1938 Peugeot 402 Darlmat Pourtout

The Peugeot distribution agency created by Émile Darl'Mat in Paris would become one of the world's largest, and during the 1930s, the firm gained prominence for its exclusive series of streamlined roadsters, coupes and cabriolets.

The designs created for Darl'Mat reflected his passion for speed and motorsports, a legacy that Peugeot had fostered before switching to pedestrian models. Peugeot had built many successful Grand Prix cars prior to World War I, with accolades that included a victory at the 1916 Indianapolis 500. Privateer André Boillot drove Peugeots to victory at the 1919 Targa Florio, the 1922 and 1925 Coppa Florio, the 1923 and 1925 Touring Car Grand Prix, and the 1926 24 Hours of Spa.

The automobiles built by Darl'Mat helped restore Peugeot's pedigree with three examples finishing in the top 10 overall in the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans (7th, 8th, and 10th). One of the three aluminum-bodied cars won its class at the 1938 LeMans race.

Emile Darl'Mat had spent four years in an apprenticeship with aviation pioneer Clément Ader, later traveling to the United States where he worked as a chauffeur. When he returned to Paris, he established a small garage repairing and selling automobiles. He became a licensed Panhard and Peugeot dealer, and by the early 1930s, he exclusively sold Peugeots. With assistance from Marcel Pourtout and Georges Paulin, Darl'Mat displayed an automobile at the Salon de l'Automobile in 1927. This was followed by an aerodynamically styled vehicle built atop the Peugeot 301 chassis and displayed at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. Another concept on the Peugeot 302 series that made its debut years later was the Eclipse retracting roof system designed by Paulin.

Georges Paulin, who's early profession was dentistry, had gained prominence in the automotive community by developing and patenting an automatic retractable metal roof mechanism, predating the Ford Skyliner of the late-1950s. Known as the Eclipse Series, they were among the most mechanically sophisticated and complex vehicles of the Art Deco era. Before the outbreak of World War II, Paulin and Pourtout would produce low convertible coupe Eclipse versions on the Peugeot 301, 401, 601, 302 and 402, models from Hotchkiss and Panhard, and the Lancia Belna. Additionally, Paulin created designs for a number of significant manufacturers during his brief career, including the famous 'Embiricos' Bentley that raced at LeMans. Working as chief designer / stylist for Pourtout, designs were created for Bentley, Delage, Talbot-Lago, Panhard, Lancia, and Unic.

Peugeot management was impressed with the passion and creations of Darl'mat, and eventually gave him access to resources and materials to create his own Peugeot sports car. With the help of Peugeot's director of mechanical studies, Alfred Geauque, and his longtime collaborators Paulin and Pourtout, Darl'mat created the Special Sport. The prototype was displayed at the Paris Motor Show in 1936 and eventually, 104 examples were built between January 1937 and June 1938 (53 roadsters, 32 cabriolets, and 20 coupes).

The Peugeot 302 chassis had a 113.4-inch wheelbase and were 61.8 inches wide. The Peugeot 402 légère (light) chassis had a 113-inch wheelbase, a 124-inch 'normal' platform, and a 131-inch longue (long) version. It stood 62.2 inches tall and 64.6 inches wide. Styling of the Peugeot 302 and 402 Légère was virtually indistinguishable.

The 1,991cc four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine powering the Darl'Mat-built Peugeots produced approximately 70 horsepower, with later-built examples receiving the 402B designation and powered by a 2,142cc unit. The Cotal four-speed electro-mechanical gearbox could be operated via a selector lever positioned directly behind the steering wheel. Cable-operated drums provided braking. Suspension in the front was independent with transverse, semi-elliptical springs and hydraulic shocks. The rear suspension was similar, but with a live axle.

The Paulin-designed bodies were built by Pourtout from pieces of sheet aluminum hand-shaped and nailed to wooden structures of ash framing before being fitted to the chassis. The styling was aerodynamically efficient, resulting in higher top speeds and better fuel economy. The crank-down windscreen feature was patented by Georges Paulin, and the bodies had flowing lines, teardrop-winged shapes, a vestigial boat-tail rear end, medallion-shaped hood side vents, heart-shaped rear license plate housing, and a gently sloping grille.

Production was brief - lasting eighteen months, though its short wheelbase chassis would live on in the 402 Légère.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 400247

In 1936 Peugeot launched the short wheelbase 302 model, which would be the basis for the next Darl'mat, Pourtout (coachbuilder), and Paulin (designer) project. A dental technician by trade, Paulin was very passionate about creating very aerodynamic and efficient shapes.

