1911 Delahaye Type 413A Charabanc

This Delahaye Type 413A was originally a fire engine built by Société Generale du Carrosserie et de Charronage of Paris. It served in the southeast of France for a brief period of time before it was replaced by a larger machine. It then went to the Musée de l'Automobile du Sud-Est in St Cannat (Provence), where it remained for many years. When the museum closed in 1973, it was acquired by Michael Banfield of Britain, who kept it for four decades with the hopes of undertaking a restoration, though this never occurred in his ownership. In 1981, it was registered in the United Kingdom as LE 7485.

In 2014, the Delahaye found new ownership who commissioned a ground-up restoration, which included fitting the 12-seater charabanc-style body. Power is from a 3.0-liter, four-cylinder, side-valve engine with a three-speed transaxle gearbox and dual-chain drive rear axle. It has a Ferodo-type cone clutch and mechanical brakes. There are pneumatic tires that replaced the original solid-rubber tires. Period brass includes the King of the Road headlamps, twin coach lamps, a winged Moto-Meter, a brass windscreen frame, and other trim pieces. The seats are trimmed in black upholstery.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019