FERNCH INVATION?

ERENCI-I INVASION?

For some years after the War France built luxury cars possessed of sporting performances which were universally recognised as amongst the leading cars of the world. Of recent times she has fallen sadly from grace in this respect. However, it now appears that French sports-cars are returning to former strength and British designers of cars in equivalent {lasses should not fail to heed this return to power of the better French sporting automobiles The 8i-litre Delahaye, which MOTOR SPORT road-tested in Decem ber 1937, did 80 m.p.h. in third, 91 m.p.h. in top and pulled a top gear of 3.42 to 1. It had the Cotal electric transmission and cost /,1,030. The 1939 Competition Model 3i-litre Delahaye saloon, with plain gearbox. costs 095. It does a genuine 100 m.p.h., 70 in third. accelerates from a standstill to 50 in.p.h in 91. secs., and pulls a top gear ratio of 3.42 to 1. The 3i-litre Hotchkiss is priced at p375, can do nearly 98 m.p.h. on a top gear of 3.3 to 1, and reach 50 m.p.h. from a standstill in 9 or 10 secs. The 1)8 120 Delage straight-eight which this paper road tested last May did 08 m.p.h. and got up to 50 m.p.h. ‘in about 11 secs. It had Cotal electric gears, a top ratio of 3.91 to 1, and a handsome drophead foursome

coupe body. The price was L1,870. The Type 57 Bugatti has sold remarkably well in this country for its type and the new 575 is now appearing on our roads. It is said to do 130 m.p.h. in coupe form, which, if correct, renders it easily the fastest production car ever marketed. The Darracq is now being represented properly in this country by Albemarle Motors. Ltd., at prices from 1870 upwards.