1904 Delaugère & Clayette Type 4A Side-Entrance Tonneau

Offered by Bonhams | London, England | November 2, 2012

Isn’t that a beautiful machine? Delaugère & Clayette is one of, what I refer to, as the “French De’s” – a list of French automotive manufacturers including: De Dietrich, Decauville, De Dion-Bouton, Delahaye, Delage, Delaunay-Belleville and, of course, Delaugère & Clayette. Such an exotic-sounding list, isn’t it?

Delaugère began as a carriage maker in the mid-1800s. Around 1898, they built their first powered three-wheeler and come 1901 they were an established automotive manufacturer. In 1904, Maurice Clayette joined the company named after Jean-Pierre Delaugère, the original founder, and the automotive concern was renamed Delaugère & Clayette. The 1920s were a struggle for the company and their factory was purchased by Panhard, with production ceasing in 1926.

This is a model 4A. It uses a 6.3-liter four-cylinder F-head engine making 24 horsepower (Delaugère & Clayette produced another model using a 15.0-liter four-cylinder!). Double chains drive the rear wheels through a four-speed transmission. This car was completely restored about a year ago and it is stunning. The body is not original – it’s a period-correct replacement that replaced another non-original body that was on the car previously. This one looks better in black with brass trim. Look at where the engine resides – underneath that big, square black box with those big radiators out front held on with brass bars. It’s amazing to look at.

This car is expected to sell for between $350,000-$420,000. For more information, click here. And for the rest of Bonhams’ Veteran Car Sale lineup, click here.

Update: Sold $360,500.