Lot 470: 1929 Delage DMN Faux Cabriolet
Coachwork by Figoni

“Delage have to their credit many world’s records, including a world’s championship, and more awards at the principal Concours d’Elegance than any other car in the world… To these achievements Delage have added a third and greater. They have made the highest known degree of luxury and performance available at the price the average motorist can pay.”

Delage’s publicity had every right to sing the praises of what, arguably, was the finest French car of its day. Founded in Levallois, France in 1905 by Louis Delage, the company commenced production with a single-cylinder Dion-engined runabout and within a few years was offering multi-cylinder designs. The publicity value of racing was recognized right from the start, a single-cylinder Delage winning the Coupe Des Voiturettes as early as 1908 and Louis himself taking the 1911 Coupe de l’Auto in a 3-litre four-cylinder. Victories at the Grand Prix du Mans and the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race were achieved prior to WWI, the company going on to become a major force in Grand Prix racing in the 1920s and setting a new World Land Speed Record mark in 1924 with a 10.7-litre overhead-valve V12.

Four-cylinder DI and six-cylinder DM cars formed the mainstay of touring car production in the 1920s, and then at the 1929 Paris Salon Delage launched the D8 model, a magnificent 4.0-liter straight eight destined to attract the creative attention of Europe’s finest coachbuilders: Figoni (et Falaschi), Henri Chapron and Fernandes et Darrin to name but three.

Last of the six-cylinder Delages, the DM series concluded with the DMN, that was produced from January 1929 for twelve months, during which time 897 examples were built. The bottom end of the engine was refined and a lighter flywheel and clutch assembly incorporated, while the cylinder head employed the larger valves of the D8. Many Delages featured exquisite custom coachwork and this is one such car. Figoni records show that this car came out of the Boulogne-sur-Seine workshops in December of 1929 and was delivered to a Smith’s Garage in London, England where the first owner of record was a Belgium diplomat by the name of M.O. Wetter. The car’s subsequent ownership is unknown until it was purchased in the 1960s and restored in England by a Sir Peter Graham, who owned it for many years. In 1993 the car was purchased by a Belgian collector who had assembled an important collection of vintage Delages for his private museum. Its restoration updated, the car was toured extensively throughout Europe as well as being kept on private museum display.

Powered by Delage’s 3,818 cc overhead-valve straight six, this is a beautiful car of superb design in good running and driving order. The Figoni designed and constructed Faux Cabriolet coachwork is exceptional, its low roof, front cycle fenders and long wheelbase endowing the car an imposing presence. It is a motorcar well suited for touring and following some cosmetic freshening, will make a fabulous concours participant. Offered with Certificate of Title.