1947 Delahaye 135M Convertible

Coachwork by Henri Chapron

3,557cc OHV 6 Cylinder Engine
Single Downdraft Carburetor
110 HP at 3,000rpm
4-Speed Cortel Preselector Gearbox
Independent Front Suspension with Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes

*From a private collection
*Elegant drophead coachwork
*Competition proven chassis
*Beautifully presented older restoration
*Among the last of the coach-built luxury cars

THE DELAHAYE 135M

Based initially at Tours and from 1906 in Paris, Delahaye built its first automobile in 1894 and soon diversified into commercial vehicle manufacture. Its early products tended to be rather lacklustre, but then in 1935 came the first of a new generation that would change the marque's image: the T135 Coupe Des Alpes. A fine sporting car, the T135 somewhat paradoxically borrowed its engine from one of its maker's trucks. The 3.2-liter, six-cylinder, overhead-valve unit produced 110bhp on triple Solex carburetors, while the chassis featured transverse-leaf independent front suspension, four-speed synchromesh or Cotal gearboxes, center-lock wire wheels and Bendix brakes.

Delahaye improved on the formula the following year with the 3.6-liter, 120/130bhp T135MS, and the sports version was soon making a name for itself in competitions, taking 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th places in the run-to-sportscar-regulations 1936 French Grand Prix and winning the Monte Carlo Rally and Le Mans 24-Hour Race outright in 1937 and 1938 respectively. Prince Bira won the 1938 Donington 12-Hour Sports Car Race in Prince Chula's example and went on to take victory in Brooklands' 'fastest road car in England' race against some formidable opposition. The model reappeared post-WWII as the 135M with the 3.6-liter engine and lasted in production until 1951.

Delahaye had no in-house coachworks , so all its chassis were bodied by independents, who created some of their most attractive designs on the Type 135. It was a most fortuitous partnership, which resulted in memorable automotive sculpture from the likes of Saoutchik, Chapron, Franay, Graber, Pennock and Figoni et Falaschi. The latter's dropheads, produced between 1946 and 1950, are considered by many to be the most classically beautiful examples of this type of coachwork, with the 1947 and 1948 models most admired.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

The early history of this particular Delahaye 135M is a bit of a mystery at the time of cataloguing. However, the car does correspond with a model produced by Henri Chapron in 1947. Chapron was known for their many attractive styles, and this particular drop head coupe is a testament to that.

The current earliest recorded owner is Edgar Poncelot in 1973. At this time it was registered 8812 RZ 54 by the department of Meurthe et Moselle. From photographs we know that the car was painted white. In 1997 the car was offered for sale by Christies in Geneva Switzerland on the 22nd of May 1997. From there, the car made its way to England where it was offered by Coys in July of that year. It was sold soon after that and remained in England. At this time in the country, the car was restored and the bodywork was modified. The modifications include the fitting of the chrome trim to the bottom of the front wings and an alteration of the boot. These changes moved the spare wheel to the outside, which is a configuration similar to bodies built by Figoni & Falaschi. The car was issued a U.K. registration number TSJ 126. It was then offered for sale by Coys in October of 1999. It was sold to Germany and then offered for sale again in August 2000.

At this time, the car was exported to the United States. For some reason, its original engine #800479, which was a triple-carbureted motor, was swapped for engine number #800792, a single carb unit, before it was exported. This vehicle's original engine is still currently fitted to a shooting brake 135M. The example offered here sold at auction again as part of Christie's Pebble beach auction in 2001. After that, the car made its way to Pennsylvania.

In 2002 the car was purchased by the consigner. For the last 19 years it has remained in his private collection. Today, the car presents very well. It is reported that the car drives beautifully and displays very good road manners. The restoration that was done in the 1990s has aged very well. It shows very well in its current dark blue paintwork with brown leather upholstery.

The Delahaye 135 is one of the truly great cars of the postwar period. They are an absolute pleasure to drive and represent many hallmarks of French design. This car would be welcome at any number of events and makes it an incredibly usable classic. The opportunity to add it to ones stable should not be missed.