1937 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet

Delahaye showed its new 135 model at the Paris Auto Salon in 1935. The car boasted a brand-new chassis but had the same 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder engine as its predecessor. One year later, Delahaye introduced the more powerful Type 135 M, which offered a slightly larger engine with improved horsepower and a choice of single, dual, or triple carburetors. Sports version of the 135 M was very successful in competition, with one example famously coming in second overall at LeMans in 1937 and taking first, second, and fourth places the following year. These races were very important to the success of the company. Subsequently, many sporting motorists in Europe and America ordered Delahayes as road cars finished with bodies by some of the best coachbuilders, especially by Henri Chapron in Paris. This Delahaye 135 MS Chapron Cabriolet was ordered by a M. Reffet. It was sent to Chapron in April of 1937 and the finished car was delivered in June.

The Delahaye 135 Model was introduced in 1935 and came equipped with a 3.5-liter engine which grew to 3.6-liter in 1936 to become the 135M. The 135MS version had three carburetors and produced approximately 135 horsepower. Bendix brakes, a four-speed Cotal electro-magnetic gearbox, center-lock wire wheels, and a front independent suspension with transverse leaf springs completed the package. Many elegant bodies were created for the 135 chassis by the era's most gifted coachbuilders including Figoni & Falaschi, Saoutchik, Labourdette, and Chapron.

This particular 1937 Delahaye 135MS two-door, four-seat Cabriolet was the work of Henri Chapron (it began life as a 135M and was updated later in life to the 135MS specification). An order was placed with Charon on April 6th of 1937, delivered to their facilities in the Parisian suburb of Levallois-Perret on April 30, and finished sometime later. It was sold in June 1937 to a Mr. Reffet via AUTEX, the Delahaye and Delage distributor in Paris. It is believed that the car remained in France for most of its existence. It was given a restoration by Jean-Luc Bonnefoy near Vierzon in central France in 2000, and in 2009 the engine was refurbished.

This Delahaye spent time in the ownership of Roger Tanguy, and like all of his Delahayes, he upgraded the engine to MS compétition specification and added a Compétition ***** on the trunk.

Mr. Paul Tholly of 9 Rue des Écoles, Sorbiers, France acquired the Delahaye in late November 2006. In June 2015, the car was acquired by Hephaistos Classics of Place de la Victoire in Charolles, north of Lyon, and had it exported to Significant Cars in Indianapolis, Indiana. By the close of 2015, the car had been sold to Tony Vincent, who had maintenance performed on the vehicle along with a cosmetic restoration.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022