1947 Delahaye Type 135 MS

Delahaye introduced their (arguably) most famous model, the Type 135, at the 1935 Paris Auto Show and remained in production until 1954 with approximately 2,000 examples built. It provided the foundation for all Delahaye models that followed and was produced in several variations and iterations, with the most powerful of which is the 135 MS, or 'Modifie Special,' introduced in 1938. The inline six-cylinder engine was equipped with three carburetors, helping to produce 135 horsepower and giving it a top speed of 100 mph, making it among the fastest automobiles in the world.

The Type 135 had a 3.2-liter overhead valve straight-six engine, with a four-bearing crankshaft, derived from one of the company's truck engines. In the twin carburetor configuration, it offered 95 horsepower, and with three downdraught Solex carburetors installed, it offered 110 horsepower. There was an independent, leaf-sprung front suspension, a live rear axle, and cable-operated Bendix brakes. Transmission options included a partially synchronized four-speed manual or four-speed Cotal pre-selector transmission. 17-inch spoked wheels were standard equipment.

In 1936, Delahaye introduced a larger displacement (3,557cc) engine in the 135M, with engine options including 90, 105, or 115 hp with either one, two, or three carburetors. The sporty 135MS produced 120-145 hp, with competition versions producing over 160 horsepower.

When peacetime resumed and following the liberation of Paris in 1944, Delahaye initially concentrated on building trucks. Like most automobile manufacturers, Delahaye offered a mildly updated version of the pre-war design rather than an entirely new product. When the Type 135 re-entered production in 1946, it was a mildly updated version of the pre-war model. It had been elegantly restyled with a unique radiator grille and hood, the work of a young freelance designer named Philippe Charbonneaux. It retained the 'Bloctube' welded box-section chassis and the effective independent front suspension layout. They had right-hand steering and self-adjusting cable brakes.

Two models were offered, the Type 135M with a single Solex carburetor, and the 135 MS ('Modifiée Spéciale) with a triple carburetor setup offering 125 horsepower. Most customers selected the standard four-speed mechanical box, with the Cotal optional. Only the MS rode on Rudge center-lock wheels as standard.

Between 1946 and 1952, the total production of both types was 1,155.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Henri Chapron

Standing for Modifie Speciale, the 135 MS was the definitive version of Delahaye's signature chassis. First shown at the 1935 Paris Auto Show, the 135 was a lower, more sporting version of the 18 hp Type 138 that it replaced. It had 100 mph performance, which made it one of the fastest cars in the world. When the MS was released in 1938, its chassis had already won many victories, including the 1938 24 Hours of LeMans. What made these Delahayes special was their connection to the great French Carrosseries that made extravagant bodies and interiors for them. Many great coachbuilders bodied the 135 MS, including Saoutchik, Guillore, and Franay as well as Henri Chapron who was responsible for this car in 1947.

Coupe by Lagenthal
Chassis number: 800490
Engine number: 800490

Delahaye began building dependable, medium-priced cars and sturdy trucks in 1895. A chassis with independent front suspension and a 3.2 liter overhead valve six-cylinder engine was introduced in 1934. The engine was enlarged to 3.5 liters in 1936 to create the Type 135. It was first shown at the 1935 Paris Auto Show.

MS is an acronym for Modifie Speciale. It was capable of reaching 100 mph placing it among the fastest cars in the world. The MS chassis won many victories including LeMans and a 135 finished second at the 1936 Monte Carlo Rally. At the French Grand Prix, it placed second, third, fourth and fifth.

This teardrop coupe is the triple-carburetor version of Delahaye's most famous model, the Type 135. The 'S' means it has triple carburetors and 135 horsepower. It has an electromagnetic transmission with four speeds, forward and reverse and the common Delahaye accessory frog hood ornament. Lagenthal, a small Swiss coachbuilder with a good reputation, supplied a convertible body on the car. The original owner complained of noise and poor rear visibility and returned the car to Lagenthal for a removable hardtop. However, the top would have been too heavy for easy removal, so it was permanently attached.

Combining good handling and brakes, spirited performance, and the dependability of previous Delahayes, the chassis was a favorite of French coachbuilders. The fact that it cost about half as much as a Bugatti Type 57 also helped.

