1937 Delage D8 120

Louis Delage was born in 1874 in Cognac, south of France. His family had a modest income which allowed him to attend and graduate from the Ecole des Arts et Metiers in Angers in 1893. He then moved to Paris and began working with the Turgan-Foy company. Later he accepted a position with Peugeot. He left soon after to start his own company. Louis Delage began designing and building cars in 1905 with Augustin Legros as his chief engineer. Legros had left Peugeot with Delage and stayed with the company until 1935. The company focused on building cars that were of high quality and reliability. Their first cars were produced in 1906 and were called the Type A and B. The cars were powered by a single-cylinder de Dion engine producing about 6-7 horsepower.

Louis Delage was a very ambitious man who had a passion for racing and a competitive edge that led him to produce some of the greatest sports cars of the era. In 1906, he participated in the Coupe des Voiturettes and was awarded a second-place finish. This accomplished fueled sales. In 1908 he had three cars enter in the Coupe des Voiturettes race where they achieved a first-place victory.

In 1909, Delage moved away from the de Dion engines and began using their own 4-cylinder engine. However, some of the models they produced did use engines produced by the famous engine supplier, Ballot. During the 1920s, the company's mainstay of touring car production revolved around its four-cylinder DI and six-cylinder DM models.

Delage was not immune to the Great Depression and suffered during the economic downturn of the early 1930s. In 1935, the company was taken over, and although Louis Delage remained on the board of the new company, from then onwards, Delages would be built to Delahaye designs. The sole survivor of the existing Delage range was the Arthur Louis Michelat-designed six-cylinder D6-60 engine which continued to be produced until 1953.

The final pre-war model by Delage was the D8 120 fitted with a 4.7-liter straight eight based on the six-cylinder Delahaye 135 engine.

The Delage D8

At the 1929 Paris Salon, Delage launched the Maurice Gaultier-designed D8 featuring a 4.0-liter overhead-valve straight eight installed in an X-braced chassis with servo-assisted brakes at all four corners. The generous proportions, sophisticated engine, and modern mechanical componentry would attract Europe's finest coachbuilders, including Letourneur et Marchand, Vanden Plas, Saoutchik, Labourdette, Freestone & Webb, Barker, Pourtout, Fernandez & Darrin, Chapron, and Figoni. For clientele seeking a more modest mode of transportation, Delage's portfolio included the 14hp DS and 17hp D6 six-cylinder models - the latter was essentially a D8 with two fewer cylinders.

The 'D8 Normale' was offered in three wheelbase sizes of 124.7-, 136.6-, and 160.1 inches. The 'D8 S' rested on a short-wheelbase chassis and received a higher specification engine. The suspension used a traditional setup of rigid axles and semi-elliptic leaf springs with 'friction dampers.'

The straight-8 engine displaced 4,061cc and featured an overhead centrally positioned camshaft with an output of 102 horsepower at 3,500 RPM or 120 hp in 'D8 S' configuration. The engine was paired with a four-speed manual gearbox with synchromesh on the upper two ratios.

More Affordable Options

During the height of the Great Depression, Delage introduced a model dubbed the 'D8-15' with a smaller 8-cylinder engine. This model was intended to boost sales to quantities similar to those of Citroën and other volume automakers. With a displacement size of 2,668cc, the '-15' suffix in the model name represented the 15 CV car tax band in which the smaller engine placed the car. Like the more powerful (23CV) version, the D8-15 was available in 'Normale' and 'S' specifications.

The Delage D8-15 was produced in 1933 and 1934.

With the D8-15 leaving the lineup, Delage quickly introduced two new versions of the D8-85 and the D8-105. This time, the suffix in the model name represented the engine's output. The 3,570cc engine powering the D8-85 produced 85 horsepower at 4,000 RPM, and the 3,570cc version in the D8-105 was tuned to deliver 105 horsepower. Like the 'S' specification of its forebearers, the more potent D8-105 version rested on a shortened 129.8-inch wheelbase chassis. The D8-85 was offered in 133 and 140.9-inch sizes.

The demise of the D8-85 and D8-105 coincided with the closure of the Delage plant at Courbevoie.

Delahaye Ownership

The first Delage D8 model produced at the Delahaye Paris plant under the new arrangements was the D8-100. Its eight-cylinder engine displaced 4,302cc and produced a fiscal horsepower rating of 25 CV (approximately 90 horsepower). By 1937, output had risen to 105 hp at 3,500 RPM, and a Cotal pre-selector transmission was now standard (previously an option). Wheelbase sizes included a 143 and 132-inch option.

