conceptcarz.com

Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1938 Delahaye Type 135 MS Coupe

  • Coachwork by Figoni
  • Chassis Number: 60112
  • Engine Number: 60112
  • Body Number: 729
This 1938 Delahaye is equipped with the desirable racing specification 160 hp MS engine and fitted with coachwork by Figoni 'et Falaschi. The car was first displayed by the coachbuilder on their stand at the 1938 Paris Auto Salon show. During WWII it was kept safely hidden in occupied France and not discovered until 1968 in a field near Toulon, France. The car was first restored in 1986 and acquired by the Rosso Bianco Collection in Germany. Twenty years later it was restored for the second time.

The car is powered by a 3557 cc overhead-valve 6-cylinder engine with three horizontal carburetors developing 160 hp coupled to a 4-speed manual transmission with an electromagnetic selector. The brakes are controlled by a single cable under the motor.
The placement of custom bodies on the chassis of great automobiles otherwise known as coach building reached its zenith in the 1930s. The French Delahaye was renowned for its drivability and road-holding abilities. Add its high-performance inline six-cylinder with its 160 horsepower MS configuration and you had a platform of choice for Figoni et Falaschi who made famous the Goutte d'Eau or teardrop streamliners.

This 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe with coachwork by Figoni & Falaschi was displayed on the Figoni/Falaschi stand at the 1938 Paris Salon. Also on display at the time was a Delahaye V12 Roadster.

The chassis was built atop of the new 135 M Special, also known as MS, and powered by a four-main bearing 3557cc engine that was comprised of light alloy cinder heads and had an 8.4:1 compression ratio. Pushrods operated the 42 mm vertical inlet valves. The engine breathed through triple down-draft Solex carburetors and emptied into six exhaust ports which eventually feed into a single exhaust pipe. Power was rated at 125.

The car came standard with center-lock 5.50x17 Rudge-Whitworth wheels and rack-and-pinion gear for raising and lowering the side windows. The front suspension was independent, while the rear was comprised of semi-elliptic leaf springs. The drum brakes measured 14 inches in diameter and were suitable enough to keep this powerful, yet lightweight coupe in the control of its driver. There is a Cotal electromagnetic gearbox.

The immediate history after the salon is not fully known, but in the post-WWII era, it had come into the possession of Madame Michele Gautier of La Seyne-Sur-Mer. During some period in its history, the frontal area was modified with a narrower radiator grille and chrome lights on the edges of the wings, replacing the low-level lamps.

In 1964, Antoine Raffaelli came across this magnificent automobile. It was behind a reef hedge in South-West France and it took twenty-one years before Raffaelli was able to convince the owner to sell the car. Upon receiving the car in 1985, he began a complete restoration which took a couple of years to complete. It was offered for sale in 1990. Within a few years, it had made its way to the United States where it became a museum exhibit.

This car was offered for sale at the 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields auction held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California where it was estimated to sell between $1,000,000 - $1,300,000. At the auction, this beautiful automobile was sold, selling for $1,712,000 and exceeding the estimated value.

This Delahaye was voted Best of Show at Ault Park in 2017, and Boca Raton and Cobble Beach in 2018.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2018

2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,300,000-USD $1,600,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,325,000

2015 RM Sotheby's : Amelia Island

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,100,000-USD $1,600,000 
Sale Price :
USD $990,000

2013 RM Auctions - Arizona

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,400,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,540,000

2011 RM Auctions - Villa d'Este

Pre-Auction Estimates :
€900,000-€1,100,000 
High Bid (Lot was not sold)
€830,000

2006 Bonhams & Butterfields at The Quail Lodge, Resort & Golf Club

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,000,000-USD $1,300,000 
Sale Price :
USD $1,712,000

1938 Delahaye Type 135 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Delahaye Type 135

(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Figoni et Falaschi Coupe
Chassis#: 60112
Sold for USD$1,325,000
  2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coach par Guilloré
Chassis#: 49373
Sold for USD$43,502
  2022 Artcurial : Le Mans Classic
 
1938 Delahaye 135 M Three-position Drophead Coupé
Chassis#: 48721
Sold for USD$258,594
  2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
 
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet Conversion
Chassis#: 60221
Sold for USD$270,603
  2017 RM Sothebys : London
 
1937 DELAHAYE 135 CABRIOLET Coachwork by Henri Chapron
Chassis#: 48482
Sold for USD$434,500
  2016 Bonhams : The Amelia Island Auction
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#: 60112
Sold for USD$990,000
  2015 RM Sotheby's : Amelia Island
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135 M cabriolet
Chassis#: 6S103
Sold for USD$166,992
  2015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
 