Only 1,155 postwar 135s had been built by the time the model was dropped in 1952. In 1954, Delahaye merged with another French automaker, Hotchkiss. The new company ended Delahaye's automobile production.

Roadster by Guillore

This 1947 Delahaye 135 MS wears Roadster coachwork by Guillore. It is a one-off Paris salon vehicle.

1st in Pebble Beach 2001

1st CCCA National Winner

1st National AACA winner 2003

1st Meadow Brook Concours 2003

1st Newport Beach Concours 1st Palos Verde

1st Houston Keels and Wheels 2004

Includes Fitted Louis Vouton Luggage. Recent Documented Ground-Up Restoration.

by Delahaye

Letourneur & Marchand Cabriolet
Chassis number: 800484

This 1947 Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet with coachwork by Letourneur & Marchand is a one-off roadster creation. Delahaye offered two models, a Type 135M and a 135 MS, meaning Modifiee Speciale. The 135M was equipped with a single Solex carburetor while the 1935 MS had a triple carburetor and could reach speeds of 100 mph. An optional Cotal gearbox was offered at the time and proved to be a popular choice for many buyers. The four-speed manual gearbox was standard. Also standard on the MS were the Rudge center lock wheels.

These elegant vehicles were sporty and beautiful. They were typically purchased by the social elite, as their high price tag limited the pool of buyers to only a few. As such, a total of 1155 examples of both models were created between 1946 and 1952.

This example is fitted with the Cotal gearbox. The car has been treated to a complete restoration, including a rebuild of the engine. The chrome work, electrics, and suspension are also new. The cost of the restoration was over $125,000.

This car was offered for sale at the 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields auction held at the Quail Lodge in Carmel, California where it was estimated to sell between $250,000 - $350,000. The price tag on these type of vehicles vary, but most of the time they are near the million-dollar range. It is not uncommon to see the dollar figure exceed that as well. This car was an excellent opportunity to purchase a Delahaye, for a cost that was, in all respects, reasonable. Bidding exceeded the estimated value, with a new owner purchasing the car for a sum of $375,500.

by Dan Vaughan

Cabriolet by Guillore

Emile Delahaye's firm was established in 1845 as a manufacturer of brick-making machinery. By 1894 they were making stationary engines and automobiles. In 1936 they introduced the 135, an exciting sports model with sophisticated suspension and a powerful engine that could propel it to speeds over 100 mph. Throughout its history, Delahaye focused its efforts on chassis and engine development, relying on Europe's finest coachworks to produce its custom automobile bodies. This cabriolet body was built by Guillore.

Coupe by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 800697

This unique coupe is the only Delahaye bodied by Pinin Farina and one of only a handful bodied by any Italian Carrozzeria. In 1947 Pinin Farina produced three special cars - this Delahaye 135 Coupe, an Alfa Romeo 6C 2500S Cabriolet and a Maserati A6 1500 Coupe - all finished in this striking silver-gray color scheme. Each was a one-off but all were built at the same time and were similar in style. The Delahaye was built on a 135 MS chassis, with a 3.6-liter engine producing 160 horsepower. The ride was improved with independent front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic springs, which were also upgraded for this final evolution of the 135 chassis. The coupe has an unusual radiator grille for a Delahaye with vertical rather than horizontal bars and it is interesting to wonder if it might have been the inspiration for the Jaguar XK 120 introduced a year later.

Coupe by Pininfarina
Chassis number: 800697

The Delahaye Type 135 was put back into production in 1946, wearing styling updates by freelance designer Philippe Charbonneaux. It was given a distinctive radiator grille and hood and retained the simply independent front suspension layout and 'Bloctube' welded box-section chassis.

Delahaye offered the Type 135M and the 135MS ('Modifiée Spéciale). The 135M was fitted with a single Solex carburetor while 135MS had triple carburetors and produced 125 horsepower. The 135MS also had Rudge center lock wheels as standard. Both models could be fitted with the popular Cotal transmission.

Between 1946 and 1952, Delahaye produced a combined total of 1,155 examples of the 135M and 135MS.

