1937 Delage D8 120 Three Position Drophead Coupé Coachwork by Hen

1937 Delage D8 120 Three Position Drophead Coupé Coachwork by Henri Chapron

Along with many other manufacturers of quality cars, Delage was badly affected by the economic downturn of the early 1930s, and in 1935 was taken over by Delahaye. Louis Delage remained on the board of the new company, but from then onwards Delages would be built to Delahaye designs. The Arthur Louis Michelat-designed six-cylinder D6-60 engine was the sole survivor of the existing Delage range, and would continue to be produced until 1953. Delage's last pre-war model was the D8 120, which was powered by a 4.7-litre straight eight based on the six-cylinder Delahaye 135 engine. With a chassis price of 105,800 francs, some 60% above that of the Delahaye, this last of the D8 line was a very expensive car. Not surprisingly, it attracted the attention of Europe's foremost coachbuilders, who produced some of the most elegant designs of the period on the D8 120 chassis, this drophead coupé by the influential Parisian carrossier, Henri Chapron, being one such.

Chassis number '50790' was delivered new to Belgium and imported into the UK in 1953.

Descriptions & pictures by conceptcarz & bonhams & flickr