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Devaux Coupe
The Devaux Coupe is often mistaken for a 1930's French
grand tourer, yet it is no classic vintage but rather a definitive
classic in lines and proportions nonetheless. Designed by David
Clash, an industrial designer with a developed taste for 1930's
aesthetics, the automobile is a modern coupe developed by Devaux
Cars that took its inspiration from some of the great vehicles of
times past.
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The design of the Devaux Coupe, borrowed from numerous
classic vintages such as the Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic, the
Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 B Lungo and the Bentley 41/4 litre Streamline,
is simply outstanding.
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The Devaux Coupe beautifully captures the sweeping, extravagant
lines and artful craftsmanship that defined much of the vehicles
of that era.
Background
The Devaux Coupe was developed over a lifetime of thought and desire
from Clash. He started sketching his vehicle creations as a young
child, sending them to the Maserati factory who in turn sent the
young boy copies of their various automotive publications, further
fueling his interest.
Over the years, David developed a passion for exotic automobiles,
particularly admiring the Bugatti 57 SC Atlantic, hailed as the
most beautiful pre-war vehicle ever built. With the last sale of
that vehicle going for a $9 million price tag, he decided, "If
I can't buy one, maybe I can build something (instead.)"
The result, after approximately 14 years of constant designing
and tweaking, is the first Devaux Coupe. The original mould was
built from a 2.5 Riley chassis, with David himself casting the amazing
bodywork with detailed attention. The original powertrain was installed
from a Jaguar, with a traditional 3.4-litre engine, and an MkVII
gearbox.
Features
The gearbox of the Devaux Coupe is a 4-speed automatic and the
vehicle includes provisions for accommodating different engines.
The current production engine is a DV1 Alloy V8 350 CID 5.7 liter
with a usable power of 361 bhp at 5700 rpm and a maximum torque
of 470 Nm at 4400 rpm. Weighing 2480 lbs, the vehicle is built on
a 92-inch wheelbase chassis with a jig-welded RHS mild-steel frame
and fiberglass body panels fitted from the original mould Clash
made. The front and rear brakes are installed with 300 mm discs.
The front of the Devaux Coupe is gorgeously reminiscent of one
of my favorite scenes in old gangster movies, where you watch the
vehicle come to a slow stop before running your head over and everything
goes bleak. The Devaux Coupe features bulbous fenders, an oval-shaped
grille and four external headlamps, all contributing to build the
dramatic feel.
From the side, the Devaux Coupe features a long extended hood,
flowing roofline and a torpedo-shaped rear. The smallish doors are
cut flawlessly into the roofline and features sliding windows.
The rear is crafted in a curvaceous tear-drop shape with a large
fender and a rear hatch with split windows cut into it. The hatch
opens to a small luggage compartment, which fits a spare wheel and
perhaps a regular-sized bag or two.
The 2-seater cabin highlights an English sports car seating position,
with a prominent 4-spoke Moto-lita steering wheel and leather interior.
The dashboard is built with a pseudo-timber finish, and is installed
with center-mounted, design-modified digital VDO gauges. Various
areas of the interior and exterior are all detailed with polished
aluminum and chrome.
On The Road
The Devaux Coupe has made several laps on a Formula One racetrack
to responses of awe and cheers. It has been a definite hit on the
various auto shows and races where it made an appearance. On the
road, the Devaux Coupe is a guaranteed head-turner, no matter what
speed you're driving at.
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