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Lion Tamer
A
total of 104 Peugeot 402 Darl'Mat Special Sport Roadsters were crafted
on the 402 chassis. They were upgraded at Darl'Mat's shop with Cotal
four-speed electro-mechanical gearboxes, before being shipped to
Carrosserie Pourtout and fitted with the Paulin-designed bodies, formed from pieces
of sheet aluminum hand-shaped and then nailed to wooden structures of
ash framing that were then attached to the chassis.
This roadster was powered by a four-cylinder engine with unique tuning advances developed by Emile Darl'Mat, and equipped with a crank-down windscreen, patented by Georges Paulin.
Three Darl'Mats finished in the top 10 overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937. Approximately 30 survive today, including this Best in Class winner at Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
Artist Notes:
"This was a commissioned painting and the client mentioned the lion had significance to the car, casually, in passing. The desert setting wasn't a jungle but I liked the idea. In the concept sketch something seemed to be missing in a composition featuring the car and just the male lion. So, with tongue in cheek, I added the female.... Ha, she prances around, waiting while he examines a more attractive lady."
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