conceptcarz.com

1933 Derby L8

1933 Derby L8 1933 Derby L8 1933 Derby L8 In 1921 Frenchman Bertrand Montet founded the firm Derby at a time when cycle cars were riding a wave of popularity. The first Derby was fitted with a motorcycle V-twin engine imported from America. This was soon replaced by a Chapuis-Dornier four-cylinder, 900cc, water-cooled engine. Both models had three-speed transmissions. The radiator of the Chapuis-Dornier motor looked a bit like the then-popular 5 CV Citroen.

The last Derby cars were more interesting. The L2 of 1931 was a four-cylinder, 6 CV (rated horsepower) front-wheel drive, and the L8 of 1933 was an 11 CV front-wheel drive, with a 2-liter V8 motor. Also, at that time, another model was fitted with a Meadows ED 1.5-liter engine.

In 1933, the market seemed doomed, but in one last effort, W.D. Hawkes launched a luxury front-wheel-drive V8, at a time when this type of car was not popular. However, it stunned the opposition and stung Citroen into presenting its own V-8 (a front-wheel-drive 22-horsepower rated car) a year later (but this car was not produced in large numbers).

The firm decided to stop making cars in 1936, likely because its vehicles were overly crafted compared to high-volume production cars.

From 1920 to 1930, the Derby cars were conventional with proprietary engines from Ruby, Scap and Chapius Dornier. Derby cars were very successful with their racing cycle cars and voiturettes with engines less than two liters. After the original Derby Engineer Monsieur Montet died, the company was bought by William Hawkes, an English racecar driver. Hawkes' fiancée, Miss Gwenda Stewart, was also a racecar driver.

Gwenda Stewart raced at Brooklands and also at Montlhery, near Paris, driving Morgans. William Hawkes bought a Miller FWD for Miss Stewart from the United States and the Derby Company was responsible for the maintenance and fine-tuning of the car. Eventually, the car was rebuilt by Derby and renamed the Derby Miller. Miss Stewart broke many speed records at Montlhery, many of which still stand today.

1933 Derby L8 Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

L8

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
8 cyl., 122.05 CID.,

Related Automotive News

1982 Austrian Grand Prix: de Angelis Flying Through the Thin Air

1982 Austrian Grand Prix: de Angelis Flying Through the Thin Air

It is almost impossible to predict events and just how momentous they just might be. This would certainly be the case with the 1982 Austrian Grand Prix, a truly special and memorable moment in Formula One history. Heading into the Austrian Grand Prix...
NISMO Heritage: A History of Maverick Engineering in Motorsports and Attainable Performance

NISMO Heritage: A History of Maverick Engineering in Motorsports and Attainable Performance

CHICAGO - NISMO. Five letters taken from the words NISsan MOtorsports. Known around the world racing fraternity for nearly 50 years. Passionately embraced by grassroots Datsun and Nissan club racers and electronic race gamers alike. With the addition...
1962 Monaco Grand Prix: McLaren Carries the Cooper Flag back to the Top

1962 Monaco Grand Prix: McLaren Carries the Cooper Flag back to the Top

By the beginning of the 1962 Formula One season Jack Brabham had left Cooper to form his own racing team. It seemed the glories days of the double World Championship were well and truly behind them. However, left in Brabhams stead would be a man very...
TMC Launches Redesigned Corolla Series in Japan

TMC Launches Redesigned Corolla Series in Japan

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces the launch in Japan today of the redesigned Corolla Axio sedan and Corolla Fielder*1 station wagon. The vehicles will be sold across Japan through Toyota Corolla dealers. Since its debut in 1966, the...
1956 24 Hours of Le Mans: The Rise of Two Counts

1956 24 Hours of Le Mans: The Rise of Two Counts

The 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans would end up being the darkest day in all of motorsport when Pierre Levegh launched off the back of Lance Macklins Austin-Healey and crashed into a barrier sending large portions of the car flying through the air acting...