Wheels Australia — August 2016

@wheelsa 161

Nextissue

Ford Thunderbird

Don t ask Y

Delâge’s Y-Type racer is a

legend: the same example

won the1913FrenchGPand

the 1914 Indianapolis 500,

beating Peugeot

The Aérosport body was

styled by Marcel Letourneur,

son of the coachbuilding

firm’s founder and fascinated

by aerodynamics

In detail

COURTESY OF RM AUCTIONS

Delâge’s eight cylinders were

serious kit; French racing hero

Robert Benoist won four of the five

grands prix to sweep the 1927 world

manufacturers’ championship

Effortless torque

Delâge’s pushrod-ohv, in-line
eight-cylinder engine displaced
4744cc in D8-120 guise (following a
4.3-litre D8-100). The 4.7 produced
86kW at 4200rpm and 245Nm at
2000rpm, driving through a Cotal
four-speed electric pre-selector
gearbox. Despite kerb weight
typically nudging 1700kg, the
torquey D8 was praised for its
effortless touring and ability to
reach almost 100mph.

Don’taskY Ea y aero

PH

O

TOS

BY

SH

OO

TERZ,

C

GP fam

ot wood

here were few more elegant places

be in post-WW2 Europe than the

ckpit of a Delâge D8-120. This car

derwent a complete restoration

the early 2000s, restoring the

ginal timber, interior brightwork

d Jaeger instrumentation,

licating the fabric and leather

holstery, and restoring the

ught-after Delâge steering wheel,

hich features leaf-sprung spokes

absorb vibration.

Th

to

in

wh

to

Spring has sprung

The D8-120’s Delahaye-derived
chassis, adopted in 1936, was no
penalty; it was quite advanced with
its independent front suspension
by transverse leaf-spring with
trailing arms, and conventional
leaf-spring, live-axle rear. Brakes
are by four hydraulic drums. This
example’s steel Aérosport coupe
body is over a timber frame, sitting
on a 3378mm wheelbase.