Description
The Paddock is happy to present the Delaney Delta — a unique car, a genuine piece of automotive history.
Origin and context:
The Delaney Delta is a unique British sports car, designed and built in the 1950s by Eric Delaney, owner of the Delaney-Gallay engineering company, renowned for its work in the automotive and aerospace industries.
It is a bespoke car, produced outside the traditional industrial circuits, reflecting the creativity and ingenuity of automotive enthusiasts of the era.
Chassis, structure and body:
Chassis: handmade tubular frame, designed by John Griffiths (former Cooper man).
Body: entirely handmade aluminium, shaped by Delaney-Gallay workers.
The shape is very characteristic of the 1950s, with flowing lines and complex forms crafted to be both light and aerodynamic.
Technical:
- Front suspension: double wishbones with coil springs and telescopic dampers.
- Steering: Citroën-type rack, precise for a handmade machine.
- Rear: Ford transverse leaf spring with a rigid axle.
- Brakes: hydraulic Ford drum brakes (common for the era).
Engine and performance:
- Engine base: Ford side-valve 1172 cc (E93A), a light, reliable and popular engine of the time.
Modifications:
- balanced crankshaft,
- polished connecting rods,
- modified cylinder head,
- competition valve springs,
- "race" camshaft,
- Vertex magnetic ignition,
- Marshall/ Nordec supercharging.
This configuration yields a heavily modified engine and a mechanical jewel, capable of far more than the original version.
Particular features:
The Delaney stores fuel in three small tanks connected in series under the floor to lower the centre of gravity.
Engine access is facilitated by pivoting panels that reveal the mechanics.
The doors open with butterfly screws, and many found it easier to step over the sill to enter the cabin.
History and usage:
