This Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe by Pourtout boasts an art-deco body style and belongs to a series of just six vehicles made in the late 1930s, only three of which are said to be still around. It is expected to fetch between $1.1 and $1.5 million USD when it goes on sale.
It was common practice among manufacturers back in the era to sell bare chasses and let special companies called coachbuilders to construct a car body on top of them. This particular exterior came to life 84 years ago.
In the early 30s, Peugeot dealership owner Émile Darl’mat decided to team up with Marcel Pourtout to produce original and unique car bodies. The initiative was unofficial at first, but Peugeot ultimately noticed the effort and agreed to supply their workshop with chasses for these custom projects.
In 1936, Darl’mat pieced together a car based on the type-302 platform and a type-402 engine. Two years after that, this Special Coupe was born based on a lightweight variant of the type-402 chassis.
The car was originally presented to Alfred Giauque, the manager of the automaker’s racing team of the time. Until late 60s or early 70s, the car proceeded to change hands multiple times in France before finally landing in the United States, where it will soon be crossing the auction block expected to win $1,000,000+.