1932 Delage D8 S
- Engine
- 4.0L straight-eight, 118 bhp at 3,800 rpm
A rare and historically significant Delage D8 S, chassis 36009, bodied by Marcel Pourtout in March 1932 under commission number 964 and delivered via the Parisian dealer H. de Corvaia. One of only 99 D8 S models produced, it features Pourtout's characteristic extremely low windshield, long hood, and flowing fenders. The car remained with one French family — the Forgues — for 59 years, surviving the Second World War in storage before undergoing a full restoration around 1980.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$3,305,000
- 1932-03-01 → 1936Factory deliveryFrench actor (original owner)partial documentation
Took delivery of the newly completed coachwork from de Corvaia; car was registered under plate 6195 RF6 during this period.
- 1936 →Acquisition unknownGaston Forguesfull documentation
Young engineer from Haute Garonne who kept the car safely stored through the war years; from 1946 the registration was transferred into one of his business entities, C.E.R.I., and after servicing in 1952 the car went back into storage for roughly 30 years.
- 1946 → 1980Acquisition unknownCompagnie des Etudes et Réalisations Industrielles (C.E.R.I.)full documentation
Business entity belonging to Forgues under which the car was formally re-registered in 1950; kept in storage for most of this period after 1952 maintenance at Lux Auto in Asnières.
- 1980 → 1995InheritanceGérard Forguesfull documentation
Son of Gaston Forgues who retrieved the car from long storage, commissioned a thorough body and mechanical restoration by craftsman Vernhès plus re-upholstery by Oppenot, and had it re-registered as a collector vehicle in 1990.
- 1995 →Private salePresent owners (acquired 1995)full documentation
Kept the car largely out of public view for decades; ownership accompanied by a documentation file compiled by Delage historian Daniel Cabart and a registration history prepared by Marc Rabineau.
Competition
- 1990Centre National de l'Automobile exhibition, PantinExhibited
Car was displayed at the national automobile centre following completion of its restoration and re-registration as a collector vehicle.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1952ServiceLux Auto
Maintenance work carried out at the Lux Auto garage in Asnières, after which the car was placed back into long-term storage.
- 1980RestorationVernhès (bodywork and mechanical); Oppenot (upholstery)
Full restoration encompassing both bodywork and mechanical work, carried out by a craftsman named Vernhès from Gers, with interior upholstery handled by the Oppenot workshop. The car was reportedly returned to its original colour.
Commissioned by Gérard Forgues after retrieving the car from approximately 28 years in storage.
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