I just found this letter I wrote to my father in April 1968:

Dear Daddy

To start the Delage: Between the middle of the front seats and the gearlever gate you will find a little button. Give this button a quarter turn in a clockwise direction. If the electrics come on, the ammeter should flicker very slightly, or else try the lights (same switch as on the XK140).

Once you’ve got electrics, turn the ignition on. In the middle of the light switch, you will see a slit like the head of a screw. Turn this with any key, a coin or even a thumbnail, a quarter turn in a clockwise direction. The petrol pump should start ticking.

Now put your foot hard down on the accelerator (it squeaks) which is between the clutch and the brake, not on the right as normal, take it off and pull the choke out (white knob) about a quarter inch. Then put your foot on the accelerator again, take it off and pull the choke out all the way.

Now, to start it. The starter is a button in the middle of the floor next to the clutch. Press it hard. If the engine doesn’t start by the second time turn EVERYTHING off and wait for five minutes before trying again.

As soon as it fires, push the choke in halfway and you’re ready to go! The speedo doesn’t work, neither does the clock. Everything else does. Synchromesh on 1, 2, 3, 4. Slow change.

Watch the steering!

Love from Gwyn