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The origins of Delahaye lie in a company set up as long ago as 1845 to produce brick-making machinery. Emile Delahaye was a railroad engineer who designed rolling stock for the French and Belgian railroads. He built his first car in 1895. Delahaye took over Delage in 1935, a maker of elegant cars and a company with an established clientele who demanded both performance and elegance. The Type 135 was first presented at the 1934 Paris Salon (just prior to the merger of the two companies). It provided the perfect foundation for flamboyant coachwork by various carrossiers.
The Delahaye 135 is an important French automobile, bridging the prewar and postwar periods of engineering. The 135 M boasted a brand-new chassis with the prewar 3.6-liter, 6-cylinder engine first seen in the Delahaye Type 138. The 135 M continued to be available alongside the newer Delahaye 235 until the demise of the company in 1954.
A total of 2,592 were produced from 1935-1952 including this example. This 135 M Cabriolet was bodied by Alphonse Guillore, a small coachbuilder from the Courbevoie-sur-Seine suburb of Paris, building bodies from 1937-1951. The chassis of this car was likely built in 1947, but not sent to carrosserie Alphonse Guillore until 1949. Its subtle lines created a balance between the extravagant work of Jacques Saoutchik and the more restrained designs of Henri Chapron. The early history of this car is unknown, it is believed that it was retained by a sales agent in Paris until sold to its first owner early in 1955. By the early 1960s, it was owned by designer Brooks Stevens and displayed in his museum in Mequon, Wisconsin. Later the car was sold to Richard Adatto, who restored it for the 1984 Pebble Beach Concours, where it was named First in Class. The Delahaye then completed the Monte Carlo Rallye Historique in 1985. It was sold to its current owner in 2016 and has now been freshly restored.
The Delahaye 135 is an important French automobile, bridging the prewar and postwar periods of engineering. The 135 M boasted a brand-new chassis with the prewar 3.6-liter, 6-cylinder engine first seen in the Delahaye Type 138. The 135 M continued to be available alongside the newer Delahaye 235 until the demise of the company in 1954.
A total of 2,592 were produced from 1935-1952 including this example. This 135 M Cabriolet was bodied by Alphonse Guillore, a small coachbuilder from the Courbevoie-sur-Seine suburb of Paris, building bodies from 1937-1951. The chassis of this car was likely built in 1947, but not sent to carrosserie Alphonse Guillore until 1949. Its subtle lines created a balance between the extravagant work of Jacques Saoutchik and the more restrained designs of Henri Chapron. The early history of this car is unknown, it is believed that it was retained by a sales agent in Paris until sold to its first owner early in 1955. By the early 1960s, it was owned by designer Brooks Stevens and displayed in his museum in Mequon, Wisconsin. Later the car was sold to Richard Adatto, who restored it for the 1984 Pebble Beach Concours, where it was named First in Class. The Delahaye then completed the Monte Carlo Rallye Historique in 1985. It was sold to its current owner in 2016 and has now been freshly restored.
2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $600,000
Sale Price :
USD $475,000
2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $450,000-USD $600,000
Sale Price :
USD $451,000
1949 Delahaye Type 135M Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Delahaye Type 135M
(Data based on Model Year 1949 sales)
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Chassis#: 800940 Sold for USD$208,320 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet by Chapron Chassis#: 800940 Sold for USD$123,200 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Chapron Chassis#: 801355 Sold for USD$240,800 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1949 Delahaye 135 Coach by Chapron Chassis#: 801432 Sold for USD$35,345 2020 RM Sothebys : Paris | |
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Chassis#: 801221 Sold for USD$475,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | |
1949 Delahaye 135 M cabriolet Guilloré Chassis#: 801242 Sold for USD$96,984 2016 Artcurial : LeMans Classic | |
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet 'Malmaison' by Pourtout Chassis#: 801199 Sold for USD$495,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1949 Delahaye 135 MS coupé Ghia Turin Chassis#: 800514 Sold for USD$180,194 2016 Rétromobile 2016 by Artcurial Motorcars | |
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet by Guilloré Chassis#: 801221 Sold for USD$451,000 2016 RM Sothebys : Arizona | |
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Chassis#: 800 755 Sold for USD$359,674 2015 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1949 DELAHAYE 135M CABRIOLET Chassis#: 800863 Sold for USD$399,155 2014 LES GRANDES MARQUES DU MONDE AU GRAND PALAIS | |
1949 Delahaye 135M Replica Roadster by Crailville Chassis#: 800820 Sold for USD$350,003 2010 RM Auctions - Sporting Classics of Monaco |
Delahaye Type 135Ms That Failed To Sell At Auction
1949 Delahaye Type 135M's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet By Chapron | 800940 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | $220,000 | $325,000 | $375,000 |
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet | 800940 | 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale | |||
1949 Delahaye 135 M Estérel Roadster | 801339 | 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | $200,000 | $220,000 | |
1949 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet par Henri Chapron | 800940 | 2022 Artcurial : Retromobile | $200,000 | $300,000 | |
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet by Guilloré | 800863 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Paris | $250,000 | $325,000 | |
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet | 801472 | 2018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az. | $275,000 | $350,000 |
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1949 Delahaye Type 135M
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