Editing Delage (section)

==Early history==
The company was founded in 1905 by [[Louis Delâge]], who borrowed [[French franc|Fr]] 35,000, giving up a salary of F 600 a month to do so.<ref name="Hull, p.517">[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 517.</ref>

Its first location was on the Rue Cormeilles in [[Levallois-Perret]]. The company at first had just two lathes and three employees, one of them [[Peugeot]]'s former chief designer.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/> Delage initially produced parts for [[Helbé]], with the [[De Dion-Bouton]] engine and chassis assembled by Helbé; Delage added<!--built it?--> only the body.

The first model was the [[Delage Type A|Type A]], a ''[[voiturette]]'' which appeared in 1906. It was powered by a one-cylinder De Dion-Bouton of {{convert|4.5|or|9|hp|kW PS|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/> Like other early carmakers, Delage participated in [[motor racing]], entering the ''Coupe de Voiturettes'' held at [[Rambouillet]] in November 1906 with a {{convert|9|hp|kW PS|abbr=on}} racer.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/> Seven days of regularity trials decided the entrants, and one of the two {{convert|9|hp-metric|kW|1}} Delage specials<ref>Hull, p.517. One was de Dion powered, the other Aster-engined; it is unclear from Hull which was involved in this crash.</ref> was wrecked in the rain on the fifth; nevertheless, Ménard, the other works driver, came second in the event, behind a Sizaire-Naudin.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/>

In 1907, the factory moved to the Rue Baudin Levallois, where a {{convert|4000|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} workshop allowed it to grow. The two-cylinder Delages were no match for the competition this year at the ''Coupe des Voiturettes''.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/>
[[File:Delage Biplace Course Type F (1908) jm64338 (cropped).jpg|thumb|1908 Delage Type F believed to have raced at the 1908 Dieppe Grand Prix]]
In 1908, the success enabled the development of the factory and entry into more Grand Prix races. That year, racing success returned: Delage won the ''Grand Prix des Voiturettes'' held 6 July.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/> This event, six laps of the {{convert|47.74|mi|km|abbr=on}} [[Dieppe Grand Prix]] circuit, saw 47 starters.<ref name="Hull, p.517"/> Delage fielded three cars: a pair with {{convert|1242|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|78|by|130|mm|in|abbr=on}}) De Dion-Bouton twins, driven by [[René Thomas (racing driver)|Thomas]] and Lucas-Bonnard, and a radical {{cvt|28|hp-metric|kW|0}} {{convert|1257|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|100|by|160|mm|in|abbr=on}}) one-cylinder<ref>It featured four [[spark plug]]s, four valves per cylinder, two flywheels, and [[thermosyphon]] cooling. Hull, p.518.</ref> (built by Nemorin Causan) in the hands of Delage dealer Albert Guyot. Guyot won at an average {{convert|49.8|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, not needing to stop for fuel. All three Delages finished this time, Thomas the quickest of the two-cylinder cars, while the team also took home the regularity prize.<ref name="Hull, p.518">[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 518.</ref> These good results contributed to total sales exceeding 300 cars for the year.<ref name="Hull, p.518"/>

Delage converted to [[four-cylinder engine]]s in 1909, at first provided by De Dion and [[Ballot (automobile)|Edouard Ballot]]; shortly, the company were producing their own [[Flathead engine|sidevalve]] fours, too.<ref name="Hull, p.518"/>

After an increase in sales, the existing facilities were too small, so in 1910 the factory moved to a new facility at 138 ''Boulevard de Verdun'',<ref name="Hull, p.518"/> Courbevoie. The following year saw the creation of advanced bodywork. By 1912, 350 workers were producing over 1000 cars annually, and offered four- and [[Straight-six engine|six-cylinder]] sidevalve engines.<ref name="Hull, p.518"/>

During the [[First World War]], Delage produced munitions.<ref name="Hull, p.518"/> Production of passenger cars virtually stopped, with the exception of some fabrication for the Army. But the Delage factories were running full support for the war effort.

