1934 Delage D8S Roadster

The slogan "Delage, the beautiful French car" perfectly encapsulates the elegance and refinement of the marque. The Delage D8, introduced at the 1929 Motor Show, was a prime example of this beauty and engineering excellence. It featured a 4-litre straight-eight overhead cam engine, setting a new standard for luxury touring cars.

In 1933, Delage expanded the range with the D8 S, a high-performance variant that remains the most iconic Delage touring car ever built.

A Rare and Advanced Chassis

This particular D8 S chassis—one of just 99 examples built—featured several advanced engineering enhancements, including:

• Increased power
• Semi-desmodromic valve controls
• An oil sump cooled by ventilation tubes
• Lowered suspension

This chassis, number 39432, was the penultimate D8 S chassis to leave the factory. It was paired with engine number 144 and left the factory in 1934, where it was bodied by the renowned Chapron coachbuilder.

Early Ownership and Modifications

The car changed hands on July 7, 1941, and was subsequently registered in Gironde, France. On December 6, 1954, it was acquired by a local mechanic. At some point, its bodywork was modified to accommodate a towing crane, as confirmed by an old registration document.

In June 1968, the well-known dealer Lucien Mette purchased the car. Shortly after, he sold it to a collector from La Rochelle, who later gifted it to his daughter and son-in-law in 1982 as a wedding present.

Restoration and Rebirth

By 1985, work began to restore the car. The following year, its chassis was exhibited at Retromobile, but the original bodywork was too deteriorated to be salvaged. However, several key components—such as the bonnet, radiator, lights, bulkhead, dashboard, running boards, and original hubcaps—were preserved.

After a 14-year search for an original body, the owners decided to commission Dominique Tessier, a highly skilled coachbuilder, to craft a 2-door, 4-seater roadster body using original Delage factory plans. Historical records suggest that at least one example of this design participated in the Paris-St Raphaël rally in 1932.

By 2003, after more than 2,500 hours of meticulous craftsmanship, the car was finally completed—an exceptional work of automotive artistry.

An Exquisite Masterpiece

This Delage D8 S is a true sculpture on wheels, featuring:

• An ash frame clad in hand-formed aluminium bodywork
• Flawless two-tone blue paintwork, with darker fenders accentuating the elegant lines
• Full-grain beige leather upholstery of the highest quality

Behind the wheel, the car delivers a smooth and powerful driving experience, with the rich, resonant sound of its 8-cylinder engine.

Even 20 years after its restoration, the car remains in exceptional condition, a testament to the quality of craftsmanship. This Delage D8 S is not only one of the most stunning pre-war designs, but also built on one of the finest chassis ever produced by the marque.