The Delage D8 120

The Delage D8 120 was introduced shortly after Delahaye acquired the Delage company. It received numerous Delahaye components and its new D8 chassis was a low-slung boxed-steel frame with an 11-foot wheelbase. The new aluminum eight-cylinder engine was a 4.7-litre straight eight based on the six-cylinder Delahaye 135 engine (essentially a D8-100 with a 4mm increase in its bore diameter). The engine was concealed under a long hood that spanned the distance between the radiator and the cowl.

The engine was mounted upon a sturdy frame with advanced front suspension incorporating a transverse leaf spring. The Cotal electromagnetic transmission which, after first gear, can be shifted without depressing the clutch. The transmission and suspension design were both influenced by Delage's parent company, Delahaye.

The D8-120S, with the 'S' representing surbaisse or low-slung featured a lowered chassis, larger wheels, and a more aggressive and better-handling suspension.

With a chassis price of 105,800 francs, the Delage D8 120 was approximately 60 percent above that of the Delahaye. Also of note is that the D8 engine was used by the French in their Hotchkiss H39 fast-reconnaissance light tank.

by Dan Vaughan

Aerosport Coupe
Chassis number: 50789
Engine number: 812041

In 1936, the Delage D8-120 was introduced. It was given a modified Delahaye chassis and featured an advanced independent suspension in the front with a transverse leaf spring. Power was basically a Delahaye 135M six-cylinder unit, with the addition of two cylinders. The resulting displacement was 4.3-liters and horsepower was rated at 95. It would quickly grow in size and in power output to 4744cc and 115 horsepower. The D8-120 weighed approximately 3,700 pounds, meaning its eight-cylinder engine provided enough power and torque to propel it to speeds approaching 95 miles per hour. Many of Europe's leading coachbuilders were tasked with building designs atop the chassis. The shortlist of artisans includes Saoutchik, Chapron, Portout, and Letourner et Marchand being the most notable among them.

Letourner et Marchand built the elegant Aérosport coupes which have been considered by many to be the most attractive of these creations. It is believed that fewer than twenty were created, likely fourteen, built in two styles - the sporty fastback, and the elegant notchback coupe, referred to as Style 5677.

Marcel Letourner was the individual responsible for creating the design of the Aerosport bodies and is considered to be one of the greatest French designers of the 1930s. The coupes had long hoods, flowing fenders, and a unique pillarless design.

Production of the D8-120 lasted from 1936 through 1939. The D8-120 created such a sensation that it was invited to join the French government's automotive display at the 1939 New York World's Fair.

This example is chassis number 50789. It is believed to be the sole surviving example of approximately ten cars that were originally built with the notchback coupe body. The early history is mostly unknown. What is known is that it was sold new in France. Following World War II, it went to Australia where, after time, it fell into a state of disrepair - although complete. It had been involved in a front-end accident, and its fenders were replaced with incorrect ones from another car.

Richard Scott of Sidney, Ohio, discovered and purchased the car. It was shipped to the United States and treated to a restoration in preparation for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It was entered in the 2006 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours, where it earned a Second Place Award for European Classic 1925-1939 Closed automobiles.

In 2009, this very rare and elegant car was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Arizona auction presented by RM Auctions. The lot was estimated to sell for 1,000,000 - $1,500,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $825,000 including the buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Aero Coupe by Pourtout
Chassis number: 51620

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.

Deltasport Cabriolet by Henri Chapron
Chassis number: 51629
Engine number: 5454

In 1906, Louis Delage constructed his first voiturette and by 1908, his light cars were winning races. By 1914, the vehicle had adopted such advanced technology as twin-overhead camshaft engines and four-wheel brakes.

By the early 1920s, Delage was producing elegant automobiles for wealthy clientele. The success of the Delage Company was due, in part, to the race cars that had swept the French Grand Prix in 1914 and won at Indianapolis the same year. Delage would also win the World Grand Prix Championship in 1927 with their 1.5-liter Grand Prix car.

As the 1930s came into view, automakers worldwide - especially in the luxury car segment - were crippled by the Great Depression. Delage was forced out of his own firm. The D8 was the last series bearing his name produced after the company's merger with Delahaye. The D8-120 was the last of that line, appearing in 1937.

It is believed that around 1,200 Delage automobiles exist in modern times, with just 58 of those being the D8-120s.

