After a few weeks dominated by Le Mans racers and modern road cars, it is now time to slow down and take a look at two glorious French machines from the late 1930s. During this period the many specialist coach-builders reached new artistic highs and produced one rolling sculpture after another like the Delage and Talbot Lago featured today.
Styled by Georges Paulin, this Delage D8-120 made its public debut at the 1938 Paris Auto Salon. It was subsequently sold to a French wine farmer, who used it extensively on the roads between Paris and Bordeaux. Sadly the striking machine eventually ended up on its side in a field. In 1989 it was discovered and fully restored to its original configuration. We captured the Pourtout Coupe at the recent Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
Lined up alongside the Delage was this Talbot Lago T23, which is one of seventeen chassis by this French manufacturer fitted with Claude Figoni's legendary 'Teardrop' bodywork. This particular example is unique because it combines the smaller engined 'Baby' T23 underpinnings with one of Figoni & Falaschi's finest designs. It was commissioned by flamboyant Standard Oil heiress Beatrice Cartwright, who showed the car with a matching outfit at the 1938 Nice Concours d'Elegance. The current owner's wife sported a replica suit and looked the part alongside the beautiful two-tone machine. Also known as the 'Coupe Royal', the striking Talbot Lago won its class at Villa d'Este, narrowly beating another Delage.
Enjoy the links:
1938 - 1939 Delage D8-120 Pourtout Coupe - Images, Specifications and Information
1938 Talbot Lago T23 Figoni - Images, Specifications and Information
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