This was very useful for Darl'mat as he wanted to create a racing car based on the 302 chassis, powered by the slightly larger two-liter engine from the 402 model. It would be the first time a Peugeot would be seriously raced again since the early teens when the company built some of the most advanced Grand Prix cars of the day. The car has an approximate weight of 2248 pounds.

In November of 1936, the first example was produced, and soon after it was decided that the 'Darl'mat' would be produced in limited numbers for the road in Cabriolet, Roadster, and Coupe form. This example is the larger engine 402 model.

A racing car for the road appealed to customers and a hundred road cars on the Peugeot 302 and 402 chassis were produced between 1937 and 1939. Of those 100 cars, 53 were Roadsters. It is estimated that around 30 examples still exist today.

Georges Paulin's design is Peugeot's most elegantly designed two-seat roadster. 104 of these Darl'mat Special Sport Roadsters were built by hand-shaping aluminum sheets and then nailing them to frames made from Ash. Approximately 30 of these cars survive, and this car is a multiple award winner including Best in Class at Pebble Beach.

This car was Pourtout commission number 1639. It would lead a secluded existence in France for much of its life before surfacing at a Peugeot dealership in Nice around 2 decades ago. When discovered, the rare Peugeot had been in static storage for a number of years after having been retired from its service as an occasional rally car. At the time, the car was rather complete and intact, retaining the vast majority of its original components and Pourtout coachwork. The car has the unique feature of having a folding soft top.

The car was eventually purchased by a group of dealers and collectors in an effort to avoid a bidding war. The deal was spearheaded by Christophe Pund and Frankie du Mouton. The car would remain in Europe until Mr. Edward Fallon of Phoenix, Arizona, discovered the Peugeot 42 while attending Retromobile in 2001. It was purchased and shipped to the US, and soon after it was restored in the aim of showing at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. By August of that year, around 2,500 man-hours had been spent in restoration and were ready for being shown at the Pebble Beach Concours. It was shown in a class devoted to the designs of George Paulin. It was awarded Best of Class honors, an impressive accomplishment considering the list of cars it defeated including a very rare Darl'mat Coupe.

It was later shown at Meadow Brook, Amelia Island, and the Palm Beach International Concours. The elegant alloy bodywork attracts crowds wherever it goes. Though beautiful, the car was designed for road use and is eligible for tours and rallies. The four-cylinder engine and the Cotal gearbox make it delightful to drive at speed. There is a removable low-raked windshield, pontoon fenders, cut-down doors, a grille shell, twin fuel-fillers, and a large dashboard with just two Jaeger gauges to monitor the car's mechanical status.

In 2010, this Porsche 356 Pre-A was offered for sale at Gooding & Company Auction held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell for $650,000 - $850,000. As bidding came to a close, bidding had reached $600,000 but was not enough to satisfy the car's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

Racing Roadster by Pourtout

The 402 series was first introduced in 1936. This rare example has a special sports body by famed French coachbuilder Marcle Pourtout who was a hero with the French resistance. This 402 Racing Roadster has a 4-cylinder, single-overhead valve engine with a two-liter capacity. It is one of three cars with an aluminum body in the 1938 24-Hour Lemans race and won its class.

A total of 105 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat models were crafted on the 402 chassis. It is believed that 53 were roadsters, 32 cabriolets, and 20 coupes. They were upgraded at Darl'mat's shop with Cotal four-speed electro-mechanical gearboxes, before being shipped to Pourtout and fitted with the Paulin-designed bodies, formed from pieces of sheet aluminum hand-shaped and then nailed to wooden structures of ash framing that were then attached to the chassis.

Three Darl'mats finished in the top 10 overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937. Approximately 30 still survive today.

Roadster
Chassis number: 400247

The original, base model Peugeot 402 was a large family car produced in Sochaux, France, from 1935 until 1942. It was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in 1935, replacing the Peugeot 401. Darl'mat refers to Emile Darl'mat, a successful Paris-based Peugeot distributor, known for modifying Peugeots to increase their performance. In 1928 he joined coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout to produce a completely custom Peugeot. In 1934 the pair caught the attention of Peugeot management with a Peugeot 601 equipped with a folding steel roof.

