Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million

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Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million 1

A very rare Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 was put up for auction at RM Sotheby’s in the USA. Avant-garde sports car plan to sell for about $1.5 million, and it is a record for the cars of the French brand. Details of the extraordinary car were disclosed on the official website of the auction house.

Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million 3
A coupe Peugeot 402 is distinguished by its original design in the art deco style
Photo: Sotheby’s

The Peugeot 402 was the flagship of the brand’s lineup of the 30s. All in all, about 75,000 of these cars were produced, however, only six of them received an exclusive body of Darl’mat Special Coupe from Atelier Portout. Only three such coupes have survived to our days.

Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million 5
The Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe was valued at $1.5 million
Photo: Sotheby’s

The Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe in the Art Deco style was designed by the famous designer Georges Polin, who later became one of the leaders of the French Resistance Movement during WWII. The car has an elegant design with streamlined swollen surfaces and plenty of chrome in the trim.

Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million 7
Only six Peugeot 402 Darl’mat coupes were produced, of which only three have survived.
Photo: Sotheby’s

In addition, the coupe is faster than a standard Peugeot 402, because its 2.0-liter quadruple was supplemented with a mechanical compressor. This raised its output to 73 hp, and the top speed was 125 km/h. In 1938, one such sports car won its class in the 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Special Coupe of 1938 valued at $1.5 million 9
The Peugeot 402 engine is equipped with a mechanical compressor
Photo: Sotheby’s

This particular car moved from France to the United States in the 1970s. It has undergone a quality restoration and is in excellent condition, and has repeatedly won awards at various retro festivals.