1932 Delage D8 S Roadster
Only 99 examples of this exclusive French sports car left the factory during the early 1930s, making it one of the rarest high-performance automobiles of its time. The D8 S utilized a shortened chassis compared to the standard D8, reducing weight and improving handling characteristics.
Custom coachwork adorned nearly every example, with leading French coachbuilders such as Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron, and Pourtout (shown here) creating distinctive designs that emphasized the car’s long hood and flowing lines.
Under that extended hood sat a competition-derived 4.1-liter inline-eight engine producing approximately 120 horsepower at 3,800 rpm (about 20 more than the standard D8). Engineers incorporated shorter valve springs to prevent breakage at high rpm and developed an aircraft-inspired system that routed warm engine oil through the intake to help prevent carburetor icing.
This combination of lightweight construction and tuned powerplant positioned the D8 S as France’s answer to the sporting Bentleys of Britain, delivering both speed and refined elegance in equal measure.
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