1937 Delage D8 120 Aero Coupe

It was Delage founder Louis Delage who asked Marcel Pourtout to build this high-speed aerodynamic prototype (chassis 51620) for the 1937 Paris Auto Salon.

Georges Paulin was the chief stylist for Pourtout, and he accepted the challenge. He was also at work on the aerodynamic Embirlcos Bentley, and there are marked similarities between the two cars.

Upon its introduction, this Delage was lauded by the press. It was immediately recognized for being a milestone in streamlined styling.

Built on the D8-120 S chassis the automobile's suspension was lower than standard, adding to the drama of Paulin's design, which was simple and balanced. He used no chrome, no fancy accents, preferring instead to have the pure lines of the car speak for themselves. The lines and curves are all continuous. Nothing is allowed to stand out in a way that might detract from the overall effect, with everything tapering to the tail. Even the traditional Delage radiator tilts back into the body to create a more graceful profile.

The body shape was tested in a wind tunnel in France to ensure that it was aerodynamic.

The body was produced in aluminum, so the car is lightweight and the engine size was increased to 4,750 cc (up from the standard 4,300 cc). So the car definitely has power.

Of course, such things come with a price. The coachwork alone cost $30,000 French francs.

Delage liked the car so much that he kept it and used it for himself.

The Delage was designed by Georges Paulin and built by the coach-builder Pourtout for Louis Delage's personal use, and very much to his careful design specifications. It is an experimental chassis, very low, ('surbaisse' in French) and features a 4.7-liter engine, the only car the company ever built to that specification. The design is totally unique and arguably one of the purest of line and most aerodynamic of the pre-war era. It is four-place and has a sizeable trunk with the original fitted luggage. The windshield is not only curved, revolutionary technology for the period, but also appears to be a single ribbon of glass from the rear around the front to the other side. The straight-eight D8-120 engine is largely aluminum, with three carburetors, and develops about 160 horsepower. The transmission is a four-speed Cotal electromagnetic unit, and the car is a joy to drive comfortably at speeds up to 100 mph.

This car was built to be Louis Delage's personal automobile. The coachwork was completed by Marcel Pourtout as a 'conduit interieur sport' or sports saloon. The body alone cost 30,000 Francs.

Delage was founded in 1905 by Louis Delage and began producing small two and four-cylinder cars which ran successfully in numerous races. Production was converted to munitions during World War I, and Delage began producing larger, more powerful cars after the Armistice was signed. Delages were aimed at the luxury market but would eventually succumb to financial pressures. Delahaye purchased Delage in 1935 and subsequently dismissed Louis Delage. He would eventually die in 1947, almost in poverty.

In 1936, Delage management decided to build an all-new D8-120S (for surbaisse or low-slung) prototype chassis. The car features a large engine, increasing from 4,500 to 4,750 cc's and a considerably lower chassis which provided improved handling. It also features very streamlined aluminum coachwork, larger wheels and a more aggressive and better-handling suspension.

This example lived in Europe until 1953 when it was imported to the United States. At some point prior to this, the coachbuilder, Saoutchik, restyled the grille and enlarged the rear window for reasons unknown. The current owners returned the car to its original as-delivered configuration.

When the confetti flew over the awards ramp at the 55th Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it descended on a one-off Delage owned by Sam and Emily Mann. The winning car was a prototype originally commissioned by Louis Delage, the man who founded the French car company bearing his name in 1905. By 1937 that company had been purchased by Delahaye, but Delage was still involved and he wanted to show off the innovative new D8-120 chassis, so he approached Marcel Pourtout to create a very special coupe for the Paris Auto Salon that October. An innovative streamlined body was penned by Pourtout's Chief Stylist Georges Paulin, who was at the forefront of aerodynamic design, and it was built on an experimental D8-120 S (for surbaisse, or 'lowered') chassis with a 4.7-liter engine. The windscreen, just one of the coupe's notable components, is a curved ribbon of glass that wraps around the car. It was among the first vehicles to be tested in a wind tunnel, and it is said to be a delight to drive at speeds of up to 100 mph. Its win was the fourth car shown by the Manns to take the top award. The Manns are now tied with William Harrah for having the second-most wins of any entrants; only the Nethercutts have surpassed that number, with six wins in total.