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1949 Delahaye Type 135M Cabriolet

  • Coachwork by Guillore
  • Chassis Number: 801221
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.

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 Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet by Chapron
Chassis#: 800940
Sold for USD$123,200
  2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Chapron
Chassis#: 801355
Sold for USD$240,800
  2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction
1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
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 Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
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 Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
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 Type 135M image  1949 Delahaye Type 135M image  
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.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet By Chapron8009402024 Mecum : Glendale$220,000$325,000$375,000
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet8009402024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale   
1949 Delahaye 135 M Estérel Roadster8013392023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris $200,000$220,000
1949 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet par Henri Chapron8009402022 Artcurial : Retromobile $200,000$300,000
1949 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet by Guilloré8008632019 RM Sothebys : Paris $250,000$325,000
1949 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet8014722018 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale, Az. $275,000$350,000

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1949 Delahaye Type 135M

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
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Other Delahaye Type 135M model years

1949 Delahaye Type 135M Vehicle Profiles

1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Henri Chapron
Chassis #: 800940
Engine #: 800940
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Henri Chapron
Chassis #: 801355
Engine #: 801355
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet Malmaison
Coachwork: Pourtout
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Henri Chapron
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Guillore
Chassis #: 801221
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet Malmaison
Coachwork: Pourtout
Chassis #: 801199
Engine #: 801199
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Coupe de Ville
Coachwork: Saoutchik
1949 Delahaye Type 135M vehicle information
Cabriolet
Coachwork: Saoutchik
Chassis #: 801424

Vehicle information, history, and specifications from concept to production.