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Topic starter
19/09/2024 5:24 am
When Delahaye took over the liquidated Delage Automobile Company in 1935, the new owners decided to retain the name as a seperate marque so as to benefit from its racing pedigree. And to showcase the new Delage ethos, Delahaye created the present 1936 Delage D6-70 Special, specifically for the 1936 Le Mans season as well as for concours presentation.
It was realised on a Delahaye 135 CS racing chassis with modified cylinder heads, though given the Delage Chassis number 50688, and entrusted to Figoni et Falaschi who created the revolutionary Goutte d’Eau body. Although the form had precedents - not least in Pierce Arrow’s 1931 Silver Arrow, luxury sedan - this represented perhaps the first of the personal luxury teardrops that would become a Figoni et Falschi hallmark: notably on Talbot-Lago chassis. It is therefore not just an important example of Figoni et Falaschi's design development, but also as a piece of automotive history.
The car's racing debut was delayed a year, as the 1936 Le Mans was cancelled due to labour strike action but it nevertheless won the 1936 Deauville Concours d’Elegance as presented by Mme Richer-Delavau, and wearing its rear fender skirt bearing the classic Figoni spinning disc motif. When entered into Le Mans in 1937 with Louis Gerard and his cousin Jacques de Valence at the helm, it won first in its class at an average speed of 121.1 kph. and came in fourth overall position. After that race the body was removed and unfortunately became lost to time, and was replaced by an open two seat body in which configuration it successfully took part in the 1938 racing season, winning the RAC’s Tourist Trophy.
Thereafter the car’s history becomes less clear, however the present body was created for the original chassis in the late 1990s or early 2000s (I believe) to the original Figoni et Falaschi blue-prints, by expert carrossieres, Auto Classique Touraine, using the time-honoured methods of ash frame, skinned in hand turned aluminium, by master craftsmen. It has thus been shown many times at events such as Paris' Retromobile and has raced at the 2006 Le Mans Classic. It has been seen recently in deep plum and also in vivid orange liveries.
(Any additional info. and / or corrections would be much appreciated - as always).
1/43 scale resin 1936 Delage D6-70 Special by Spark.
My sincere thanks to Richard Adatto who kindly reminded me of the name Auto Classique Touraine and for giving me a heads-up on his fabulous new book Figoni On Delahaye https://online.flipbuilder.com/uhzw/bolq/
19/09/2024 8:17 am
19/09/2024 8:35 am
Excellent post Charles. Thank you. Good Spark model and the book looks like a must read.
Topic starter
19/09/2024 8:58 am
Thank you David for your kind words, and to Karl for adding the book review it certainly looks like a really interesting book. The review mentions an article on the seven Narval which looks like a must read. I have models of three of them and have been collecting photographs of the seven, as it is a concept that captivates me.
19/09/2024 10:27 am
Thank you Charles for the great writeup on this very interesting automobile. I've got to look up the Spark model.
19/09/2024 1:47 pm
A fine and well-detailed post about this automobile and the excellent replica of it. It is quite an attractive car and thus makes a very neat model and part of an interesting book dealing with these windsculpted vehicles.
19/09/2024 2:24 pm
Thanks Charles. Your post was very interesting.
Ed Davis
Inverness, Illinois, USA
19/09/2024 5:46 pm
how I love auto history information like this! Thanks Charles
John Kuvakas and Charles Rockett reacted
20/09/2024 1:58 am
Who ever is interested in the Delage History and Archives has to owned this book. In fact this is 3 hardbound books coming in a hard case. It is a treasure trove. It is the biggest archives book in my library.
Topic starter
20/09/2024 2:03 am
@nickies Thank-you for bringing this book to our attentions. I am sick with envy as it was too expensive for me when it was first published and has only risen since. Every time it pops back into my consciousness - like now - I tell myself that one day soon I'll win the lottery!
(P.S. I have just checked on prices and it seems it has come down with reprinting - I guess).
John Kuvakas and Tony Perrone reacted
20/09/2024 7:47 pm
Spark also made the 1937 Le Mans version (No. S0602). As Charles said, drivers Jacques de Valence de Minardiere and Louis Gerard brought the Delage home in 4th place and 1st in the 3-liter class. The model dates from 2005.
Topic starter
20/09/2024 8:08 pm
@mg-harv Thanks Harv' for adding this to the thread, which really 'adds flesh' to the story. It's a very attractive racing livery and a model I've not seen.
An interesting detail of the car that may be missed and which I take this opportunity to mention, is the unusual way the rear 'hatch' opens, which incorporates the rear windows. This may be seen in the 1936 concours photograph at the top of the thread.