But aside from that achievement, one that was broken merely a week later by Fiat, the Delage went on to win races and hold records right through to 1935. It is a car with a staggering history, accented by its world record breaking 143.3 mph performance on the open public roads at Arpajon in 1924. As does the enormous 10.5 litre V12 engine, capable of 355PS (264 kW) with two valves per cylinder worked by pushrods and a five-bearing crank. Like many cars of the period, much of its aesthetics and engineering harks to the styling of a WW1 bi-plane. The enormous V12 is mounted within a nine-foot-three-inch chassis, with a cosy two-seater cockpit pushed way back over the rear axle.
Yet despite their differences, standing next to the imposing but still very much beautiful 1923 DHV12, it’s evident that humanity’s need for speed was as vital and life affirming then as it is today.īuilt at the Paris works in 1923 by Frenchman Rene Thomas, the record-breaker is all engine. With a staggering 99 years between the two cars, the gulf in engineering and styling couldn’t be more vast.
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