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1946 Delahaye 135M Coach Coupe

  • Coachwork by Guillore
  • Chassis Number: 800410
  • Engine Number: 800410
The origins of Delahaye lie in a company set up as long ago as 1845 to produce brick-making machinery. Emile Delahaye was a railroad engineer who designed rolling stock for the French and Belgian railroads. He built his first car in 1895. Delahaye took over Delage in 1935, a maker of elegant cars and a company with an established clientele who demanded both performance and elegance. The Type 135M, first presented at the 1934 Paris Salon (just prior to the merger of the two companies), provided the perfect foundation for flamboyant coachwork by various carrossiers. A total of 2,592 were produced from 1935-1952, including 1,115 built post-WWII. Coachbuilder A. Guillore was located in Courbevoie, France, fitting custom bodies on cars from 1937-1951.

This example, with its original 3.5-liter, 95 horsepower overhead valve six-cylinder engine, was originally believed to have been delivered to the Netherlands, later arriving in Quebec in 1952.
Delahaye produced motor vehicles from the mid-1890s to 1954. In 1935, Delahaye merged with Delage, resulting in a new and well-engineered Type 135 chassis. Power came from a large displacement 3.6-liter engine. The T135M of 1936 proved itself to be a capable motorsports competitor when a quartet of racing models placed 2nd through 5th at that year's French Grand Prix. In 1937, the Delahaye's earned an outright victory at the Monte Carlo Rally followed by another victory at the 1938 Le Man's 24-Hour race.

The Type 135 M had a low-slung chassis and was given stylish bodies by some of the best-known and most prestigious of French carrosseriers. Wartime halted production in 1940, but when it resumed, Delahaye introduced the Type 135 M in 1946. The 3.6L six continued to power the series through to its 1951 conclusion. In traditional French fashion, all 135 M chassis were right-hand drive.

This post-WWII Delahaye Type 135 M wears a body crafted by French carrosserier A. Guilloré. It is a close-coupled 2-door body that is known in Europe as a Coach Coupe. The completed car was delivered new in Amsterdam to an owner whose name is seemingly lost to history. It was acquired there in 1952 by Ralph McNight, a Canadian citizen. He had the car subsequently shipped from Holland to Quebec. By 1955, ownership had passed to a Jean Charest, a resident of a Montreal suburb. In 1960, Leon Frechon of Hudson, Quebec obtained the Delahaye —and sold it that same year to the current owner, also then living in the province. The current caretaker has preserved the Delahaye in its original mechanical configuration. It has its original 'matching numbers' engine which was gone over and received new bearings during a thorough overhaul of the chassis preparatory to the full body-off restoration completed in 1993.

The Delahaye has a two-tone exterior paint which pays tribute to the car's original monochromatic steel gray color. Its dual batteries were replaced in 2015, and the brake system's linings and operating cables were recently renewed.

Power is from an overhead valve six-cylinder engine fitted with a Solex carburetor. There is a 4-speed Cotal Electromechanical gearbox and four-wheel Bendix Duo-Servo mechanical brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016

2016 RM Sotheby's : Hershey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $110,000-USD $140,000 
Sale Price :
USD $77,000

2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $150,000-USD $200,000 
Lot was not sold

1946 Delahaye 135M Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Delahaye 135M

(Data based on Model Year 1946 sales)
1946 Delahaye 135 M Abbott Roadster
Chassis#: 800440
Sold for USD$456,000
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
 
1946 Delahaye 135 M Coupé Coachwork by Coachwork by Van Leersum
Chassis#: 800311
Sold for USD$118,702
  2024 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde a Paris
1946 Delahaye 135M image  1946 Delahaye 135M image  
1946 Delahaye 135 M Coach by Guilloré
Chassis#: 800217
Sold for USD$98,000
  2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1946 Delahaye 135M image  1946 Delahaye 135M image  
1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Graber
Chassis#: 800320
Sold for USD$274,793
  2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland
1946 Delahaye 135M image  1946 Delahaye 135M image  
1946 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#: 800308
Sold for USD$413,004
  2020 RM Sothebys : Paris
 
1946 Delahaye 135 M Coach by Guilloré
Chassis#: 800410
Sold for USD$77,000
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Hershey
1946 Delahaye 135M image  1946 Delahaye 135M image  
1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet
Chassis#: 800269
Sold for USD$193,421
  2012 Bonhams - Paris, La Halle Freyssinet Motocars
1946 Delahaye 135M image  1946 Delahaye 135M image  
1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet
Chassis#: 48715
Sold for USD$200,273
  2008 Bonhams - Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles Automobiles d'Exception
 
1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet
Sold for USD$276,100
  2004 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
 

Delahaye 135Ms That Failed To Sell At Auction

1946 Delahaye 135M's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1946 Delahaye 135M Coupe Coachwork by Van Leersum8003112018 Bonhams : Quail Lodge $450,000$550,000
1946 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet by Graber8003202017 RM Sothebys : Monterey $450,000$650,000
1946 Delahaye 135 M Coupe by Van Leersum 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey   
1946 DELAHAYE 135M COACH COUPÉ8004102016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction $150,000$200,000
1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet8004242015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais $150,000$200,000
1946 Delahaye 135M Roadster8004292010 Leake Car Auctions 38th Annual Leake Auto Auction Market Hall$100,000  

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1946 Delahaye 135M

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery
Other Delahaye 135M model years

1946 Delahaye 135M Vehicle Profiles

1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Coach
Coachwork: Guillore
Chassis #: 800217
1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Coupe
Coachwork: Van Leersum
Chassis #: 800311
1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Hermann Graber
Chassis #: 800320
Engine #: 800320
1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Hermann Graber
Chassis #: 800269
1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 800701
1946 Delahaye 135M vehicle information
Coach Coupe
Coachwork: Guillore
Chassis #: 800410
Engine #: 800410