1949 Delahaye Type 175 Roadster

Saoutchik was born in 1880 near Minsk, Russia, and emigrated with his family to Paris in 1899. He entered the business of furniture making. Seven years later he had become successful enough to purchase his own shop and soon entered the world of coachbuilding. His creativity and designs evolved and his craftsmanship and quality were undeniable. His work was intertwined with the client's desires and matted to his own ambition and creativity. Many of his vehicles had long hoods, flowing fenders, and low windshields. During the thirties, he worked on perfecting the popular teardrop style that is one of the most breathtaking and memorable of all the designs ever created. The designs simulated motion even while standing still.

Production of automobiles in the United States during World War II was postponed in favor of supporting the war effort and the creation of war materials. At the conclusion of the war, the automotive industry scrambled to create new products that the public may enjoy. Coachbuilders and craftsmen found themselves with a dilemma - there were very few luxury chassis in which to use as a base to build their product. The producers of luxury automobiles that had survived and were still in business after the war had mostly transitioned to doing the work in-house rather than outsourcing to coachbuilders. Unit body construction was another factor squeezing out the trade of custom craftsmanship in the automotive industry.

Delahaye
1894 marked the birth of the Delahaye Company; along with Peugeot and Renault, they pioneered the French automotive industry. They became well known for building sturdy, sensible automobiles. Emphasis shifted to the production of expensive sports cars in the 1930s. They catered to the wealthy, until interrupted by World War II.

Delahaye returned to automotive production in 1946. Their first post-war effort, the Type 175 chassis, was the starting point for this 1949 Paris Auto Show entrant. The car sports one-off coachwork by French aerodynamicist Jacques Saoutchik.

The body features fully skirted fenders, a disappearing top, and extensive chrome accenting. This car is considered one of the most extreme uses of Baroque automotive styling.