The Delage CO2 was manufactured in 1923, in France. In its traditional guise the car was powered be a 4.5 litre overhead valve six cylinder engine and at the time of manufacture was the flagship of the Delage marque.
The Hispano-Suiza H-3 Super Fighter engines were used to power French and Allied First World War Spad Fighter aircraft. This particular engine is a 1921 high compression model which offers final development attributes. Hispano-Suiza were a French based manufacturer of high quality automobiles and aircraft engine. This engine was purchased from a farmer in Sussex, England in 1995 and married with the Delage CO2 chassis to form the Delage CO2 Hispano-Suiza Special.
The Delage Hispano-Suiza Special is similar to the monster aero engined specials which between World War One and World War Two, raced round the famous banked Brooklands Track in England. The car is actively campaigned in historic motoring events in Australia, it is extremely usable and offers fine vintage motoring whether on a race track or vintage rally. It is also docile in suburban and city traffic, and loves the open road.
The Engine is a Hispano-Suiza Aero model H-3, 18.5 litre, super fighter, high compression head. The engine is configured in a 90 degree V-8. Bore size is 140mm and stroke size is 150mm giving a cubic capacity of 18,473 cc. The engine has overhead valve gear which is shaft and bevel gear driven from the crankshaft. The compression ratio is 6.5 to 1.0
The engine is rated at having 390 BHP at 2000 RPM and 1,000 foot pounds of torque
The engine retains its original matched pair of Dixie magnetos, giving each cylinder twin spark.
The Delage CO2 Hispano-Suiza Special retains an original Delage CO2 chassis, front end, rear axle and gear box. The transmission is by ways of a four speed Delage CO2 gearbox and the differential is a modified Delage CO2 with a final drive ratio of just 1.96 to 1.0. Modifications have been made in order to cope with the increase in power.
The car has been driven in excess of 120 miles per hour and has a geared speed of 146 miles per hour. Quarter mile times are in the vicinity of 13 seconds.
Delage CO2 Hispano-Suiza Special #1