DELAGE - France's finest car

To connoisseurs of fine automobiles the name Delage uniquely combines performance and elegance, symbolising luxury and the fine French taste that is summed up in the simple phrase “La Belle Voiture Française” – “The most beautiful French car”. This long awaited book – the first comprehensive history of Delage ever published in the English language – reveals that such a reputation is only achieved by unrelenting enthusiasm and effort.

“Keep it simple, make it strong,” was the guiding principle of Louis Delâge when he founded the company bearing his name in 1905. Surrounding himself with a gifted team of associates, he rapidly gained the commanding heights of the French motor industry, simultaneously triumphing in the leading concours d’elegance and on the race tracks of the world. When the financial crisis of the 1930s arrested its meteoric progress, the Delage marque continued to flourish under the sheltering wing of Delahaye, and survived honourably for a further twenty years, outliving most of its competitors.

The original French edition Delage—La Belle Voiture Française was the result of years of dedicated research  and won the 2005 Prix Bellecour and a 2006 Society of Automotive Historians Award of Distinction.

Daniel Cabart’s enthusiasm for history and machinery dates from his childhood. His love of antique automobiles led to the restoration of several cars, among them three Delages and the collection of photos, documents and memories relating to this most prestigious of marques. Research for this book in the archives of banks and ministries took three years and the result has been hailed by the automotive press.

Claude Rouxel has published books on Rolland-Pilain, the French taxi cab, Chenard & Walcker, Renault luxury cars, and writes for automotive history magazines, notably Automobilia and Charge Utile.

David Burgess-Wise is the author of over 30 motoring books, including specially commissioned centennial histories of Daimler and Vauxhall. His latest title is Brighton Belles, reflecting a lifelong interest in veteran cars. As well as this book on Delage, he has also translated major works on Amilcar and Bugatti. A member of the Advisory Council of Britain’s National Motor Museum and a Committee Member of the Brooklands Society, he edits Aston, the award-winning journal of the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. His enthusiasm for the Delage marque is reflected in his long ownership of a skiff-bodied 1926 Delage DISS.