Beschreibung:

1937 DELAGE D8-120 AEROSPORT COUPÉ COACHWORK BY LETOURNEUR ET MARCHAND Chassis No. 51018 Engine No. 51018 Bronze with burgundy leather upholstery Engine: eight cylinder, in-line, two overhead valves per cylinder, 4,300cc, 90bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: four-speed Cotal electro-magnetic; Suspension: front, independent with underslung transverse semi-elliptic leaf springs and wishbones, rear, half-elliptic springs and hydraulic shock absorbers; Brakes: four wheel drum. Right hand drive. Louis Delage was a man of style and exuberance and his long low eight-cylinder cars of impeccable performance reflected the image of their creator. The early four cylinder D1s were the company's mainstay in the early 1920s, followed by those jewel-like engineered eight cylinder Supercharged 1½-litre Grand Prix cars that gave Robert Benoist five Grand Prix victories in 1927 and were still winning Voiturette races with Dick Seaman in 1936. The D8 series eight cylinder engine developed by Maurice Gaultier became the best engine of all Delage models. It helped the company achieve its world renown during the 1930s. Naturally, the cars were bodied by the very best of Europe's coachbuilders. The D8 was a glamorous car with its very imposing radiator that had similarities to Hispano Suiza. It was fast and had impeccable road holding. It was most suited to high speed long distance touring that favored the affluent customers who dictated that Delage was the status symbol of success. Although the Delage D8 Series became one of the most desired high performance cars in Europe, they were expensive. Louis Delage was reluctant to change this image to suit the varying economic climate and after a fall-out with his co-directors, he left the company in 1935. Shortly afterwards the firm merged with their rival competitors, Delahaye. They retained the individuality, but became more selective with their range, and a new Delage D8 120 was introduced in 1937 incorporating hydraulic brakes, a revised Delahaye style chassis with transverse leaf independent front suspension and a Cotal electro-magnetic gearbox. The engine was an eight-cylinder version of the existing six-cylinder Delahaye with a capacity of 4.3 litres providing a healthy 95bhp at 4,000 rpm in its initial form. In April 1938 The Autocar tested a D8-120 (4.3 litre drophead coupe) and attained nearly 98mph, confirming that with improved aerodynamics and/or slightly larger engines, these vehicles were capable of speeds exceeding 100mph. Starting in 1937 the D8-100 and D8-120 received several beautifully proportioned bodies by Chapron, Pourtout and Letourneur et Marchand. At about this time many major European motor manufacturers were experimenting with streamlining, primarily to showcase the company image and sell expensive vehicles. Not surprisingly some of these vehicles were used for competition, and examples such as the Embiricos (Van Vooren) Bentley and the Louis Gerard (Figoni) Delage proved very fast and successful on circuits such as Le Mans. Undoubtedly, the star of the D8-120 range was the stunning Aerosport, which was largely the work of the brilliant young son of Letourneur, Marcel. He joined his father's company in 1928, following his training in England, and was responsible for many beautiful designs for Bugatti, Hispano-Suiza, Minerva, Voisin and of course Delage. Several journalists rank Marcel Letourneur, alongside Jean Bugatti as one of the finest young French body designers from the 1930s. The Coach Aerosport was met with huge international acclaim, and although it first appeared during the 1936-7 model year, this design was chosen to represent part of the French Government's automotive display at the 1939 World Fair at Flushing Meadows, New York. A contempory advertisement by University Motors in 1938 commented, The big new Delage D8-120 is a most exciting car. It looks magnificent and it runs like a cheetah...The bodywork is the last word in aerodynamic elegance and the engine sweeps yo