<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Thanks to the underslung suspension, the D8 S was considerably lower than its rivals, which inspired the custom coach-builders to new heights. It provided Louis Delage competition success at completely different events: concours d'elegance. Clothed by the very best coach-builders, the exquisite D8 S reigned supreme at all major concours in France in the early 1930s. The underslung Delage quickly and rightly received the nickname 'King of the Concours.' In addition to taking numerous concours victories, the custom D8 ss also received universal praise in the French media.
Louis Delage did not stray away from his racing roots completely and regularly prepared special D8s for (long distance) record runs. Robert Sénéchal completed the 7,000 km 'Circuit des Capitales' (Paris - Madrid - Monte Carlo - Rome - Vienna - Berlin - Paris) in just 7 days. A D8 S equipped with a very hot, 170 bhp version of the eight cylinder engine broke six world records in the hands of English experts George Eyston, Kay Don, Ernest Eldridge and Bert Denly. Among them was a three-hour average of 189,588 km/h and a twelve-hour average of 180,256. Unfortunately this very fast D8 S was later completely destroyed in a high speed accident at Monthléry.
Despite the early sales success and acclaim, the Delage D8 was not resistant to the ever growing crisis. By 1933 the already small number of people that could afford it had dwindled even further. Delage responded with the introduction of smaller engined versions but it was in vain and the company was eventually absorbed by Delahaye. Under new ownership, the big 'eight' did return and once again provided an exquisite base for custom coach-builders. Eventually 2,001 examples of the D8 were produced between 1929 and 1934, of which only 99 were of the D8 S variety. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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D8 S de Villars Roadster
Thanks to the underslung suspension, the D8 S was considerably lower than its rivals, which inspired the custom coach-builders to new heights. It provided Louis Delage competition success at completely different events: concours d'elegance. Clothed by the very best coach-builders, the exquisite D8 S reigned supreme at all major concours in France in the early 1930s. The underslung Delage quickly and rightly received the nickname 'King of the Concours.' In addition to taking numerous concours victories, the custom D8 ss also received universal praise in the French media.