Chassis number 51629

This example was sold new to the Argentine businessman Fritz Mandl. It wears two-door Deltasport four-seat aluminum coachwork by Carrosserie Henri Chapron of Paris. Power is from a straight-eight Delage-derived engine that delivers 140 horsepower through a Cotal electromagnetic four-speed transmission.

When Mr. Mandl and his wife divorced in 1937, his wife Hedwig 'Hedy' moved to the United States. There she caught the attention of movie executives in Los Angeles and soon rose to stardom as actress Hedy Lamarr. Mandl remained in Argentina. It is believed the next owner of the Delage was G. Sesa and was later acquired by Hector Alberto Podesta Lando, a Buenos Aires collector and broker.

Podesta gave the car cosmetic attention and the bodywork was re-sprayed cream with contrasting dark green fenders, wheels, and spare wheel cover.

Manny and George Dragone of Dragone Classic Motorscars in Westport, Connecticut - along with their West Coast partner, B. Paul 'Ben' Moser - arranged to purchase the car from Podesta in early 1990. Ownership later passed to Alfredo Brener of Houston, Texas. Though Mr. Brener planned to undertake a restoration, the car was put on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1990 (the car was not judged).

The car was on display at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, California from early February through late September of 1991. On its return, a restoration began.

In the mid-1990s, Brener traded the Delage back to Dragone; it then came into the care of the current owner. Since that time, it has continued to receive mechanical work and re-freshening as needed. It has a new black top and a period-correct black with a green body,

by Dan Vaughan

Drop Head Coupe by Henri Chapron
Chassis number: 51624
Engine number: 51624

This Delage D8 120 wears cabriolet coachwork by one of France's most prolific custom coachbuilders of the era, Henri Chapron. It was delivered on September 7, 1937, just prior to the Paris Salon de l'Automobile held at the Grand Palais in October. The car's original owner is believed to have been a prominent French actress of the era (although the identity is unknown). It is known to have worn the British registration ELM 508, which is a prewar London registration, so it is also possible that the first owner was in fact, in the UK.

After World War II, the car was in the care of British ownership where it remained until the 1960s, at which time it was exported to the United States. It remained in the care of two separate owners in the US (Robert Muelke and Mark Gibbons) before returning to Europe in the 1980s (by Herve Ogliastro). It was in a French Collection and treated to a comprehensive restoration by the French firm Carrosserie Lecoq.

When the restoration was completed, this Delage wore its present blue-green exterior with tan leather interior. It was exhibited at the 1992 Louis Vuitton Classic at Bagatelle, winning the Prix special du Jury.

In 2006, it was acquired by John O'Quinn of Houston, Texas. In 2010, it was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company Auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona. It was estimated to sell for $550,000 - $650,000. As bidding came to a close, the lot was sold to the Academy of Art University for the sum of $605,000, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

This Delage D8 120 currently displays 5,331 kilometers.

by Dan Vaughan

Aerosport Coupe

Delage was at its best in the late 1920s and early 1930 producing elegant automobiles for a wealthy clientele. Its success stemmed in part from the fact that the marque's 1.5-liter car won the Grand Prix Championship in 1927. By 1935 automakers worldwide, especially in the luxury segment, were crippled by the Great Depression. Delage introduced the D8, which was the last series bearing the Delage name, just after the company's merger with Delahaye. The D8-120 was the last of that line, appearing in 1937. It has a straight-8, Delage-derived engine that delivers 140 horsepower through a Cotal pre-selector, electromagnetic transmission.

One of the most stylish and elegant pre-war coupes built is this 1937 Delage D8 120SS two-door Aerodynamic Coupe by Letourneur et Marchand, resplendent in black livery with chrome wire wheels. This exceptional one-off short chassis coupe was ordered for a European prince and is the only known short chassis 8.120. Immediately after World War II, it was part of the famous Gerry Albertini collection in London and was then acquired by the Blackhawk Collection. This unique car has just had a complete mechanical and body rebuild by the well-known RM Restorations and is in total Concours condition. The coachwork has exotic flowing lines with each wing highlighted by chrome strips and a wide chrome bodyline from the front radiator to the rear wing. The large diameter chromed exhaust manifold projects through the bonnet and exits as two exhausts at the base of the large single-ribbed boot cover.

Aero Coupe by Pourtout
Chassis number: 51620

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.