This particular example is a 135MS Coupé with coachwork by Pinin Farina. It has an aerodynamic front section with Marchal headlights resting atop of bullseye indicators. The hood is a single piece that hinges from the passenger side. Inside, there are two small O.S. instrument clusters located on either side of the steering wheel.

It is believed that its original owner was a Belgian customer, who later passed it into Swiss ownership where it underwent a slow, lengthy restoration which would ultimately be abandoned by its then-owner. The work was later picked up by the former custodian and finished. The current owner gave the car a more thorough restoration by Kfz-Ryschka in Germany, with the bodywork stripped back to bare metal and refinished in the present (and original) silver-grey livery. The interior was reupholstered in tan leather and with black carpets.

by Dan Vaughan

Narval Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis number: 800495

This Delahaye 135MS is one of 7 Delahaye 135 Narvals built. Its Narval Cabriolet coachwork was the work of the Paris firm of Giuseppe Figoni et Ovidio Falaschi. The Narval, or 'Narwhal' was among the most flamboyant designs created by Figoni et Falaschi, built on the Delahaye 135M chassis and introduced at the 1946 Salon de Paris. It received its Narval name for its prominent front treatment, like a narwhal or perhaps a Beluga Whale, named—in French—for the Arctic sea creature it resembles. The hood, center section and trunk are reminiscent of the shape of the narhwal's body, and the protruding nose clearly references the unicorn-like tusk that distinguishes the male members of the species.

This particular example is one of seven built with the Narval design. It has a 116-inch wheelbase, independent front suspension, live rear axle setup with parallel semi-elliptic strings, cable-operated Bendix brakes, and 17-inch Rudge center-lock wire-spoke wheels with black sidewall tires. The 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine has overhead valves and three French Solex downdraft carburetors. There is a Cotal 4-speed transmission with a preselector shift mechanism at the steering column.

This example is finished in light blue and has unique, chrome, curved side accents on each side of the hood. The chrome-plated bumpers are designed with artistically curved tubular bars. There are full skirts that envelope the wheel openings, and there is a dark blue convertible top. The interior trim of 800495 is finished in blue leather with individual pleated seats accented on the floor with blue Wilton carpet. The rear-hinged doors are trimmed in medium blue leather. A dash-mounted clock was included with the instrumentation, along with two large round gauges on either side of the center, including a tachometer, and a row of small rectangular gauges to the right. It has right-hand steering with a clear, hard plastic steering wheel with distinctive finger grooves around its perimeter and three chrome-plated banjo-type spokes.

The original owner was the French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet. Since new, it has been treated to a show-quality restoration.

by Dan Vaughan

Narval Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi
Chassis number: 800495

During World War II, coachbuilding activities ceased and the company turned to making electric stoves under the FiF's brand, short for Figoni et Falaschi. Meanwhile, Figoni drafted a portfolio of futuristic sketches, including his rendition of a 'Narval Cabriolet.' One of the most flamboyant Figoni et Falaschi designs, the Narval (French for 'Narwhal') was named for its prominent proboscis and vestigial fins, a full decade before Cadillac made fins famous. The Narval was built on the Delahaye 135 MS chassis, and of the seven examples produced, this Delahaye was selected to be shown at the 1947 Paris Auto Salon, where it was bought by French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet. Recently restored, this dramatic Narval appears as it did in 1947.

Emile Delahaye was born in Tours, France in 1843. He studied engineering in Angers, France. In 1869 he began work with his engineering degree in applied arts and crafts.

Emile Delahaye began business in Tours, France in the middle of the 19th century for the purpose of constructing engines for the ceramic industry. The company branched out and began constructing mechanical appliances such as pumps and engines. In 1888, Delahaye designed an internal combustion engine for the shipping industry. It was not until 1896 that Automobile production began for Delahaye. His first automobiles produced were powered by belt-driven single and twin-cylinder engines.

Emile used motor racing to promote his vehicles. In 1896, Emile Delahaye entered the Paris-Marseilles race. Not only did he enter a vehicle his company had created, but he entered as the driver. The results were astounding, which truly speaks highly of the caliber and quality of the automobile. The demand for the vehicles began pouring in and a second factory was opened.

