1951 Delahaye Type 235 Cabriolet

The Delahaye 235 was the last attempt by Delahaye to produce a successful sports car after the war. This example has a unique Saoutchik body, first exhibited at the 1951 Paris Auto Show. With a 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder engine and a Cotal pre-selector gearbox the Delahaye 235 was a modernized descendant of Delahaye's pre-war 135 with revised suspension. Far from cheap, it cost double the price of the rival Jaguar XK120 or about the same as a Bentley Mark VI and five times the cost of a Citroen Traction Avant, one of its ever-popular French rivals. Sadly only 84 Type 235s had been built at the end of 1954 when the Delahaye Company ceased production for the last time. This car led a busy life in Europe, being shown at several concours, until 1964 when, with 80,382 kilometers on the clock, it was put away in a garage in France. During the last 45 years that car has been driven less than 100 kilometers; and it is complete and original in every respect.

The 235 Roadster is powered by an inline 3.5 liter, six-cylinder, overhead camshaft engine, with three Solex downdraft carburetors, and develops 105 horsepower. It was capable of 169 kph (106 mph).