Delage Type CO coupé-chauffeur
French title Engine n° 788 - Classic, elegant body - Prestigious model - Superb presentation At the start of the century, Delage was a sporting marque, producing record-breaking models and competition cars. These cars left the workshop with a mechanical sophistication that earned the manufacturer great success. Delage even competed in the US, achieving victory in 1914 in the famous Indianapolis Grand Prix. The touring cars benefitted from the technical advancement of these competition cars, but the marque also made it a point of honour to respond to the wishes of their wealthy clients who required a high level of comfort. With these clients in mind, Delage designed the Type CO, whose development was interrupted, however, by the First World War. Consequently, the model was initially launched as a military vehicle, before coming to fruition after the Armistice. With a 4.5-litre six-cylinder engine, the Delage CO was ideal for the grandest of coachwork, the coupé-chauffeur being the perfect example. An evolution of the horse-drawn carriage, the passengers sat in a closed rear section, while the open part at the front was reserved for the driver. The body of the Delage Type CO was designed by Boulogne et Fils. During the 1960s, this elegant car belonged to Jacques Rousseau, renowned historian and author of a book on the marque. Turning his hand to the chassis, the engine and the front part of the body, he set about configuring the car to its original specification using a drawing by the coachbuilder. He finished this delicate operation in 1967, having revived the body to its former glory. Moreover the car had a rebuilt engine. At this point, through an intermediary dealer from Lyon, this beautiful Delage passed into the hands of José Lesu, a knowledgeable collector living in Hardelot. He perfected the restoration, by adding rear compasses and beaded edge tyres. At the same time the car underwent a thorough mechanical service. A short while later, this coupé-chauffeur renewed its links with the Delage family, specifically Patrick Delage, who used the car for several years. He has a particular memory, told not without humour, of a trip he made in Normandy. The mayor of the village he was passing through rode alongside him, warmly shaking the hands of his constituents, before discreetly saying of each one " He's a moron ! ". In 1984, in an auction held by Hervé Poulain in Paris, Pierre Brignole became the new owner of this Delage which he integrated into his collection. It has not moved for the past 28 years, lovingly conserved in the favourable Corsican climate. The exquisite interior has an abundance of varnished wood and beige fabric upholstery which even covers the heated footrests ! The front bench seat has been correctly covered in padded black leather, as have the door panels, and the driver has at his disposal a dashboard flush with instruments. This highly elegant coupé-chauffeur, a symbol of luxury and success, represents a wonderful opportunity which will permit the new owner to take part in - amongst others - the rallye des Grandes Marques on 4 - 6 October 2013, in La Rochelle and organised by the 'Amis de Delage' and its president, Jean-Michel Charpentier.
French title Engine n° 788 - Classic, elegant body - Prestigious model - Superb presentation At the start of the century, Delage was a sporting marque, producing record-breaking models and competition cars. These cars left the workshop with a mechanical sophistication that earned the manufacturer great success. Delage even competed in the US, achieving victory in 1914 in the famous Indianapolis Grand Prix. The touring cars benefitted from the technical advancement of these competition cars, but the marque also made it a point of honour to respond to the wishes of their wealthy clients who required a high level of comfort. With these clients in mind, Delage designed the Type CO, whose development was interrupted, however, by the First World War. Consequently, the model was initially launched as a military vehicle, before coming to fruition after the Armistice. With a 4.5-litre six-cylinder engine, the Delage CO was ideal for the grandest of coachwork, the coupé-chauffeur being the perfect example. An evolution of the horse-drawn carriage, the passengers sat in a closed rear section, while the open part at the front was reserved for the driver. The body of the Delage Type CO was designed by Boulogne et Fils. During the 1960s, this elegant car belonged to Jacques Rousseau, renowned historian and author of a book on the marque. Turning his hand to the chassis, the engine and the front part of the body, he set about configuring the car to its original specification using a drawing by the coachbuilder. He finished this delicate operation in 1967, having revived the body to its former glory. Moreover the car had a rebuilt engine. At this point, through an intermediary dealer from Lyon, this beautiful Delage passed into the hands of José Lesu, a knowledgeable collector living in Hardelot. He perfected the restoration, by adding rear compasses and beaded edge tyres. At the same time the car underwent a thorough mechanical service. A short while later, this coupé-chauffeur renewed its links with the Delage family, specifically Patrick Delage, who used the car for several years. He has a particular memory, told not without humour, of a trip he made in Normandy. The mayor of the village he was passing through rode alongside him, warmly shaking the hands of his constituents, before discreetly saying of each one " He's a moron ! ". In 1984, in an auction held by Hervé Poulain in Paris, Pierre Brignole became the new owner of this Delage which he integrated into his collection. It has not moved for the past 28 years, lovingly conserved in the favourable Corsican climate. The exquisite interior has an abundance of varnished wood and beige fabric upholstery which even covers the heated footrests ! The front bench seat has been correctly covered in padded black leather, as have the door panels, and the driver has at his disposal a dashboard flush with instruments. This highly elegant coupé-chauffeur, a symbol of luxury and success, represents a wonderful opportunity which will permit the new owner to take part in - amongst others - the rallye des Grandes Marques on 4 - 6 October 2013, in La Rochelle and organised by the 'Amis de Delage' and its president, Jean-Michel Charpentier.