1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Speciale Grand Prix

Delahaye produced twenty-five low chassis badged Type 135-S (surbaisse) in 1936. Of those, an estimated fourteen were short chassis Type 135 CS (Competition Specials). This example, chassis number 47190, was ordered by privateer Henri Toulouse to compete during the 1936 season. He won the Grand Prix de Marseilles and finished 2nd at the French Grand Prix before crashing at the Grand Prix de la Marne.

The next owner was Eugene Chaboud who raced the car at the 1937 Tunisia and Bone Grand Prix. With the help of Jean Tremoulet, he achieved notable success in the ACF, Marne and Antwerp Grand Prix.

In 1938, the car won the 24 Hours of LeMans. Three weeks later, it crashed at the 24 Heures de Spa-Francorchamps. The driver received minor injuries, but the car was badly damaged.

In 1938, John Snow of Australia purchased the car and had it restored. After it was restored, he used it to compete at Brooklands and Le Mans. In 1939, the car was shipped to Australia where it raced at the Bathurst Road Race, and the Grand Prix of Australia on several occasions over the next decade. During this time, the car was in the care of several owners.

During a truck fire, the car was badly damaged. Over the years, it changed hands several times before being acquired by Ian Polson, who restored it to its original configuration in 1968.

In 1994, the car was sold to John Ruston. The current owner purchased the car in 1999.

The car is powered by a six-cylinder, overhead-valve engine capable of producing 160 horsepower. There is a four-speed Cotal pre-selector gearbox and four-wheel cable-operated drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2013