Registration No: BF 6074
Chassis No: 23113
MOT: Exempt

• Understood to be one of just twenty DI Sport models to have survived
• Resident in Uruguay for years before transferring to the USA in 1981 and the UK during 2001
• Subject to an extensive 'chassis up' restoration between 2001 and 2012 including the remanufacture of various obselete parts
• Rebodied but using much of the original wooden support frame
• Thought to be a matching chassis and engine number example
• VSCC eligible and current ownership since it was first UK registered in 2012

By the early 1920s, Delage was among France’s pre-eminent car manufacturers. Founded in 1905 by ex Turgan-Foy and Peugeot employee, Louis Delage, the Courbevoie concern was known throughout Europe for the quality and sophistication of its designs. No stranger to racing, the marque’s magnificent 1.5 litre straight-eight GP cars were crowned ‘champion du monde’ in both 1926 and 1927. While its other forays into competition included a 10.5 litre landspeed record challenger and a string of Le Mans entries. Like many of its peers, Delage used the latter event as a test-bed for forthcoming production model components. Thus, when the DI debuted in 1923, its sophisticated overhead-valve cylinder head had already seen service at Le Sarthe. In addition to a willing 2121cc four-cylinder engine, the DI also boasted a four-speed manual gearbox, elegant leaf-sprung ladder-frame chassis and all-round drum brakes.

Understood to be one of just twenty DI Sport models to have survived, chassis 23113 is particularly well travelled. Reportedly resident in Uruguay for years before migrating to the USA during 1981, the Delage was acquired by the vendor upon its arrival in the UK two decades later. A world renowned yacht designer, he had the Boat-Tailed Tourer professionally restored at a cost of over £70,000. Painstaking tasks such as having various gearbox and differential components remanufactured plus recreating the nautically inspired coachwork using much of the original wooden support frame meant that the DI Sport was not registered with the DVLA until 2012. Eligible for a host of Vintage Sports Car Club events and thought to retain ‘matching’ chassis and engine numbers, this decidedly rare and handsome Delage is described by the seller as being in ‘very good overall’ condition with regards to its 2.1 litre engine, four-speed manual gearbox, electrical equipment, interior trim, bodywork and paintwork. Offered for sale with V5C Registration Document and history file.

For more information, please contact:
Julian Pinkster
julian.pinkster@handh.co.uk
07889 223 904