DELAGE 8 Z – year 1927

Delage Cars, Courbevoie, His, France.

Delage, which in 1926 year was not quite mature in terms of construction, in year 1927 became the best racing car. Originally an eight-cylinder vehicle from designer Albert Lory with two overhead camshafts, it developed 121,4 kW (165 KM) by 6500 RPM. The exclusion of a passenger from the two-seater allowed Lory to place the gearbox there, lowering the chassis and as a result reducing air resistance. With its low body, Delage marked the beginning of a new racing car concept.

Model prepared for the year 1927 had engine power increased to 125 kW (170 KM) by 8000 RPM. Eight-cylinder in-line diameter 55,8 mm and piston stroke 76 mm had a total capacity 1484 cm3. Two compressors pumped the mixture from the four carburetors into the cylinders under pressure 150 kPa. The mechanisms were driven by lots of gears, in rolling element bearings, which in the engine itself was 48. A system of gears in front of the crankshaft drove the pump, Roots compressors and two camshafts above the cylinders. Bosch's high-voltage magneto had a transmission with seven gears. The driving force was transferred asymmetrically along the longitudinal axis of the car yes, that there was a connecting shaft under the lowered driver's seat, attached to the differential, located eccentrically in the rigid rear axle. The front wheels were suspended on longitudinal wheels, semi-elliptical leaf springs with lever friction shock absorbers. Mechanical brakes acted on all wheels, and their operation was supported by a servo device. A car with a weight 980 kg reached the top speed 205 km/h.

Delage team in the lineup: Benoist, Bourlier, Morel and Divo have won four of the five Grand Prix races this year. Robert Benoist - four times winner of the winning laurel wreath – he was the only one of the team to participate in the European Grand Prix, where he also won, driving at an average speed 144 km/h.

Unfortunately, it was the last competition officially attended by Delage, which stopped producing racing cars altogether. Louis Delage resold his cars to individual competitors, who were successful while driving them in the late 1940s.