delahaye automobile company negotiated a license to manufacture vehicles under the Delage name, and models continued to be produced until 1953 when the company went out of business.
Always envisioning beautiful vehicles to design, Delage constructed the D8 in 1929 with a 4061cc 8 in – line engine that eventually became the D 8 – S (sport). The D8 was built with very little regard for expense, and marked the top end of the Delage vehicles. The coachwork of the D8 was done by famous builders such as Figoni et Falaschi, Letourner and Chapron. Due to the short length of the chassis, only a two-seater D8 coachwork could be fabricated.By Jessica Donaldson
The Delage Automobile Company became a very formidable force in the area of pre-war voiturette racing. Delage focused on Inline-8 and V12 power-plants and won various events that included the Coupes de L'Ato, along with Voiturette races at both Dieppe and Boulogue. These vehicles carried race-bred engineering and robust chassis' that were a tribute to the marques racing heritage.
In 1907 Delage moved his company to Baudin Street in Levallois, as the workshop was becoming too small and orders were pouring in.
From the start, Delage entered his vehicles and in motor races and never stopped. In 1908 the company found success in competing in Grand Prix motor racing, and operation in new production facilities. Delage owned a 400m2 factory in ‘08, and in the same year he won the '500 km Dieppe Grand Prix', with an average speed of 50 miles per hour. By 1909 the Delage Company became making their own engines along with fabricating advanced body designs. Michelat, considered a prominent car engineer joined the company this year, and François Repusseau was in charge of building the bodies.
The workshop was flooded by the Seine River in 1910, so the Delage Automobile Company was moved yet again, this time to Verdun Boulevard in Courbevoi in 1912. Up until World War I in 1914, Delage vehicles were winning lucrative races. At this time the new factory in Courbevoie was converted into military production.
In 1911, Michelat designed the X type, which won the 'Coupe de l'Auto' at Boulogne. Following the war, the Delage Auto Company continued to prosper as racing orientation was increased, and Delage turned producing high quality touring and luxury saloon vehicles moved by six cylinder engines. The original Delage vehicle was the 1918 CO type, which came with a 20 HP 4524 cc six cylinder engine. In 1921 this merged into the CO2 type, which was the first vehicle with front brakes.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression of the 1930's had a very negative effect on the Delage Company and the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1935. The Courbevoie plant was closed and all of its contents were sold. The Delahaye automobile company negotiated a license to manufacture vehicles under the Delage name, and models continued to be produced until 1953 when the company went out of business.
Always envisioning beautiful vehicles to design, Delage constructed the D8 in 1929 with a 4061cc 8 in – line engine that eventually became the D 8 – S (sport). The D8 was built with very little regard for expense, and marked the top end of the Delage vehicles. The coachwork of the D8 was done by famous builders such as Figoni et Falaschi, Letourner and Chapron. Due to the short length of the chassis, only a two-seater D8 coachwork could be fabricated.By Jessica Donaldson
Louis Delage was born in 1874 and was handicapped by blindness in one eye. This handicap would not hinder him at all in creating some of the most elegant and beautiful creations of the pre-WWII era, and into the early 1950s. He acquired his engineering abilities while working for Peugeot. He worked with the company until 1905, when he left to build cars bearing his own name.
Delage had a strong loyalty to France, and he endeavored to build cars that would bring honor to his country. He began racing in 1906 and acquired some success. By 1913, he had constructed a worthy racing machine to claim the Grand Prix de France. His racing machines continued to evolve. In 1914, they featured double overhead camshafts and brakes on all four wheels.
Rene Thomas drove a Delage in the 1914 Indianapolis 500 where he emerged victorious. In 1924, he set a land speed record at just over 143 mph.
During World War I, the newly built factory in Courbevoie was used for the production of military items.
During the mid-1920s, the Delage cars were powered by eight-cylinder engine displacing 1.5-liters. In 1927, Robert Benoist drove a Delage with an inline-eight cylinder engine to a victory at the Grand Prix de France, Spanish Grand Prix, British Grand Prix at Brooklands, and the Grand Prix de l'Europe at Monza. After this brilliant accomplishment, Delage announced his retirement from racing.