When the war concluded, Delage moved away from small cars and made its reputation with larger cars. First up was the [[Delage CO|CO]], with a {{convert|4524|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|80|by|150|mm|in|abbr=on}}) fixed-head sidevalve [[Six-cylinder engine|six]] producing 20&nbsp;hp.<ref>Hull, p.518-519.</ref> The CO plans had been drawn up during the conflict; this was the first passenger car with front brakes. It was joined by the [[Delage DO|DO]] with a 3-liter four.<ref name="Hull, p.519">[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 519.</ref>
[[File:Bonhams - The Paris Sale 2012 - Delage DI Saloon - 1926 - 009.jpg|thumb|1926 Delage DI Saloon]]
The 1920s were really the first "Golden Age" of Delage. The most famous were the DE and DI: 4&nbsp;cylinders of about 2&nbsp;liters and 11&nbsp;hp. Delage also attempted to compete with [[Hispano-Suiza]], with the GL of 30&nbsp;hp and 5954&nbsp;cc, with some success. After that came a new generation of six-cylinder cars, like the MD (3174&nbsp;cc) and DR (2516&nbsp;cc), the best-selling vehicle in the history of the brand, designed by engineer Gaultier.

Both the CO and DO were replaced in 1922.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> The CO became the CO2, which changed to an [[overhead valve]] twin-plug head, producing {{convert|88|hp|kW PS|abbr=on}}, while the DO was supplanted by the DE with a {{convert|2117|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|72|by|130|mm|in|abbr=on}}) sidevalve four and, unusual in a production car even in this era, four-wheel brakes.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> The CO2 completed the Paris-Nice run in 16 hours, an average of {{Convert|67|km/h|mi/h|0|abbr=on}}.

The next year, the new {{convert|14|hp|kW PS|abbr=on}} [[Delage DI|DI]] also switched to OHV with a {{convert|2121|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|75|by|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}) four, fitted with [[magneto ignition]] and [[thermosyphon]] cooling; all had four-speed gearboxes and [[Zenith Motorcycles|Zenith]] [[carburettor]]s.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> At the other end of the scale, the [[Delage GL|GL]] (''Grand Luxe''), also known as the 40/50, replaced the CO2, being fitted with a magneto-fired {{convert|5344|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|90|by|140|mm|in|abbr=on}}) overhead cam six.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/>

In 1923, a [[Hillclimbing|hillclimb]] car with DI chassis, larger wheels and tires, and {{convert|5107|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|85|by|150|mm|in|abbr=on}}) CO block (with three Zenith carburetors) was produced.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> Delage scored successes at La Turbie and Mont Ventoux. This car was joined by a {{convert|10688|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|90|by|140|mm|in|abbr=on}}) [[V12 engine|V12]], which broke the course record at the Gaillon hillclimb, with Thomas at the wheel.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> Thomas would set the [[land speed record]] at [[Arpajon]] in this car, at a speed of {{convert|143.24|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, in 1924.<ref>[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 520. It would later be famous at [[Brooklands]]in the hands of [[John Cobb (racing driver)|John Cobb]]. In the 1970s, it was still campaigned in veteran and vintage racing by Johnty Williamson and Cecil Clutton.</ref> A 1925 car had a {{convert|5954|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|95|by|140|mm|in|abbr=on}}) six, again using the GL block, with four valves per cylinder and twin overhead cams.<ref name="Hull, p.520">[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 520.</ref> Driven by Divo, it broke the Mont Ventoux course record in its debut.<ref name="Hull, p.520"/> The car was destroyed by fire at the Phoenix Park meet in 1934.<ref name="Hull, p.520"/>

The 1924 and 1925 [[Delage DIS|DIS]], with a {{convert|117|in|mm|abbr=on}} wheelbase, switched from [[Rolls-Royce Limited|Rolls-Royce]]-type locking wheel hubs to [[Rudge-Whitworth|Rudge]] knock-ons, better cam, and bigger valves, while the 1925 and 1926 DISS on the same wheelbase.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/> Some of the DISes were bodied by [[Kelsch]].<ref>[[#PH1|Hull]], p. 519 (caption).</ref> The DIS became the Series 6 in 1927, switching to coil ignition and water pump.<ref name="Hull, p.519"/>

In 1926, Delage introduced the [[Delage DM|DM]], with a {{convert|3182|cc|cid|abbr=on}} ({{convert|75|by|120|mm|in|abbr=on}}) six, which made it emblematic of the era for the marque.<ref name="Hull, p.520"/> The high-performance DMS had hotter cam, twin valve springs, and other improvements. A [[Delage DR|DR]], with a choice of 2.2- and 2.5-liter sidevalve engines, also briefly appeared.<ref name="Hull, p.520"/>