Devaux - It's History

The first Devaux prototype was developed around the classic Jaguar double overhead cam inline six — not simply for convenience, but because it embodied the mechanical character David wanted the car to express. The XK engine offered proven strength, abundant torque, and a long bonnet presence that suited the 1930s aero-inspired proportions perfectly.

Beneath it, the pragmatic choice of a Riley chassis provided a proven structural foundation, allowing the project to progress efficiently while maintaining proper engineering discipline. This was not a shortcut, but a sensible starting point that could be reworked and to suit the Devaux’s unique body and performance requirements.

Installing the Jaguar driveline still demanded bespoke integration — revised mounting points, new cooling system, and careful weight distribution to ensure the car drove as well as it looked. The result was a prototype that combined Art Deco visual drama with a fundamentally sound grand touring platform — mechanically familiar, serviceable, and entirely in keeping with the analogue ethos of the Devaux concept.

From its earliest public appearances, the MkI drew sustained attention wherever it was displayed, not in a fleeting novelty sense but with the kind of quiet crowd that gathers around something genuinely different.

The long bonnet, tapering tail and restrained Art Deco surfacing stopped people mid-stride, and conversations inevitably followed — first about its resemblance to the great French aero coupes, then about the fact that it was conceived and built in Australia. Enthusiasts, designers and casual observers alike were struck by the coherence of the package: it did not feel like a replica or a pastiche, but a resolved grand touring car with presence and intent.

At shows and private viewings, the Mk I consistently attracted admirers who understood that they were looking at something rare — a modern coachbuilt car with authentic proportions and mechanical substance to match its visual drama.

The MkI prototype received a significant vote of confidence when it was inspected by renowned British racing driver Win Percy.

Percy, whose career spanned touring cars, sports cars and Le Mans competition, brought a highly trained engineer’s eye as well as a driver’s instinct to his assessment. His inspection focused not only cosmetic detail, but on structural integrity, chassis execution, and the overall coherence of the engineering package.

For a low-volume, coachbuilt Australian marque, having a driver of Percy’s calibre examine the car and respond positively was an important validation. It reinforced that the Devaux was not merely a stylistic homage to the 1930s aero era, but a properly engineered grand touring machine with credible mechanical foundations.

MkII - Production Prototype

MkII was built as a pre-production test car - a great opportunity to create a fully engineered new build to evaluate the new chassis, new finishes and so many new parts - sourced and bespoke.

The MkII represented a decisive shift from concept-led experimentation to genuine production intent.

Mechanically it was a radical departure, built around an entirely bespoke chassis engineered specifically for the Devaux rather than adapted from an existing platform. This clean-sheet architecture allowed proper optimisation of torsional rigidity, suspension geometry, and interior space from the outset.

The adoption of a contemporary Ford inline six further underscored the move toward practicality and repeatability — modern electronics, improved emissions compliance, and global serviceability were now integral to the design brief.

The MkII was no longer simply a beautifully resolved prototype; it was a true production prototype, establishing the structural and mechanical blueprint upon which any future series manufacture could realistically be based.

Chassis & engine pics below.

With the body design and overall aesthetic resolved — the proportions, surfacing and stance exactly as he had enisioned — attention turned squarely to mechanical validation.

Having brought the drivetrain and chassis specification up to contemporary standards, it was essential to prove that the engineering matched the visual intent. The car was therefore subjected to sustained road testing to confirm structural rigidity, suspension geometry, cooling performance and driveline reliability under real operating conditions.

Only once the updated mechanical package demonstrated consistent, predictable behaviour did the project move beyond concept and into a fully realised grand touring machine.

An Audience with Jay Leno

When David presented the Devaux drawings and development photographs to Jay Leno, the reaction was immediate and animated. Leno, whose knowledge of automotive history and engineering depth is well known, was particularly taken by the integrity of the proportions and the commitment to an analogue grand touring philosophy in a modern context. The long bonnet and unabashed 1930's styling, clearly resonated with his passion for coachbuilt classics and Art Deco design.

For David, the moment was less about celebrity endorsement and more about recognition from one of the world’s most respected automotive custodians. Leno’s genuine enthusiasm affirmed that the MkIII concept spoke not only to nostalgia, but to informed collectors who understand design lineage, engineering coherence, and the rarity of an independently developed marque executed at this level.

Options for your hand-built Devaux

Variations on a theme were always part of the Devaux philosophy. While the core design remains constant, each car can be tailored to suit its owner’s driving style and market requirements.

Buyers may specify manual or automatic transmission, and the cars can be configured in either left-hand or right-hand drive for export flexibility. Exterior colour and interior upholstery are entirely bespoke, allowing for anything from period-correct restraint to more contemporary interpretations, all executed with the craftsmanship expected of a low-volume coachbuilt marque.

Importantly, every Devaux is delivered with air conditioning for real-world grand touring comfort and a proper spare wheel — a small but increasingly rare nod to practicality in modern motoring.