One of the most desirable of these joint creations is the 402 Darl'mat Special Sport Roadster. The design intent was to boost Peugeot's image with a lightweight, aerodynamic car with a sporting engine. Styled by Paulin and made with aluminum by Pourtout, Darl'mat's roadster was unlike anything else on the road.

In 1937, three specially prepared Darl'mat 302 Roadsters entered the 24 Hours of Le Mans, placing 7th, 8th and 10th overall. These had no doors and an improved engine with a new cylinder head, higher compression, and twin carburetors. This helped Peugeot sell around 105 cars in Coupe, Cabriolet and Roadster form before war came to France.

This stunning car has a 2.0L engine with 70 horsepower and a manual transmission driving the rear wheels. Cable-operated drums provided braking. Suspension in the front is independent with transverse, semi-elliptical springs and hydraulic shocks. The rear suspension is similar, but with a live axle.

Roadster
Chassis number: 400248
Engine number: 400243

Emile Darl'mat was born in 1892. He spent four years in an apprenticeship with aviation pioneer Clément Ader, later traveling to the United States where he worked as a chauffeur. He later returned to Paris to establish a small garage selling and repairing automobiles. Years later, he became a licensed Panhard and Peugeot dealer and, by the early 1930s, he sold only Peugeots.

Wanting to offer a unique product, Darl'mat experimented with the cars he had on offer. With the help of Marcel Pourtout and Georges Paulin, a car was produced and put on display at the Salon de l'Automobile in 1927. Further collaboration between Darl'mat and Paulin, resulted in an aerodynamic body on the Peugeot 301 chassis which made its debut at the World's Fair in Chicago. Another concept on the Peugeot 302 series that made its debut years later was the Eclipse retracting roof system designed by Paulin.

Darl'mat's creativity and innovations were noticed by the Peugeot brand. By the mid-1930s, Darl'mat was given the access and resources he needed to create his own Peugeot sports car. With the help of Peugeot's director of mechanical studies, Alfred Geauque, and his longtime collaborators Paulin and Pourtout, Darl'mat created the Special Sport.

The Special Sport was built by Pourtout and sold by the Darl'Mat Peugeot dealership in Paris. The Darl'Mat prototype was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1936, and Darl'Mat roadsters participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937 and 1938. In total, 104 examples of the Special Sport Roadsters were built by Pourtout between January 1937 and June 1938. In modern times, approximately 30 examples still exist.

This particular example has had four caretakers from new. Its first owner was Dorothy Patten and Rainer von Dorndorf. Dorothy Patten purchased the car in 1938 and took it to the track with her husband-to-be, Baron Rainer von Dorndorf. The first races it participated in were in Paris and Montlhéry. It was brought to England in May of 1939 where it took part in 'The Fastest Sports Car Race' at Brooklands. The car would remain active in racing competitions until 1948. The von Dorndorfs kept the car until 1957 when it passed to Lt. R.J.B. Williams in Chatham. Lt. Williams kept the car for about three years before it was sold to its next long-term owner, Peter Rose of Brighton. Mr. Rose kept the car for 49 years, using it regularly. In 2009, it was sold to its current owner, who commissioned a complete restoration. IN 2016, the work was completed and it was shown on the Peugeot stand at the Rétromobile show in Paris.

by Dan Vaughan

Roadster
Chassis number: 400215

In the 1930s, Emile Darl'mat was the largest Peugeot dealer in Paris. After Peugeot pulled out of racing he sought to carry on the legacy, particularly at LeMans. Using the 302/402 chassis, he created his own sports car. He clothed it with an Art Deco body, coachbuilt by Marcel Pourtout, from a George Paulin design. The two-liter OHC inline-four made 70 horsepower in road trim and more in race trim. In 1938, three Special Sport Roadsters entered by Darl'mat were campaigned at the 24 Hueres du Mans and won the two-liter class. Customers got their choice of coupe, cabriolet or sport roadster bodies and just 105 were built.

During his short career, Paulin designed several significant motorcars, including the famous 'Embiricos' Bentley that raced at LeMans. He also styled a variety of sports cars fitted with retractable hardtops, and these cars, known as the Eclipse Series, really defined French cars of the Art Deco era. For 1938, an updated Peugeot 402 chassis served as the basis for a limited run of production road cars and competition models called the DS 402 Darl'mat. Three of these cars were entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 and one finished in fifth overall and won its class.