Aerosport Coupe

In the late 1930s, Letourneur et Marchand of Paris built a series of aerodynamic 'coaches profiles' that pushed the typically French pillarless style to its aesthetic limits. The Delage Company was unable to weather the economic storm of the early 1930s, and its demise in 1935 led to the amalgamation of Delahaye and Delage in 1936. The new company brought out the first D8-120 with two cylinders added to the Delahaye 135MS straight-6 engine, bringing the capacity to 4.3-liters. Most of the D8-120s were built on a longer chassis and were very stylish for the period and were owned by the rich and glamorous.

This is one of ten Aerosport coupes built by Letourneur & Marchand on the eight-cylinder Delage chassis. Though all were slightly different, they shared pillar-less styling and Vue Panoramic windows for greater visibility. Discovered in a barn in France during the early 1990s, this Delage received a meticulous restoration and is painted in its original colors.

by Peterson Museum

Roadster by deVillars
Chassis number: 51626

This D8-120 was built by the coachbuilding firm of de Villars. It is a flamboyant design that reflects both the industrialization of Europe as well as the Art Deco era.

The de Villars Company was created by Jay Gould, a noted railroad billionaire. Roland de Gaffenreid de Villars was Gould's son-in-law and Gould created the firm to prevent any dalliances by de Villars. The company became well known for the extraordinary quality of its design as well as the execution of the final product.

The D8-120 was introduced in Paris in October 1938. Contemporary reports state that it was greeted with 'frantic acclaim' and became 'the queen of international Concours d'Elegance.'

This car is powered by a 4.5-liter straight-eight engine and it is shifted by a Cotal electromagnetic transmission which, after first gear, can be shifted without depressing the clutch. The transmission and suspension design were both influenced by Delage's parent company, Delahaye which had purchased the company when it experienced some financial difficulties. Although Louis Delage was kept on under the new ownership, he was soon dismissed with a small pension. He would then spend his last years traveling by bicycle, as he could not afford a car.

Also of note is that the D8 engine was used by the French in their Hotchkiss H39 fast-reconnaissance light tank.

This Delage won Best of Show at the 1996 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and Best of Show at the Hampton Court Palace Concours d'Elegance in 2022. In 2023, it was awarded the Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award.

Deltasport Cabriolet by Henri Chapron
Chassis number: 51629
Engine number: 5454

Delage was a graduate engineer and a former chief draftsman and tester for Peugeot. When he created his namesake company in 1905, he strictly enforced two codes for building automobiles: they must be of the highest-quality engineering and they must exude beauty and art. Under his rule for the next thirty years, Louis Delage's wonderful machines exceeded these expectations.

This example was sold new to Argentine businessman Fritz Mandl. He and his wife divorced in 1937. His wife Hedwig moved to the United States where she caught the attention of movie executives in Hollywood rising to stardom . . . as actress Hedy Lamar. This chassis wears four-seat aluminum Delta Sport coachwork by Carrosserie Henri Chapron of Paris. Power is supplied by a 140hp in-line eight-cylinder engine that is shifted via a Cotal 4-speed electromagnetic transmission.

Three Position Drophead Coupé by Henri Chapron
Chassis number: 50790

This 1937 Delage D8 120 wears Three Position Drophead Coupé coachwork created by Henri Chapron. It is powered by a 4,743cc overhead valve inline eight-cylinder engine with a single dual choke Stromberg carburetor and is paired with a four-speed Cotal Pre-Selector manual transmission.

This Delage was delivered new to Belgium and imported into the UK in 1953. It was once owned by Eleazer Ambrose Evans of London, who later sold it to Edgar Hopkins of Twickenham, Middlesex, in 1959. At that time, the car was two-tone grey over black.

In 1962, the engine was completely overhauled by Crank-Bears of Mortlake. Although the engine was rebuilt, it was not reinstalled into the engine bay. The Delage remained partially dismantled, surviving many address changes until the family decided to sell it. By this point, Mr. Hopkins had passed away, and the Delage remained in pieces. Peter Jacobs was the president of the Delage Club UK and agreed to retrieve and reassemble the vehicle. With the car put back together, Mr. Hopkins' widow sold the car in 2006. The current caretaker purchased the car in 2014.

Between 2015 and 2017, the Delage was given a complete restoration. It now wears a Smokey Blue exterior with a cream leather interior.

by Dan Vaughan

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 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 victoriously. 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 an 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 Delahaye 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 economic disparity of the time begged Delage to move down market, the company refused and continued to produce its 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-wheelbase 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 Dan Vaughan