Chassis 38236

• British-market Delage D8 ‘SS’ with elegant Fernandez et Darrin cabriolet coachwork
• Extensive newly uncovered history, including period photographs, correspondence, and family records
• Discovered and subsequently restored by Delage authority Tony Newell
• Retains a large degree of originality
• An exciting opportunity for driving enjoyment or returning to its original splendor

Among the great French automobiles of the Classic Era, few names command greater admiration than Delage. Renowned for combining refined engineering with elegant coachwork, Delage reached its zenith during the early 1930s with the magnificent D8. Built around a smooth and sophisticated inline-eight, the D8 became the preferred canvas for Europe's leading coachbuilders, who clothed its chassis in some of the most graceful bodies of the period. British-market D8 "SS" examples, prepared through London importer J. Smith & Co., represented an especially exclusive and sporting variation of the model and today rank among the most desirable of all Delages.

Of the many distinguished coachbuilders associated with Delage, few possessed the flair of Fernandez et Darrin. Founded by Howard "Dick" Fernandez and Thomas Hibbard's former partner Jacques Darrin before the latter established his own separate firm, Fernandez et Darrin became known for clean proportions, restrained ornamentation, and bodies that perfectly balanced elegance with sporting character. Their work on the D8 remains among the finest expressions of French coachbuilding during the period.

Offered here, chassis 38236 is one of the firm's most charismatic creations. Delivered as a right-hand-drive British-market car, it was clothed by Fernandez et Darrin with an elegant close-coupled cabriolet body originally finished in deep cream with French Blue accents over light blue upholstery. Early history associates the Delage with the household of celebrated conductor Sir Thomas Beecham and Lady Humby Beecham before it passed into the ownership of British enthusiast Roy Armstrong-Wilson in 1952. Armstrong-Wilson would later immortalize the Delage in an aptly titled memoir, Car of a Lifetime, recalling its effortless performance, remarkable refinement, and striking presence while describing it as "magnificent and unforgettable." Period family photographs from this ownership provide an invaluable record of the Delage in its original configuration, preserving details of the Fernandez et Darrin coachwork that were long thought lost.

Following Armstrong-Wilson's ownership, the Delage gradually disappeared from view. By the 1960s it had fallen into severe disrepair, eventually finding its way into a scrapyard before being acquired by Len Richards, who began using it as a source of spare parts for another Delage. By the time A.G. "Tony" Newell discovered the car, it had been stripped of its lamps, front wings, gearbox, cylinder head, seats, and much of its instrumentation. Most enthusiasts would have regarded the remains as beyond saving.

Tony Newell, however, saw something different. Recognizing the importance of preserving an original Fernandez et Darrin-bodied Delage, he acquired the remains and embarked on a painstaking reconstruction that would span years. Crucially, the Delage retained its original engine block, numbered 119, while a cylinder head sourced from engine no. 92 was fitted during the restoration. The surviving Fernandez et Darrin original coachwork—including the bonnet, scuttle, doors, and rear bodywork—was carefully preserved, while missing components, such as the front wings, were fabricated where necessary. Newell himself later acknowledged that period reference material was scarce and regretted not having sufficient documentation to reproduce certain details exactly, particularly the original front wing treatment. That honesty, combined with the remarkable photographic record that has since emerged, provides an unusually transparent account of the car's restoration.

Following Newell's stewardship, the Delage passed through distinguished European and American collections, including ownership by Raymond Jolivet in France before ultimately joining the collection of noted enthusiast Otis Chandler. Acquired by its most recent owner in 2005, the car has spent the past two decades in long-term private ownership and has rarely been seen publicly.

Perhaps most significantly, recent research has transformed the known history of chassis 38236. Period photographs, correspondence, personal recollections, and Delage Registry records graciously shared by the Armstrong-Wilson family have substantially expanded the car's documented provenance, reconnecting its elegant early life with its extraordinary story of survival and rescue. Together, these materials establish one of the most complete historical records known for a Fernandez et Darrin-bodied Delage of this era.

As offered today, chassis 38236 presents an exciting opportunity for the next custodian. The car is an enjoyable and sporting Delage to drive as it stands, while the wealth of newly uncovered documentation—including period photographs and firsthand accounts—provides an exceptional roadmap for anyone wishing to restore the Delage to its original splendor. Whether enjoyed on tours and rallies or thoughtfully refined over time, this is a charismatic prewar French sporting automobile with a remarkably well-documented history and tremendous potential.

Offers welcome and trades considered.

$525,000

Stock number 7876