Diana Dors Delahaye Roadster to be sold

[John S]

Now if the owners of the turquoise blue Lambo and Koenigsegg that were clamped in London recently started parading around town in this Delahaye I would withdraw my objections to their strange colour scheme, on this roadster it looks 'tres Manifique'   Such a pity I've never won the Euro-millions lottery.

Called curvaceous, like its former owner A sports car once owned by the late British actress Diana Dors could fetch up to £4 million ($6m) at a Californian auction on Saturday, organisers say.

The 1949 Delahaye Roadster, which some have dubbed as the most beautiful car in the world, was given to Dors when she was 17. The sky blue car has been described by auctioneers as "extravagant and outrageous - a rolling sculpture".

RM auctioneers said the car was curvaceous, sexy and flamboyant, just like its former owner. The car is one of only 150 Roadsters made, and only one of 51 of its specific model - the 175S - and is expected to attract a lot of interest from car collectors around the world.

The company stopped production in 1951 as it found there was little demand for such extravagance during that post-war period.

When Dors first received the car, she did not even have a driving licence. At 20, she became the youngest owner of a Rolls-Royce in the UK - a reflection of her success at an early age.

After she died, the car changed ownership several times and has in recent years been restored to its former condition. In its catalogue listing, RM Auctions says the Roadster - which has a top speed of 70mph - can "easily claim to being the most extravagant and beautiful coachbulit car in existence".

[lkjohnson1950]

Very interesting, but I prefer the Talbot-Lago. There is a new museum in LA dedicated to curvy cars.

Lonny

[Scott]

Clicking the link gave me this warning...watch your back, Lonny...

[lkjohnson1950]

Funny, I didn't post a picture, just a link. I guess they don't want people coming to their site. I will edit out the link.

Lonny

[John S]

There are a few Talbot Lago's on this page, scroll down the page a bit for them as the overall concouse winner was a Delahaye.    
I never realised that each Talbot Lago Teardrop Coupe car was a little bit different so there are not 2 exactly alike.

http://www.classics.com/pbbch00.html

[lkjohnson1950]

That's where I found my picture. I guess it's OK to link to the site, but not to individual pictures.  That '37 Delahaye is pretty nice.

Lonny

[John S]

That's where I found my picture. I guess it's OK to link to the site, but not to individual pictures.  That '37 Delahaye is pretty nice.

Lonny

Well Lonny we're either great minds or just old fools for going to the same source.

Not sure about the paint job on the 37 Delahaye though, reminds me too much of gangsters footwear I'm afraid.

[lkjohnson1950]

That was considered high style in the '30s though. If that's not the original pattern and colors, it's at least period correct I think. I love these teardrop style cars.

Lonny

[John S]

Yeah I know what you mean about teardrop shapes but unfortunately the nearest I got to one of these exoitic shapes was a 1967 Triumph GT6, it was my first sportscar when I was 21.
It was a dead spit of the car in this link. Oh the fun I had with that car,   but it cost a fortune for regular balancing of the twin carbs.

http://www.fugazi.co.uk/GT6/images/gt6mark1_1.jpg

[Dare]

I like your Triumph John but the Dors auto is
one of the ugliest cars I've ever laid my baby
blues on

[lkjohnson1950]

Let's hope I don't get busted for this link, but here goes:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mullinautomotivemuseum/3850876031/

Note the similar paint scheme to the Delahaye. And I love GT 6s and Spitfires. My best friend in high school had a Spitfire and we went everywhere and did everything in that car.

Lonny

[lkjohnson1950]

If you are in the LA area, this is a must.

http://www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com/tickets--information.html

Lonny

[John S]

Wow!!!  - thats from the planet auto heaven.  

From the picture the 48 Talbot Lago T26 sure is the handsome Big Brother, if not the Daddy, of the humble little GT6. Do they do it in red   

Good find Lonny  

 

[lkjohnson1950]

John if you can afford it, can find one and don't mind being glared at by purists, you can have it painted any color you like. How about that Delahaye convertible on the museum website?

Lonny