1937 DELAHAYE 135 MS CHAPRON WITH FIGONI BUMPERS
Chassis#: 48482
Sold for USD$385,000
  2015 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#: 60112
Sold for USD$1,540,000
  2013 RM Auctions - Arizona
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1939 Delahaye 135 MS Grand Sport Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi
Chassis#: 60158
Sold for USD$1,118,313
  2011 RM Auctions - Villa d'Este
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135MS Sports Cabriolet
Chassis#: 60123
Sold for USD$852,500
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Competition Cabriolet
Chassis#: 49197
Sold for USD$2,383,002
  2010 RM Auctions - Sporting Classics of Monaco
 
1939 Delahaye Type 135 MS
Chassis#: 60158
Sold for USD$1,347,500
  2007 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1938 Delahaye Type 135 Paris Salon Cabriolet
Sold for USD$1,712,000
  2006 Bonhams & Butterfields at The Quail Lodge, Resort & Golf Club
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  
1939 Delahaye Type 135 MS
Chassis#: 60158
Sold for USD$1,100,000
  2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction
1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 image  

Delahaye Type 135s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1938 Delahaye Type 135's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1938 Delahaye 135 M Coupé Sport Chapron601272017 Artcurial : Retromobile $400,000$600,000
1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupé by Figoni et Falaschi601122011 RM Auctions Villa d'Este$830,000$900,000$1,100,000
1938 Delahaye 135 M cabriolet6S1032010 Bonhams Automobiles d'Exception á Rétromobile $120,000$160,000

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $928,500 range.
1963 Chevrolet Corvette Z06/N03 Split Window Coupe
Chassis#:30837s114809
Sold for $935,000
2024 Mecum : Kissimmee
1956 Porsche 356A 1500 GS Carrera Speedster
Chassis#:82190
Sold for $935,000
2023 Mecum : Monterey
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  
1938 Alfa Romeo 6C 2300B Mille Miglia Berlinetta by Touring
Chassis#:815053
Sold for $928,030
2023 RM Sothebys : Paris
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  
1928 Bugatti Type 43 Roadster by Lavocat et Marsau
Chassis#:43233
Sold for $928,030
2023 RM Sothebys : Paris
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  
1982 Lancia 037 Group B Works Evolution 1
Chassis#:ZLA151AR000000319
Sold for $926,779
2022 RM Sothebys : London
2019 FORD GT
Chassis#:2FAGP9CWXKH200192
Sold for $920,000
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1963 Aston Martin DB5 par Carrozzeria Touring
Chassis#:DB5/1939/R
Sold for $921,562
2022 Artcurial : Retromobile
1965 SHELBY COBRA 427 SUPER SNAKE CSX 4404
Chassis#:CSX4404
Sold for $935,000
2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona
1971 PLYMOUTH HEMI CUDA
Chassis#:BS23R1B220743
Sold for $935,000
2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona
1961 MASERATI 5000 GT COUPE
Chassis#:AM103.010
Sold for $924,000
2022 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Geared Online
2021 Ferrari SF90 Stradale
Sold for $935,000
2022 Mecum : Kissimmee
1993 Jaguar XJ220 C LM
Chassis#:SAJJEAEX7AX220838
Sold for $934,973
2021 RM Sothebys : The Guikas Collection
2017 Ford GT
Chassis#:2FAGP9CW9HH200077
Sold for $924,000
2021 Mecum : Monterey
1958 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.8500102
Sold for $923,500
2021 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  
1926 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix
Chassis#:37227
Sold for $935,000
2021 Gooding : Geared Online : Scottsdale Auction
1964 Shelby 289 Cobra Roadster
Sold for $935,000
2021 Mecum : Kissimmee
2018 Ford GT
Sold for $935,000
2020 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special
2017 Ford GT
Chassis#:2FAGP9CW8HH200040
Sold for $923,500
2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mark 2 Volante Convertible to Vantage Specification
Chassis#:DB6MK2VC/3754/R
Sold for $925,362
2019 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival
1930 Duesenberg Model J Torpedo Phaeton
Chassis#:2276
Sold for $935,000
2019 Mecum : Kissimmee
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle thumbnail image  

1938 Delahaye Type 135

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

1938 Delahaye Type 135 Vehicle Profiles

1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Roadster
Coachwork: Carlton Carriage Company
Chassis #: 49315
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Roadster
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Coupe des Alpes
Coachwork: Henri Chapron
Chassis #: 48482
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Sports Cabriolet
Coachwork: deVillars
Chassis #: 60123
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Henri Chapron
Chassis #: 49148
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Figoni
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
MS Coupe
Coachwork: Figoni
Chassis #: 60112
Engine #: 60112
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Roadster
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 60158
Engine #: 60158
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 9803 BF59
1938 Delahaye Type 135 vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis #: 49169