Louis Delage, characterized by imperiousness and strong will, led his automobile company with unwavering authority from its establishment in 1905 until its dissolution during the Great Depression. A graduate of École Nationale d’Arts et Métiers, Delage, in collaboration with engineer Augustin Legros, founded his own Paris firm after a stint at Peugeot. Early success came with a 2nd place finish at the 1906 Coupe des Voiturettes de L’Auto, marking the beginning of a pioneering approach—leveraging racing achievements to boost car sales.
Post-WWI, Delage, buoyed by wartime profits, shifted focus to luxury automobiles, backed by a Grand Prix World Championship win in 1927. Despite subsequent financial strain and talent departure in the 1930s, the marque’s assets were acquired by Delahaye in 1935.
The Delahaye era introduced the iconic D8-120, the sole 8-cylinder car in the combined Delage-Delahaye lineup. The D8-120 featured a chrome flex-pipe exhaust system, captivating aesthetics, and a royal demeanor. Notably, the Aerosport coupe, designed by Marcel LeTourneur, marked the pinnacle of Delage’s aesthetic legacy.
This masterpiece, chassis number 51617, represents the final iteration of the Aerosport, embodying LeTourneur’s brilliance with its distinctive features, including a lower roofline and pillarless side windows. As the 11th of the 12 cars produced, it stands as a rare and elegant testament to French automotive design from the 1930s.
Source: Mecum Auctions
