Emile Darl'mat's Vision: The Fascinating Tale of the Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport

The LEGEND - One of the legendary sports cars from the period before and shortly after World War II is the 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Spécial Sport. This French sports car was named after Emile Darl'mat, a French entrepreneur with strong connections to the Peugeot factory during the pre-war era, which eventually led him to establish and own a Peugeot distributor.

The Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 'Spécial Sport' (in pictured Cabriolet version) was envisioned by Emile Darl'mat to boost Peugeot’s image by offering a lightweight body, unique areodynamic styling and sporting engine. (Picture from: Bonham)

During that time, he initiated a project with the aim of enhancing Peugeot's image by offering a lightweight body, unique aerodynamic styling, and a sporty engine. He was involved in a car body business in Rue de l'Université, Paris, in 1925.

The Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 'Spécial Sport' (in pictured Cabriolet version) was envisioned by Emile Darl'mat to boost Peugeot’s image by offering a lightweight body, unique areodynamic styling and sporting engine. (Picture from: TopGear.Over-Blog)

To turn his vision into reality, in late 1933, Darl'mat introduced his colleague Georges Paulin to the Parisian coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout. Although Paulin was originally a dentist, he had a passion for designing coachwork and became Pourtout's official designer.

The Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' Roadster gained fame through its association with Dorothy Patten, a renowned British female racing driver during the pre and post-World War II era. (Picture from: TopGear.Over-Blog)

Georges Paulin designed the fabulous shape of the car, which was crafted from sheet aluminum by Marcel Pourtout. The duo had previously collaborated on several aerodynamic cars, including the Peugeot 301 'Eclipse' with a retracting roof system, which debuted at the World's Fair in Chicago.

It's believed to be one of six the Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' coupes built by Pourtout on the 402-series Légère (lightweight) chassis. (Picture from: RMSothebys)

With the factory's approval, Darl'mat's proposal to create his own sports car became a reality. He enlisted Paulin and Pourtout to work on the design and collaborated directly with Peugeot’s Director of Mechanical Studies, Alfred Geauque, to create the chassis and engine. This involved a competition-tuned four-cylinder engine and modified Cotal gearboxes. As a result, the Darl'mat Roadster stood out on the road and occasionally participated in races.

301 'Eclipse' with a retracting roof system was designed and built by Georges Paulin and Marcel Marcel Pourtout, which debured at the Chicago World's Fair in 1934. (Picture from: Oto)

In 1937, three identical Peugeots Darl'mat, bodied by Pourtout, were entered for Le Mans. They were 302s with 402 engines (4 cylinders and 2 liters). These cars performed well, finishing 7th, 8th, and 10th in the general classification. In 1938, one of these cars, driven by Cortanze, achieved first place in the 2-liter class, surpassing the Adlers.

Here is a famous picture of Dorothy Patten sitting on the door of a Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 'Spécial Sport' in May 1939, outside Tom Knowles’s garage in London. (Picture from: TopGear.Over-Blog)

Encouraged by this success, Darl’mat and Pourtout produced the Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' models. During production period of 1936 to 1939, Peugeot sold around 100 cars in various forms, including Coupe, Cabriolet, and Roadster. Approximately 53 roadsters, 20 coupes, and 32 cabriolets were produced..

This snapshot of Dorothy Patten in a Peugeot 402 Darl'mat 'Spécial Sport' on Brighton’s Madeira Drive is a rare one. (Picture from: TheSAHB)

The Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' gained fame through its association with Dorothy Patten, a renowned British female racing driver during the pre and post-World War II era. She purchased the car as new in 1938 and promptly took it to the track with her husband-to-be, Baron Rainer von Dorndorf.

Dorothy Patten behind the wheel of 1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' Roadster taking part in the fastest road car race at Brooklands in May, 1939. (Picture from: Silodrome)

As quoted from ClassicDriver, the couple used the car to race across Europe until 1948, and kept it until 1957. After that, the car underwent several owner changes. The current owner acquired it in 2009 and commissioned a complete restoration, carefully preserving its originality and authenticity.

Dorothy Patten, otherwise known as the Baroness Dorndorf, belting her Peugeot Darl’Mat Roadster around a corner shortly before WWII. (Picture from: Silodrome on Tweeter)

In 2016, the legendary car was showcased on the Peugeot stand at the prestigious Rétromobile show in Paris. To this day, it remains one of the few surviving Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat 'Spécial Sport' cars (some say around 30 units known by the Darl'Mat Club in France).

Undoubtedly, this rare Darl'Mat Roadster has been cherished and used as intended since the day it left Carrosserie Pourtout in 1938. It continues to make a striking appearance at racing events, major concours, rallies, and tours. The Baroness von Dorndorf summed up the car when quoted by Autocar in 1942: "I can truthfully say the Darl’Mat is the most satisfying car I ever owned." *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CLASSICDRIVER | BONHAM | SUPERCARS.NET | TOPGEAR.OVER-BLOG | THESAHB | SILODROME | PREWARCAR ]

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