Page "Delaunay-Belleville" Paragraph 13

By the late 1920s, Delaunay-Belleville had lost its prestige, and converted to truck and military vehicle production.

In 1936 the previously separate car company was merged with the Delaunay Belleville parent.

Production of the Delaunay-Belleville RI-6 continued through the late 1930s and was revived after the Second World War.

This was a six-cylinder-engined car strongly resembling the Mercedes-Benz 230, featuring independent suspension all-round ; revived postwar, it featured Cotal preselector gearbox and a front grille design apparently copied from the 1939 Buick.

However, the business was in decline: anyone buying a RI-6 in the 1940s would have done so in the knowledge after-sales service might disappear soon.

Six cars were completed in 1947 and this sank to four during the first part of 1948.