1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet

Originally delivered to a prominent Swiss banker, Maurice Labhardt, this car was one of just two Delahayes bodied by Graber in this very clean, rounded and smooth modern design. It had an upgraded 135MS engine fitted by the factory in 1947, while retaining the optional Cotal preselector gearbox. The car remained in Mr. Labhardt's possession for nearly four decades, until 1985. Each of the owners since then has been a prominent collector, one of whom had the car fully restored in 1996. That restoration was freshened before the Delahaye was acquired by the current owner in 2021.

Delahaye introduced the Type 135 at the Paris Auto Show in 1935. It was given a new chassis with the same 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine found in the earlier Type 138 models. A year later, Delahaye introduced the 135 M, which featured a slightly larger engine with additional horsepower and was offered a choice of single, dual, or triple carburetors.

The Delahaye 135 took the top six places at Marseilles in 1936.

After World War II, production of the Type 135 continued with the same 3.6-liter engine used prior to the war. By this point in history, the French government had placed large taxes on cars with displacement sizes over three liters, and Delahaye began to struggle.

This example is fitted with a drophead coupe body with coachwork by the Swiss coachbuilders Graber. It was originally delivered to a Swiss banker and remained in storage after his passing until 1995 when it was acquired by the second owner, a Dr. Hair. After the dissolution of Dr. Hair's collection later in the decade, the Delahaye was acquired by a Swiss professor named Dr. Reuter. While in his care, the car was given a complete restoration to its present condition and livery. Shortly after its completion, in 1999, it came into the care of its current owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2017