1938 Delahaye "Pantheon" Custom

Known as one of the first and finest when it comes to applying his visions and skills to custom-built cars, Rick Dore has crafted some of the most respected one-off customs in the world and has effortlessly built a worldwide reputation. Dore blends the elegance of the Classic Era with the drama of modern form, creating machines that look as if they’ve driven straight from a dream. His builds, sleek, flowing, and meticulously detailed, embody the soul of the French coachbuilt era while pushing the limits of contemporary craftsmanship. From hand-formed aluminum panels to flawless finishes, every Dore creation showcases a master’s touch and an artist’s eye for proportion and balance. His ability to capture emotion in metal has earned him countless awards, magazine features, and the admiration and rightful place in noted collections worldwide.

Kruse Auctions is proud and honored to present Rick Dore's crowning and final custom creation, which is known around the world as “Pantheon”. This one-off hand-built custom is best described as old-world craftsmanship intertwined with modern-day performance, or French styling with American attitude. Built on an Art Morrison chassis, it features a hand-formed all-aluminum body by Luc Deley of Marcel’s Custom Metal, a complex and meticulous time-consuming process. Using only the best in the business, the brass plated chrome was completed by Sherms, the glass was completed by Vic at Galinda Glass, and wiring was completed by Ron Francis. Following suit, the taillights and commanding front grille were hand formed to be precisely placed. The transcending and jewel-like finish Tahitian Blue paint was applied by Hillview Customs and Benny Flores, perfectly complementing and showcasing the exquisite French Delahaye-like sculpted lines. Equipped with a removable top, this custom can be transformed into an open top Roadster, further adding to its brilliance.

At the heart, Pantheon is powered by a 5.3-liter LS V-8 engine that is paired with a 4L80 four-speed automatic transmission. Backed by a hand-formed custom dual exhaust, it’s a symphony of sound that matches its presence. The understated, yet captivating interior was completed by Ron Mangus and features Egyptian leather, a custom 17-inch steering wheel that carries the Rick Dore emblem, and a singular center-mounted gauge that entails all roadgoing necessities and emulates the great French-built cars from the height of the Art Deco era.

Making its public debut at the 2025 SEMA Show, it caused a sensational stir, with people lining up to catch a glimpse of the hand-formed all-aluminum body. SEMA brass and FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stopped to admire Pantheon and celebrate Rick Dore's crowning final achievement. It would go on to garner a Best in Class Award at the 2025 Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance and Best Custom Roadster at the 2026 L.A. Roadster Show. Pantheon now offers its next caretaker the opportunity to display a showstopping bespoke custom at a host of important events.

As Rick Dore’s crowning and final custom creation, Pantheon represents not only the culmination of a legendary career, but a singular work of art that has no equal. Many of Dore’s creations are now forever on display at institutions such as the Petersen Automotive Museum and are seldom seen trading hands or leaving their long-term collections. This offering presents an exceptionally rare, potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire one of the most important, elegant, and evocative custom automobiles from one of the greatest of all time.