Description
Émile Darl'Mat, Parisian dealer and coachbuilder of the mid-20th century, was the author of some of the most beautiful Peugeot-based creations known today: the 402 Eclipse, 302 Darl’Mat, etc. With the advent of cabriolet/ coachbuilt bodies, the coachbuilders were confronted with the inability to produce the pre-war works that could have been. Nevertheless, Emile Darl’Mat very early offered a revised 203 GT race version with the blessing of the parent house: a car lowered by 14 cm, hood height reduced depending on the versions, rear boot with its tailplane completely redesigned by Géo Ham, specific rear wheel covers, and above all an engine upgrade pushing power from 42 hp to over 100 hp for the versions fitted with the famous supercharger.
- The history of our car has been known and tracked since 1974, back then in Haute-Vienne with a certain C. Breton. It was bought in 1980 by Hervé Charbonneux, a great European collector, who parted with it in 1989 in favour of a certain… André de Cortanze! At the time, the engineering genius was technical director of Peugeot Sport, and would win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 with the mythical Peugeot 905. His father was a Peugeot test driver and competed in the 203. The car would later be sold in 2001 to a Savoyard collector, before arriving in 2003 in my collection.
- In 1993, a major bodywork restoration was carried out under the direction of André de Cortanze, taking care to preserve the original upholstery. (invoices and photos present in the file).
- Today, the car is in very good condition of preservation. This authentic and catalogued 203 DARL’MAT features the special TAUPIN gauges, its distinctive grille, the mechanics have been entirely rebuilt, 1500 cm3 engine, lightened flywheel, sharp camshaft, with Nardi intake and twin carburettors, and its special rear shock absorber stabilisers…
- With only 11 catalogued surviving examples out of the 120 produced, and eligibility for many major events such as the Tour Auto, this sumptuous French machine can proudly join any collection worthy of the name…
Price to be negotiated in front of the car, on a figure higher than the price of a restored 203 Cabriolet.
