1924 Delage GL

Skiff Torpedo Labourdette
Chassis number: 54M
Engine number: 15427

The GL was Delage's first supercar, designed in 1923 to compete with Rolls-Royce, which had proclaimed itself the 'Best Car in the World.' The production run was very limited - only 180 chassis were created - from 1924 to 1927. The GL stands for grand luxe, and the car is, by the standards of its day, state of the art in every way. The straight-6-cylinder motor with overhead valves can produce 100 bhp and speeds of over 90 mph. The chassis cost $5,370 when new, and the custom coachwork added to the price, making it one of the most expensive luxury cars of its day. The lightweight, custom-built torpedo skiff body was made by Jean-Henri Labourdette of Paris. The body was constructed of ash ribs cross-planked with three layers of mahogany. It is believed to be one of the three original surviving Labourdette skiffs, and one of six GL chassis known to exist. This Grand Luxe was fitted with a Labourdette body when new. Jean-Henri Labourdette was a third generation coachbuilder. Constructed from wood with techniques normally used for boats, Skiffs were among the most exclusive machines available during the time. Due to the delicate nature of the materials used, very few have survived. During the 1970's it was discovered by British restorer Paul Grist in the collection of Sir Francis Samuelson being used as a tow vehicle. The original body was largely complete and intact. After a much-needed restoration, the car played a minor role in the 1981 film 'Chariots of Fire'.

This is one of just six GL chassis known to exist today. The car is powered by a 5954 cc six-cylinder engine developing 100 horsepower. In 2003, the skiff body was enhanced by Master Boat Builder Dewitt Whitman.

During the early years of automobile production, a successful race on Sunday would translate to great sales on Monday. Many companies built their reputation on their racing success and put great effort and expense into maintaining status. Louis Delage was one of those individuals who built a great vehicle and proved it at the race track. His cars were quick and durable and were known for their speed and agility. The continual need to prove the vehicle's capabilities was expensive, and nearly sent the Delage Company into bankruptcy.

During Wartime, Delage built vehicles for the French military. During this time, the company amassed considerable funds. When war ceased, the production of civilian transportation resumed. One of the more popular post-war cars was the Model DE with its four-cylinder engine. Sales were strong and with this new-found wealth, Delage decided to take on the elite in automobile production. Maurice Sainturat, a former engineer from Hotchkiss, was given the enormous task of building a suitable powerplant. Building an engine that could outperform Duesenberg, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Hispano Suiza was very ambitious; building a better car was equally as challenging.

Sainturant designed a six-cylinder, single overhead cam, engine with a single carburetor. In production form, it produced 100 horsepower which ranked among the higher figures of other six-cylinder engines. A more potent version of the engine was available, which had twin-cam heads and boosted power by 30 bhp.

The engine was mounted into a conventional ladder frame and suspended in place with live axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs and friction dampers. Servo-assisted drum brakes were placed at all four corners and a four-speed gearbox was mated to the engine. The bodywork was left to skilled coachbuilders. There were four chassis lengths available, ranging from the shorter 'Sport' version which measured 3400mm, to the long 3850mm. The base size was 3620mm. An even shorter sport frame was available and these versions were fitted with the more powerful version of the engine.

This new model was given the name GL - meaning 'Grand Luxe' - and put on display at the 1924 Paris Auto Salon. It was given a competitive price and often sold for less than the competition. Unfortunately, the luxury car market was incredibly difficult to crack and around 200 examples, including the Grand Sports, were sold from 1924 through 1928. Less than ten are believed to have survived into modern times. The high cost of development had depleted much of Louis Delage's funds. To raise more capital, the company was forced onto the Paris stock exchange and the company became 'public.'

by Dan Vaughan