Delage had left the sport on a high-note, but there were troubled times in its future. The Great Depression rattled many industries, including the automotive world. By 1935, Delage had felt the strains of this painful time in history, and was forced to enter liquidation. A Delage dealer named Walter Watney purchased the company's assets. This proved to be a pipe-dream for Watney, and soon was looking for aid from an automotive partner who could help bear the costs of engineering, development and manufacturing. Luckily, he found the assistance he was searching for - at Delahaye. An agreement was reached which allowed the Delage name to continue.
The first new product from this union was the D8-120. Mounted in the long, graceful bonnets were an eight-cylinder engine. The engine was basically a Delahye 135MS six with two additional cylinders. Some of Europe's greatest coachbuilders were tasked with creating designs for the chassis. The list includes Saoutchik, Chapron, Pourtout, and Letourner et Marchand.
The Delage D8's were very impressive automobiles that had style and glamour in a high-performance package. Though the economy disparity of the time begged Delage to move down market, the company refused, and continued to produce their high-priced machines.
The Delage D8-120 had hydraulic brakes, Cotal electromagnet gearbox, and a suspension comprised of transverse leaf springs in the front. The 4.3-liter eight-cylinder engine was capable of producing nearly 100 horsepower in unmodified guise.
The Delage D8-100 was a long-wheel base version of the short-wheelbase D8-120. Both the D8-100 and D-120 were built as a conventional rolling chassis and supplied to the coachbuilders for completion. The coachbuilders would often construct the final product to the exact specifications and requirements supplied by the customer. Because of this, many of the vehicles and their specifications vary considerably. Prior to World War II, around 100 examples were created.
Production of the Delage vehicles continued until 1953.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2010
For more information and related vehicles, click hereDelage had a strong loyalty to France, and he endeavored to build cars that would bring honor to his country. He began racing in 1906 and acquired some success. By 1913, he had constructed a worthy racing machine to claim the Grand Prix de France. His racing machines continued to evolve. In 1914, they featured double overhead camshafts and brakes on all four wheels.
Rene Thomas drove a Delage in the 1914 Indianapolis 500 where he emerged victorious. In 1924, he set a land speed record at just over 143 mph.
During World War I, the newly built factory in Courbevoie was used for the production of military items.
During the mid-1920s, the Delage cars were powered by eight-cylinder engine displacing 1.5-liters. In 1927, Robert Benoist drove a Delage with an inline-eight cylinder engine to a victory at the Grand Prix de France, Spanish Grand Prix, British Grand Prix at Brooklands, and the Grand Prix de l'Europe at Monza. After this brilliant accomplishment, Delage announced his retirement from racing.
Delage had left the sport on a high-note, but there were troubled times in its future. The Great Depression rattled many industries, including the automotive world. By 1935, Delage had felt the strains of this painful time in history, and was forced to enter liquidation. A Delage dealer named Walter Watney purchased the company's assets. This proved to be a pipe-dream for Watney, and soon was looking for aid from an automotive partner who could help bear the costs of engineering, development and manufacturing. Luckily, he found the assistance he was searching for - at Delahaye. An agreement was reached which allowed the Delage name to continue.
The first new product from this union was the D8-120. Mounted in the long, graceful bonnets were an eight-cylinder engine. The engine was basically a Delahye 135MS six with two additional cylinders. Some of Europe's greatest coachbuilders were tasked with creating designs for the chassis. The list includes Saoutchik, Chapron, Pourtout, and Letourner et Marchand.
The Delage D8's were very impressive automobiles that had style and glamour in a high-performance package. Though the economy disparity of the time begged Delage to move down market, the company refused, and continued to produce their high-priced machines.
The Delage D8-120 had hydraulic brakes, Cotal electromagnet gearbox, and a suspension comprised of transverse leaf springs in the front. The 4.3-liter eight-cylinder engine was capable of producing nearly 100 horsepower in unmodified guise.
The Delage D8-100 was a long-wheel base version of the short-wheelbase D8-120. Both the D8-100 and D-120 were built as a conventional rolling chassis and supplied to the coachbuilders for completion. The coachbuilders would often construct the final product to the exact specifications and requirements supplied by the customer. Because of this, many of the vehicles and their specifications vary considerably. Prior to World War II, around 100 examples were created.
Production of the Delage vehicles continued until 1953.
By Daniel Vaughan | May 2010
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 1935
Delage
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| Delage D8-105 |
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| Delage: 1931-1940 |
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