This 402 Darl'mat Special Sport Roadster is one of 53 road-going versions built. Its early history is unknown, but the car arrived in Canada in 1961 and was driven regularly until the 1970s when a restoration was begun. In 1982 it was sold as an unfinished project to a collector in California, who eventually finished the restoration in 2016.

This is one of just 30 survivors remaining.

Roadster
Chassis number: 400248
Engine number: 400243

The Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Special Sport Roadster, designed by George Paulin for coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout, is among the most beautiful prewar streamlined automobiles from the late Art Deco era. Darl'mats successfully raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937 and 1938. This car was raced in Britain and Europe for ten years by its first owner, Baroness Dorndorf, who raced under her maiden name, Dorothy Patten. In 1939, she finished 4th in the Rallye Paris to Saint-Raphael Feminin, a road rally in France exclusively for female participants. She also took part in 'The Fastest Sports Car Race' at Brooklands. In total, she drove the car over 12,000 miles in competition. After several additional owners, the roadster has recently been restored for its appearance at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elgance.

Special Coupe by Pourtout
Chassis number: 705536

This 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat is believed to be one of six coupes built on the 402-series Légère (lightweight) chassis. It wore a two-tone exterior of French beige and black, and it was given by Emile Darl'mat in late December 1938 as a Christmas present to team director Alfred Giauque. While Darl'mat believed the roadsters had the greatest competition potential, Giauque favored the coupe body style and believed them as the more capable design.

After World War II, the car was acquired by Jeanne Werotte of Paris in February 1954 who sold it four years later to fellow Parisian resident Andre Perigne. It was exported to the United States in the late 1960s or early 1970s where it joined Dr. William O'Brien's collection in Reno, Nevada. By the early 2000s, the Darl'mat was in a state of partial disassembly when it was sold to Los Angeles-based broker Raymond Milo to Kenneth Pierson, the proprietor of Heritage Auto Body Restoration in Mesa, Arizona. The current custodian acquired it in 2002 and commissioned a comprehensive restoration. Upon completion, the car was shown at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, followed by additional work performed by RM Auto Restoration. In 2007, the car was shown at the Phoenix Art Museum's acclaimed 'Curves of Steel' exhibition.

by Dan Vaughan

With a rich history of technical innovation, Peugeot's 402 cars have become some of the most respected Peugeots that France ever produced. But even more impressive than the cars themselves were the people behind the curvaceous vehicles. World War II was swinging closer when the 402 was released in 1935, and by the end of the car's production run in 1940 the world had already fallen into one of the most devastating and atrocious struggles that humanity had ever known. Key individuals involved with the development of the 402, particularly with the stunning 402 Darl'mat, were dangerously intertwined with the growing war effort. The personal difficulties faced by these few key men helped make the Peugeot 402's story transcend the realm of automotive history and become a troubling example of the long-reaching effects of war.

The most intriguing story of the 402's past was the tale surrounding the creation of the 402 Darl'mat. Automotive journalist and historian Jim Donnelly wrote a colorful and detailed history of the car in the September 2005 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car magazine. In his article, Donnelly mentions three men in particular as being responsible for the creation of the special 402. These men were Emile Darl'mat, Georges Paulin, and Marcel Pourtout.

Darl'mat, whose name made it onto a series of special Peugeot 402 models, was a renowned Peugeot dealer. Darl'mat was an avid and passionate auto enthusiast and was constantly working in the garage at his dealership to improve his own cars with careful modifications. He became well-known to a few Peugeot lovers as the man to see about high-quality improvements.

Paulin was a stylistic genius with a functional flair who had developed the first retractable hardtop (forget everything you've heard about the Ford Fairlane), which he called the Eclipse roof system. Paulin received a patent for his novel idea, which landed him in a partnership with Pourtout.

Pourtout was a French coachbuilder and longtime friend of Darl'mat. Though Pourtout was skilled, his works initially lacked the high style and creative originality that Paulin would later provide. When Pourtout needed a chassis on which to display Paulin's Eclipse roof design, Darl'mat was contacted and subsequently became involved with the development of the Peugeots to bear his name.

After the three men decided to build cars together, Peugeot would send 402 chassis to Darl'mat's garage. There, Cotal MK-25 electromechanical transmissions were mated to the 402 engines in the fashion of Darl'mat's superb modifications. The advanced transmissions were four-speeds, with no dedicated reverse gear. Instead, any gear could be used for reversing, with Cotal suggesting the selection of second gear whenever moving backward was required.

