1938 Delage D8-120 Aerosport Coupe
The 1938 Delage D8-120 Aerosport Coupe is widely regarded as Delage’s most attractive design, crafted by Marcel LeTourneur of Letourneur et Marchand. Around 12 of these distinctive coupes were made between 1936 and 1939.
The design is notable for its pillarless side windows that sweep dramatically downward, a unique roofline, and long flowing fenders extending almost 18 feet. While it was built on a Delahaye chassis after Delahaye acquired Delage in 1935, it retained a Delage eight-cylinder engine initially displacing about 4.3 liters and originally producing about 95 horsepower, growing later to 4.7 liters and 115 horsepower.
This model stood out as the only eight-cylinder offering in the combined Delage-Delahaye lineup. It featured advanced independent front suspension and a chromed flex-pipe exhaust system for visual effect. The lightweight alloy body helped keep the weight manageable for high-speed touring at speeds near 95 mph.
Marcel LeTourneur, esteemed alongside Jean Bugatti as one of the leading French designers of the 1930s, created the Aerosport Coupe that became a fixture at elite Concours d’Elegance events and was chosen to represent French automotive design at the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
The D8-120 Aerosport’s design emphasized aerodynamic research and elegance, embodying both luxury and performance from the era, with a particular focus on comfortable long-range cruising and precise steering.
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