Due to failing health, Delahaye was forced into retirement in 1901. This was a year after the second factory was opened in Paris. Since Delahaye had no heirs, management control was passed onto a young engineer named Charles Weiffenbach. Weiffenbach oversaw operations until 1954.

In 1905, due to failing health, Emile Delahaye passed away.

Automotive racing was paramount during this period in history. This is why many of the vehicles built during this era were built to be raced and to be used as the daily driver. The sales of the vehicles were stimulated by the way the vehicle performed on the race track. Weiffenbach, however, had a different philosophy. His main focus and priority were to build dependable vehicles. Many of the early vehicles were equipped with four-cylinder engines capable of producing between 9-12 horsepower. Near the beginning of the First World War, a 6-cylinder, 2565cc engine was used.

In addition to automobiles, the Delahaye company produced trucks, lorries, parcel carriers for the post office, motor plows, fire engines, and other commercial and military vehicles. Many of the vehicles were used during the First World War

From 1927 to 1933, productions of medium-class cars were low, but the vehicles that were produced carried with them a reputation for being reliable and robust.

In the early thirties, Weiffenbach, also known as 'Monsieur Charles' by his peers, was in his early 60's. The decision was made to boldly move into the sports car arena. This was in response to the market trends and a way to re-establish a competitive edge in the automotive technology spectrum. For an automotive company that had never created a car that could achieve a top speed faster than 110 km/h, this would be a major undertaking.

Jean Francois, a 29-year-old engineer, was commissioned to construct a series of sporty cars using as many spare parts as possible. Talbot's new independent suspension was used along with a new chassis with box-section side members. The engine was borrowed from one of their trucks. The engine featured a 65mm crankshaft with internal lubrication. In 1933, the vehicles were introduced at the Paris Car Salon. They were the 4-cylinder 12CV and the 6-cylinder 18CV. At the show, Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached Weiffenbach with a request to have a vehicle built that could be entered in rally events.

Lucy O'Reilly, a wealthy American of Irish origin, had a passion for racing. So fueled by Delahaye's desire to produce sports cars and Reilly's financial backing and quest to win motorsport events, the company re-entered the racing scene.

The Delahaye Type 135

The Type 135 was created with variants such as the 135 Competition Speciale (135 CS), designed specifically for racing. The 135 Sport and the 135 Coupe both featured a 3.2-liter engine. The Sport produced 96 horsepower while the Coupe had 110 horsepower. 120 horsepower was produced by the 3.6-liter engine that rested in the Type 135 Competition model. The engine in the 135 CS was a simple pushrod-operated engine borrowed from the 1927 Type 103 truck engine. It gave up horsepower for great acceleration and torque.

The Type 135 is considered one of the most famous and prestigious vehicles produced by Delahaye. In both design and racing competition, it was very successful. Designed in 1934 it was quickly entered into races such as the 24 Heures du Mans, the Monte-Carlo Rally, and the Paris-Saint-Raphael motor race, where it had great success at being a competitive and reliable automobile.

The Type 135 Competition Speciale Sports Car (CS) had a chassis 25 cm shorter than the 135 touring car. This shortened version had better weight distribution which greatly improved the handling and performance. The engine and 4-speed Wilson epicyclic gearbox were placed lower in the chassis, thus contributing to the benefits of a better-balanced vehicle. The 135 CS came equipped with an 80-liter or a 100-liter fuel tank, this option was left up to the buyer's discretion.

The 135 CS was debuted in the 1936 Monte Carlo Rally where it finished 2nd in a field of fierce competition. In 1936 it was the winner of the Marsailles Gran Prix. At the French Grand Prix is placed second, third, fourth and fifth.

Well-known coachbuilders, such as Franay, Letourner & Marchard, Chapron, and Guillore, were tasked with outfitting the 135's. This may have been influenced by Delage, an automotive company that Delahaye merged with in 1935. As a result, the 135 won numerous awards for styling and design.

The Type 135's is truly a prestigious masterpiece with strong racing history and a heritage that was formed on stability, robustness, and stamina.

by Dan Vaughan