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Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)

Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)
Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)
Lot number 36
Hammer value £5800
Description Delage AB 4-cylinder (ex-Neil Bateman)
Year 1910
Colour Blue

History

Automobiles Delage was founded in Paris in 1905 by Louis Delage, an ambitious young engineer who had been working for the Peugeot car company. The cars he built quickly established themselves as beautifully made sportscars for discerning motorists, the reputation of the road cars being boosted by the notable success of Delage race cars on the track, one of which famously won the Indianapolis 500 in 1914.

During the First World War the factory was turned over to munitions manufacture, but immediately afterwards Delage came back stronger than ever. Throughout the 1920s Delage cars dominated the racing scene, winning the first ever British Grand Prix in 1926, among a host of other victories. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s took its toll and in 1935 the company went into voluntary liquidation and was absorbed by another famous French marque, Delahaye.

This particular car comes from the collection of the late Neil Bateman., well known organiser of many classic car events The precise model is not known for certain but we believe it to be a Model AB 12hp dating from around 1910 - 1913 with a 2,121cc Ballot engine. The car was imported from France in the early 1990s as a chassis with engine etc but minus its rear axle. A rear axle was later found in Ireland and the kit changed hands several times before Neil bought it and steadily acquired replacements for missing items and reworked what was there. It is being offered for sale as an unfinished restoration project.

NB Also for sale in a separate lot will be two rolling chassis and a 6-cylinder engine believed to be from a c.1912 Model AH.
We will also be selling a large quantity of Delage spares, including several radiators, in the Automobilia sale earlier in the day.

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