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Topic starter
14/11/2026 8:46 am
From Amazing Classic Cars
1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe (by Pourtout)
A remarkable collaboration between mass-market manufacturer Peugeot and Parisian dealer Émile Darl’mat produced this extraordinary coachbuilt automobile that competed alongside Bugatti and Delahaye at prestigious concours events.
Working with coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout and stylist Georges Paulin, Darl’mat created aerodynamic aluminum bodywork featuring distinctive Art Deco elements including a sloping front grille, sculpted teardrop fenders, and streamlined chrome accents.
Built on Peugeot’s 402 Légère (lightweight) chassis, the Special received the company’s 1,991cc inline-four engine in place of the standard 1,750cc unit. Development assistance came from aerodynamicist Jean Andreau, while performance tuning was overseen by Darl’mat’s team.
The competition pedigree was proven when related roadster variants finished 5th overall at the 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans, also winning the 2-liter class against German Adler competitors.
Only six coupes were constructed on the 1938 402-series platform, representing a tiny fraction of the 105 total Darl’mat Specials produced across all body styles. This rarity places it among the most exclusive French automobiles of the interwar period, combining innovative aerodynamic design with proven racing engineering.
John Bono
North Jersey
14/11/2026 9:37 am
Very Peugeot but I am not keen on that colour combination. Had a 504 in the 1970s, an outstanding car.
14/11/2026 10:31 am
I see the Pourtout in it and like it overall. I agree with David, the paint combo on the car is unattractive. I did not dislike yellow and black on TFM's Bugatti but this one carries it a touch to the extreme.
14/11/2026 3:57 pm
Said to be one of 3 surviving examples sold by Sothebys for $885000
https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo22/lots/r0046-1938-peugeot-402-darlmat-special-coupe-by-pourtout/
This video covers the car really well, but unfortunately could not find one of the car in motion. Another really interesting choice, thanks John
Topic starter
14/11/2026 10:08 pm
@geoff-jowett, thanks for the link and the video.
John Bono
North Jersey
Tony Perrone and Geoff Jowett reacted