One of the many color posters and cover art that can be found in 'Delage France's Finest Car'.
“Delage France’s Finest Car”
By Daniel Cabart and Claude Rouxel
Two volumes hard bound with dust jackets and slip case, 300mm x 245mm. Pages: Vol I 376, Vol II 150. Illustrations: 1000 B&W and color images.
Dalton Watson, 2006
Price $225 USD now reduced to $169
To order this two volume set at a savings of $56 plus free shipping in the U.S. send an email to vack@cox.net with your request and mailing address. This sale ends December 31st 2011 so act now.
Review by Pete Vack
All images courtesy of Dalton Watson
This comprehensive two volume set on Delage is more like a travelogue through history, a fascinating flow of people, posters, catalogues, sidebars, notes, statistics, art and marvelous photography all presented on the highest quality binding, paper and reproduction. In fact, it is almost like walking through a museum of winding passages, with lighted windows full of interesting artifacts and artful displays that superbly illustrate the subject.
Pages measure 290mm by 240mm; the text paper is 170 gsm Stora Enso Matt Art. This is a format that allows the space and quality for the presentation of some of the most beautiful car art of the early 20th century, as well as excellent reproduction of outstanding photographs from a wide variety of historical archives. Both volumes with dust jackets fit into a glossy cardboard case. There is a bibliography and index, but no footnotes; however most sources are woven into the text.
The authors, Daniel Cabart and Claude Rouxel, may not be well known outside of France, but the English translation and additional text was accomplished by David Burgess-Wise, who has authored over 30 books and is also a Delage owner himself. David has ensured that the English text works smoothly and is easy to follow. Cabart and Rouxel have made use of the two main sources of information about Delage; the diaries of Delage’s right hand man Augustin Legros, and the work of Paul Yvelin, who previously wrote and published a book about Delage in 1971. Shortly after publication, the original French edition won the 2005 Prix Bellecour and a 2006 Society of Automotive Historians Award of Distinction.
Although there are a few books on Delage, most are now out of print. “Delage: France”s Finest Car” is probably going to be the standard on the marque, at least in English. The chapters are in segments of 3-5 years, the first being 1905-1909, 1910-1914, etc. Volume One, at 373 pages, consists of a combined history of the car, the models, racing, financials, and a surprising amount of material dealing with the people who made Delage what it was. Volume Two is a 155 page compendium of Delage ads, posters and statistics which include all the specifications, numbers built, surviving cars, the Delage racing record, and a variety of Delage information which did not easily fit under the chronological constraints of Volume One, such as “Delage Down Under.”
The two volume Delage set makes full use of evocative photos, such as this family in their A or B Type Delage in 1906 or 1907. The only difference between the two types was the displacement of the one cylinder engine.
The story of Delage is a truly fascinating one–a great but perhaps unloved leader and visionary, Louis Delage created a legend in his own time, enhanced France’s position in all forms of competition, and failed largely because of the economy, not because of poor products. “Delage, France’s Finest Car”, brings to life this history through a wonderful array of statistics, ads, republished road tests, letters, drawings, documents and first rate contemporary photography. Absolutely essential for the complete motoring library.
