The most recent modern-day interpretation of a latter-day French styling masterpiece to roll out of Terry Cook’s Delahaye USA, the Delahaye USA Pacific, for sale on Hemmings.com, takes its inspiration from the Bugatti Type 57S, as does its predecessor, the Bella Figura. The Pacific, however, goes one step further and emulates the Type 57S Atlantic’s distinctive roofline. From the seller’s description:
There have been a number of replica Atlantics built over the years, including thirteen beautiful fiberglass and aluminum examples by Erik Koux in France (retired), several by Crayville in England, and one or two by the late Dedobbeleer of Belgium. From the outset our goal was never to build another replica, as that has been done admirably by the aforementioned artisans. Our motivation in taking on a project of this magnitude is to let our creative juices flow to deliver a smoothed-out, stylized interpretation that respects the T57S Atlantic. It’s an artistic statement, a rolling sculpture. That’s why we jokingly refer to our car as a PACIFIC. With a one-piece curved windshield at a more rakish angle than the original, we are just tweaking and refining the design. It is intended as a homage, a modern Tribute to one of our four favorite designers, JEAN BUGATTI.
Based on a 127-inch-wheelbase custom steel tube chassis that is 10 inches longer than the 1937 Atlantic, a primary concern when designing the car was to offer more occupant room than the original car. We’ve had 6-foot 6-inch people sit in the car with plenty of head, shoulder, and leg room. The stainless steel tubular seat frames in our blue prototype are exact copies of those from RALPH LAUREN’s beautiful black Atlantic, one of only three original cars built with the distinguishing external body flange used to rivet the original cars together. This prototype has a 9-inch Ford rear with leaf springs and tubular beam front axle with leaf springs, copying the original Atlantic. Subsequent PACIFICS and kits will be offered with IFS and either straight or IRS, depending on customer’s choice. The wire wheels are 3.5 x 19 Daytons shod with 3.50/4.00-19 Excelsiors up front (and spare) and 5 x 20 Daytons in the rear with 4.75/5.00-20 Excelsiors.
The engine in this PACIFIC prototype is a fuel-injected 304-cubic-inch (4,988 cc) 1987-’94 BMW M70B50 SOHC V-12. The air intake runners have been de-burred and polished and new aftermarket air cleaners were installed, otherwise it is unchanged. It is backed by a BMW 4HP24 EH four-speed automatic transmission with electronic control.
The seats are trimmed in brocade, a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabric, and trimmed with unique contrasting welting. If the brocade fabric is not to your liking, the seat cushions and fabric can be replaced easily enough with your choice of leather, ostrich, or alligator skin, etc. The remainder of the interior was trimmed in camel colored leather, ultra suede, and Mercedes Benz carpeting by JERRY AMBROSI of MASTER UPHOLSTERY in Newton, NJ, considered to be one of the top auto trim artisans in the Eastern USA. The prototype has power windows and air conditioning.
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