The 1937 Peugeot 302 DS Darl'mat Sport is a premier Art Deco classic with exceptional provenance from a prominent private collection. As a factory Le Mans team car, it is believed to be a class winner and 7th overall at Le Mans in 1937. This vehicle has undergone a fully show restoration and was exhibited at Pebble Beach, showcasing its status as one of the most beautiful racing cars of the thirties.

The Art Deco era, which influenced fashion, graphics, furniture, architecture, and automobiles, is perfectly captured in this vehicle. Peugeot, the oldest automobile manufacturer in the world, began over 200 years ago as a family business and eventually became pioneers of automobile racing. Emile Darl'mat, a Peugeot distributor in Paris, approached Peugeot in 1936 with the concept of a racing partnership involving the successful Peugeot 302. The approved project began with Peugeot providing the modified chassis and commissioning the renowned Parisian coachbuilder Marcel Pourtout of Carrossier Pourtout to design the vehicle.

The design of the vehicle was influenced by Art Deco motifs and industrial streamlining, resulting in a low-slung roadster with no doors, a low-profile windscreen, and distinct racing character. The performance of the prototype at the Montlhéry racing circuit in 1936 demonstrated that Darl'mat was moving in the right direction. The first series of 12 roadsters, based on the enhanced prototype design, was launched for selected customers.

The 1937 Le Mans race was a historic year for Darl'mat, with the team aiming to make a statement against dominant German entrants Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union. The project demanded the best from all assembled, especially in the drivetrain. Uprated by the factory, each 2-liter engine featured dual carburetors, larger oil sump capacity, and more robust capacity radiators. Each car was also fitted with a concealed spare tire, twin fuel fillers, road lamps, and finished with distinct front fender livery to distinguish each car during competition.

This Darl'mat, chassis number 705.501, was very likely the first example of the initial 12 roadsters constructed in the series that included the three Le Mans roadsters for entrance to the 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Although 705.501 was constructed prior to the 1937 Le Mans race, and it has been previously credited as one of the three cars raced at Le Mans, there are no currently available records attributing 705.501 to period competition.

705.501 has a well-documented history spanning its initial build and sale to the first owner, with numerous reference documents gathered from multiple sources. The vehicle remained in largely preserved original condition and undamaged for decades, thanks to protected private ownership. In 2019, the car was acquired by the current owner, a dedicated vintage automotive enthusiast, who commissioned a comprehensive cost-no-object restoration performed by marque experts, including restorative coachwork, paint, mechanical restoration, and reupholstery.