De La Chapelle Grand Prix

Yes, dear reader, De La Chapelle has been featured here before, the brilliant Parcours SUPER MPV. I added the SUPER part.

The Grand Prix is actually the opposite of the Parcours, and the two are so far apart on the spectrum that you'd be forgiven for thinking they were from two different automakers, separated by 80 years and a few galaxies.

Introduced in 1992, the Grand Prix is a throwback; an homage, if you will, to the days where vehicles were being pushed to their limits…using technology best described as ”fortunate”. 

(It's fortunate that early racing machines held together as well as they did, because for every Sir Campbell and Sir Stirling there were 100s of gravestones erected for racers lost to the automobile…anyway…)

De La Chapelle Parcours

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So why would we, hell, anyone want to go back? I've been in a concours-winning Duesenberg at speed, and it felt far from relaxed.

Underneath the Grand-Prix's old-fashioned bodywork is a lot of BMW parts, including a front-rear mounted six-cylinder engine—and even hop-up parts if so specified.

A five-speed transmission, double wishbone suspension, and its low 960 kg (2,116 lbs) weight mean the car will hit speeds in excess of 220 km/h (135 mph).

This means you're looking at, yes, kind of a French Morgan.

It's all hand built, of course, and so the price is revealed to interested buyers — a low-priced commodity car this is not.

If you've got the cash and want to be terrified in a much more modern way, the Grand-Prix should satisfy your urge for a bespoke sports car.

Better still? De La Chapelle is still in business, building small batch automobiles for the select few who want to experience truly classic vibes in a modern age.