Peugeot
402 Darl’mat Spécial Sport (Pourtout)

Why it matters

The Darl'mat Specials combined Peugeot running gear, Darl'mat's modifications and Georges Paulin's streamlined Pourtout coachwork, producing some of the most striking French sports cars of the 1930s. They proved themselves at Le Mans, finishing 7th, 8th and 10th in 1937 and taking the 2-litre class in 1938.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The Darl'mat Special was first unveiled at the 1936 Paris Salon on the 302 platform with a 1,750 cc four; for 1938 it moved to the 402 Légère with the more powerful 2-litre engine. Paulin, chief stylist at Pourtout in Bougival, drew the aluminium bodies. Across all variants 105 were built: 53 roadsters, 32 cabriolets and 20 coupés, with about six coupés on the 402 platform. In 1938 de Cortanze and Contet finished 5th overall at Le Mans and won the 2-litre class.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Bodies are aluminium Art Deco designs by Paulin for Pourtout, with sloping grille and teardrop fenders; 402-based coupés have faired-in headlamps and circular chrome shields down the front fenders.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   1937-1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Cabriolet Level B Wouter Melissen · Ultimatecarpage.com · 2008-02-03

   • Numbers built: 105 (53 Roadsters, 20 Coupes, 32 Cabriolets)
   • estimated that around thirty examples still exist today

   Accessed 2026-11-12
2. 2
   1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Special Coupe by Pourtout | Monterey 2022 | RM Sotheby's Level B

   • 105 all variants (53 roadsters, 32 cabriolets, 20 coupés)

   Accessed 2026-11-11
3. 3
   1938 Peugeot 402 Darl'mat Special Coupe by Pourtout Level B RM Sotheby's

   • 402's more powerful 2-liter motor

   Accessed 2026-11-12