Lot Ended
Description
Older restoration; top quality French car for recommissioning after a
few years off the road; on offer from a deceased estate
The Delage
DI is widely regarded as one of the finest touring cars of its era, offering
refined and reliable motoring. They were sold as rolling chassis and generally
sent to the best coachbuilders for bodywork.
Imported into the UK from
France 45 years ago, it was at that time described as a pick-up. The windscreen
would suggest Drouet et Gaucher coachwork, a company based in the Courbevoie
area of Paris. It retains what looks like a folding section at the rear which we
have been unable to open, which may be where the reference to pick-up has come
from - a lot of French cars of the period having this feature turning them from
a four-seater tourer into a practical load carrier.
It was imported by
well-known motor-coper Tony Mitchell and sold to Fred Woolley in January 1980,
from whose estate it is offered today.
We are not sure in what state it
arrived, but by March 1980 he had commissioned a set of new front and rear wings
in 16 gauge aluminium from Keith Roach. These were duly fitted and look
super.
At some point it had a steering, front axle and front brake
overhaul by Clive Hamilton-Gould with a detailed invoice on file. The car has
been sitting for a few years since the owner passed away and is on offer from
his estate.
It was thought to be running and driving when put into
storage, but will need a careful recommissioning before hitting the road once
more. It was last MOT'd in 2011 and the engine turns over freely and is believed
to have been started about 2 years ago.
There are many things to like
about this car. There is a substantial file of information on the Delage DI in
general and the V5C has just turned up in the office.
Contact [email protected]