Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

Quite where you start and where you finish with this one is a moot question. It could be a class act if done well.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1671850

[mikeC]

That will be a labour of love; it doesn't make economic sense at that price - there's a UK-registered up-and-running example (admittedly a fixed-head coupe rather than a tourer) for sale for similar money.

https://www.prewarcar.com/595818-1922-delage-d2-fixed-head-coupe
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

There does seem to be a much smaller market for pre- War cars these days; regardless of their lineage. Beneath the crusty surface is probably hidden something even crustier . Even if you did most of the work yourself, the cost of white metal bearing renewal alone is eye-watering now.

I would expect delivery to my door included at anything like that figure - which - I agree - is pretty steep.

( I had my Dodge Brothers given to me for free because it was a non runner and needed work ...and that had fully restored coachwork.)

[Rootes75]

This may be a silly question but right hand drive?

Or was it not for the French market.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[mikeC]

Yes, most quality cars were right-hand drive for the French market - even up to WW2; you won't find a left-hand drive Bugatti, Delahaye, Talbot-Lago, etc. Delage, in fact, were one of the few that did offer left-hand drive, but many were rhd.
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

Of course Delage was 're - founded' in 2019 and have launched their 2.3 million pound hypercar.

I must remember to order one

[Rootes75]

[mikeC]

Snob value, perhaps. A rhd chauffeur-driven limousine would allow the driver kerbside access to open madam's door?

Alternatively, tradition. Practically all continental cars were rhd until Citroen came on the scene in 1921, and most were still rhd throughout the twenties Amilcar, Salmson, BNC etc).
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in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[Ray White]

There are numerous hypotheses given for why some Countries have adopted either the left or right side of the road to drive on.

I believe the origins go back way before the advent of the motor car. It is a given that most people are right handed. In the past, those with the wherewithal would ride a horse and - as in a joust - they would pass another rider approaching them on the left side of the road in order that they would have their right hand free for welding their sword.

France, in more enlightened times, established the practice to not go about ones business armed with a sword and to demonstrate this, it became the norm to ride on the right; which is how things are in Europe today; ostensibly a token of peace and good will to one's fellow man.

Carriage drivers, however, were slow to change and continued to sit on the right; a tradition that continued with the development of the motor car. Again, as with those being transported in carriages, the first motor cars were the sport of the very rich. It is no accident, therefore, that the likes of Delage continued to produce cars with RHD which would often have been chauffeur driven.

Eventually it became apparent that with the rapid increase in traffic, overtaking slower moving vehicles was somewhat hazardous with the driver on the right, so LHD became the norm.

I am unfamiliar with the American story, but they also started with RHD ... however, I expect it had more to do with British influence, which gradually waned. Interestingly, Ford started with RHD but eventually switched to LHD. I presume once that happened, the rest of the American motor industry followed suit.

Those are just my thoughts.

.

[alastairq]

Not forgetting, there may have also been issues regarding the routing of stuff like steering, etc under the front of the vehicle which meant some makers had to use either RHD or LHD...
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Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
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Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

[ukdave2002]

Unfortunately or fortunately if you are a buyer, this is unlikely to meet the asking price... if it were a Mk1 Fiesta the seller would be quids in! at ?10,000, one couldn't restore this economically
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Pre war and now to 60's stuff prices have dropped significantly in the last 18 months.