French elegance

It was a brand with a very good image and impressive interior designs, much sought after by high society. A clear example is this model, which features ostrich-skin upholstery and elaborate silver and ivory detailing. This ‘Eagle’s Head’, made by René Lalique, was a favourite of the German army.

The Delage D6 3L, homologated by the French authorities on 11 April 1939, was offered in two wheelbases of 3.15 and 3.30 m, while the Olympic version was based on the shorter chassis and had a more powerful engine thanks to triple carburettors.

The D6 3L was marketed after World War II, and this model left the factory at the end of 1947 to be bodied by L&A Dens Frères in Antwerp. The car was given a stylish 4-seater convertible body with soft top, of which three would have been produced. Proof that the pontoon line had not yet convinced all coachbuilders in the late 1940s, it was the fluidity of its line, especially at the rear, that seduced Alain Ragault and convinced him to make an exception for the Facel Vega.

The car was restored in 2006, when it was bought. An old invoice mentions a Cotal gearbox repair in 1985, when the beautiful convertible had been registered in the Oise Valley since 1982. There is an extensive list of maintenance work carried out between 2006 and 2018. A general overhaul will be necessary before the car can be driven on the road again, but this Delage with its high-performance chassis and rare bodywork deserves to be part of a fine collection.

The Delage badge is an optional and completely free add-on, as the owner could choose the image of his choice. In the case of our model, we find an eagle, but there are also other birds and animals in general and even human shapes.