1949 Delahaye Type 135M

Sold for $495,000 at 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island.
The Cabriolet 'Malmaison' design was based on pre-war lines, with front fenders that had a long and high dramatic sweep, and was now integrated into the bodywork. Marcel Pourtout's design was influenced by Figoni et Falaschi's work on Delahayes chassis, including the shapes of the fenders and the hoodline. The interiors were well-appointed, with a leather-covered dashboard fitted with Delahaye's Art Deco instrumentation.

It is believed that four to six examples of the cabriolet 'Malmaison' were produced, of which three are known to exist in modern times. All examples were fitted on the 135 M chassis with its optional 6 103S engine, a design equipped with three Solex carburetors for an output of 115 horsepower.

By the mid-1980s, this car was in the ownership of Guy Pinsard of France who had it registered in the French department of Loiret as number 3720SG45. It was later owned by French Delahaye specialist Jean-François Dumontant for several years before it was exported to the United States and joined the collection of its present owner. Since then, the car has been given a high-quality restoration and shows only minor signs of wear over the years. Under the bonnet is the original and correct numbers-matching Type 103S engine. It is fitted with the Cotal four-speed pre-selector gearbox along with four-wheel mechanically-actuated Bendix drum brakes.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016