Classic Delage Type-S grand prix car lives on

A 1914 Delage Type-S grand prix car – the last surviving example in the world – has returned to road-going condition through 3D printing technology.

When the cylinder block of the complex 16-valve (four-cylinder) engine cracked, owner Stuart Murdoch faced the near certainty that the highly prized Delage would live out its days as nothing more than a static display in a museum – an ignominious fate for the illustrious car, once owned by motor racing legend Lex Davison.

The answer to Murdoch's prayers came along in the shape of Grant Cowrie, an automotive engineer specialising in pre-war cars. Based in Castlemaine – the 'Rod Capital of Australia' – Cowrie was certain a new block could be cast for the unique Delage through 3D printing, which is an increasingly popular and sustainable way to manufacturer a car in a short time frame.

But 3D printing is a process normally associated with cars of the future, not cars of the past. With no original sketches or replacement parts for reference, Cowrie was presented with a complex task. He reproduced the block of the Delage digitally, using powerful lasers to scan the block inside and out, and repair the 'crack' in the digital clone. A sand mould was then created using a 3D printer operated by CSIRO and the project was completed using traditional manual machining methods.

Once the 103 year old race car was fully restored, Murdoch was thrilled.

"It is a considerable achievement for all those involved and, might I say, quite an achievement for Australian engineering," he told the ABC.

Indeed, this successful project could put Australia on the map for revolutionising car restoration and recapturing the golden age of motorsport. Considering the collapse of car manufacturing in Australia, could 3D printing mean the commissioning of car restorations in large economies of scale?

Picture courtesy of the ABC