After they were finished receiving the new gearboxes, 402 chassis were sent from Darl'mat to Pourtout. At Pourtout's coachbuilding facility, hand-shaped aluminum bodies were fitted to ash wood frames that were then attached to the waiting chassis. The attractive and aerodynamic bodies were designed by Paulin and affixed to the ash frames simply by nails. Production of the 402 Darl'mat cars lasted from 1937 to 1938, with 106 produced.

Though Paulin's greatest accomplishments were in the area of design, he was actually trained as a dentist. His dentistry skills had little to do with his aesthetic genius, but they did help him land a job as a French spy working under Charles de Gaulle at the outset of World War II. Fearlessly, Paulin made detailed drawings of German equipment and bases. He passed these German secrets on to a posing dental patient who was actually a French railroad worker. His skills as a dentist, designer, and patriot all helped him successfully deliver important information to France. If espionage seems an unlikely livelihood for a gifted designer, consider the men with whom Paulin worked. Joseph Figoni and Jacques Kellner, both highly skilled coachbuilders, were essential spies that dealt closely with Paulin.

It became known that Paulin and his co-spies were on the verge of being discovered, and Paulin was offered the chance to be quickly removed to safety by the British. The man whom Paulin and the rest were working for was a double agent who had been supplying information to French Vichys and German Nazis. Paulin knew that if he left, Kellner and Figoni would be caught and killed. Paulin bravely remained in France, where he was soon arrested by Vichy mercenaries along with Figoni and Kellner. In 1942, Kellner and the Paulin were shot and killed by a firing squad. Only Figoni managed to survive, thanks to a Gestapo officer who had been on the Mercedes-Benz racing team recognizing him.

Paulin's was a devastating loss to France and to the world of automotive design. Though Pourtout would resume production after the war, he was never as successful as he had been with the skilled Paulin working by his side. Darl'mat continued the postwar operation of his garage, but never ventured into auto production again after Paulin's tragic death. The last car produced by Darl'mat, in 1939, was designed by Paulin.

The cars of the 402 series earned the nickname 'Sochaux rockets.' Peugeot's primary assembly plant was located in Sochaux, and the aerodynamic streamliners had an advanced, rocket-like look to their bodies that garnered respect and praise. Many different models were built on the 402 chassis. There were 4-doors, 2-doors, cabriolets, roadsters, and the important retractable hardtop models with Paulin-designed Eclipse tops. The first of the 402 models were powered by a 1,991cc four with an overhead cam that produced about 70hp, a respectable figure for such a small engine in the 1930's. Later models, using the 402B designation, were fitted with 2,142cc mills. Peugeot's business was going well during the time of the 402, with annual production reaching 50,000 units by 1938. In June of that same year, a 402 Darl'mat took first place in the 1,500cc to 2,000cc class at Le Mans.

All 402 bodies were carefully streamlined. On models with the Eclipse retractable hardtop, the roof lowered as a single, unbroken piece into a tapered trunk area. Top up or down, even the Eclipse-equipped vehicles looked distinctively aerodynamic. Though the 402 Darl'mat bodies had headlights mounted low and flanking the grille, other 402 models had headlights mounted within the grille. This gave the cars a unique look and provided the wind with one less obstacle as it flowed seamlessly over the slippery bodies. The 402 Andreau, designed by Jean Andreau, had the most radical styling of the closed, 4-door 402 bodies. The Andreau had a split rear window with an enormous dorsal fin running between the glass.

The 402 and its advanced forms bettered Peugeot's prewar image as a fine automaker. Mechanically the 402 chassis was not particularly impressive, but the voluptuous sheathings fitted over those chassis were remarkable. The team of Paulin, Pourtout, and Darl'mat was gifted at producing its own version the 402 and had Paulin not fallen to the terrors of an apocalyptic war the history of French design surely would have grown even more intriguing.

Sources:

Donnelly, Jim. 'Of Paulin, Pourtout, and Peugeot.' Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car Sep 2005: 22-29. Print.

'1936 Peugeot 402 Andreau.' Serious Wheels Web.7 Aug 2009. http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-1936-Peugeot-402-Andreau.htm.

'Peugeot 402.' Phil Seed's Virtual Car Museum Web.7 Aug 2009. http://www.philseed.com/peugeot402.html.

'Peugeot History.' Peugeot Fans Club Web.7 Aug 2009. http://peugeot.mainspot.net/hist12.shtml.

by Evan Acuña