1953 Delahaye 235M Coupe

Delahaye introduced the 235 in 1952 and production continued through 1954 with a total of 84 examples built. Similar to the 135 chassis and engine, they came equipped with a 160 horsepower engine, and a new grille courtesy of Philippe Charbonneaux.

This particular example wears coachwork by Carrosserie J. Saoutchik. It is a four-passenger fastback coupe with a large curved rear window, one-piece windshield, pillarless windows, headlights integrated into the top of the front fenders, and low mounted fog lights. Saoutchik finished the car in Velasquez Gray with a blue leather interior and put it on display on their stand at the 1952 Paris Salon, then once more at the concours held at the casino in Enghien-les-Bains on 20 June 1953, where it received the Grand Prix d'Honneur.

The first owner of this car is not known. It was first registered in 1959 to a Claude Martin, in the department of Seine-et-Oise, as 5678 CX 78. It re-appeared in 1979, for sale from Martin at the Château de Bressuire, by which time it had been finished in French Racing Blue. Jean-Claude Aubriet acquired it in 1984, and retained it for the next three years. By this time it had been given the sliding sunroof.

In the late 1980s, the Delahaye was brought to the United States, and was restored by the late Mike Fennel in its current rich metallic aubergine hue, with a supple tan interior. The original bumpers were removed, and replaced with chrome 'bumperettes.' After the restoration, the car was put on display at the 1990 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, winning a class award.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2019

Delahaye built the first 235 chassis in 1951 in conjunction with French design engineer Philippe Charbonneaux and it featured a six-cylinder 3.5-liter engine that gave the car a top speed of over 100 mph. It was marketed as a luxurious and fast touring car. This example has a coupe body that was designed and built by Saoutchik and displayed at the 1953 Paris Auto Salon.

The 235 had a simple type of parallel-side member frame with an independent front suspension. Its rear axle was mounted on a pair of leaf springs. It has a cast-iron, overhead-valve, in-line, six-cylinder engine and with a trio of Solex down-draft carburetors, it managed 152 hp at 4,200 rpm. It is fitted with an electrically operated Cotal 4-speed pre-selector transmission and this 3,520-pound car has a top speed of 105 mph.

The Delahaye 235 was one of the last automobiles built by that company before it was swallowed whole by a competitor, Hotchkiss and confined to building trucks. It was the last chassis Delahaye sold. Around 85 Delahaye 235s were built, each selling for around 3.5 million French Francs or nearly $11,000 in the early 1950s.