1914 DELAGE

THE GRAND Prix Delage Type S was extraordinarily advanced. It had the world's first successful desmodromic 16-valve multi-cylinder engine, copied by Mercedes race cars in the 1950s and in today's Ducati motorcycles. A five speed gearbox – in 1914 – and multi-plate clutch was matched with the then novel innovation of four-wheel cableoperated brakes. The accelerator is in the middle of the pedal set, as was common for the time. The brakes are actuated by a single long-throw lever at the driver's right hand. The riding mechanic regularly pumps fuel with the dash mounted plunger and hangs on for dear life. Starting requires adjusting the advance and retard on the central steering boss, and the mechanic cranks from the front whilst the driver switches the magneto. This car has had a modern starter motor secretly tucked inside the bell housing, invisible to the naked eye but making the car much more user friendly. She is thought to be capable of still hitting the ton. 100mph not km/h. To the disappointment of the French crowd, Mercedes came first, second and third in the 1914 Lyon Grand Prix.