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1950 Delahaye 180

The Delahaye automobile company, founded by Emile Delahaye, displayed its first automobile at the 1895 Paris Motor Show. From humble beginnings, the company's portfolio expanded to include trucks, fire engines, and automobile production. Its most famous model was the Type 135 which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938 and the Monte Carlo Rally in 1937 and 1939. Bodied by many of the finest coachbuilders of its era, it won many concours d'elegance events, both in period and in modern times. During World War II, the company produced trucks and machine guns for the German Wehrmacht, with production remaining low as management did everything they could to disorganize production.

When peacetime resumed following World War II, the company returned to automobile production though slowed due to material shortages and a lack of tooling. Valiant attempts to revive the business failed and the company officially closed its doors in 1954.

Delahaye 180

Among the final models to leave the Delahaye was the Type 180, a long-wheelbase variant of the Type 175. Its long wheelbase frame measured nearly 132 inches with a Dubonnet front and deDion rear suspension. Production was exclusive and it is believed that eighteen (as few as fifteen) examples were constructed. The 4.5-liter (4455cc), overhead valve, engine has a cast iron block and head and was paired with a four-speed preselector Cotal gearbox. The standard compression ratio was 6.5:1 and it breathed through a single Solex carburetor.

by Dan Vaughan

Transformable Cabriolet by Franay
Chassis number: 825015
Engine number: 825015

This 1950 Delahaye 180 wears Transformable Cabriolet coachwork by Franay and was created for Mohammed V, King of Morocco. After the King passed away in 1916, the car (and his kingdom) passed to his son, Hassan II. Custodianship later passed to William A. Gaston, then to Joseph Mingola, and finally to Dr. Erle M. Heath. While in Dr. Heath's care, the car was given a restoration. The car was later sold to Tom Barrett and finally to its present owner who has owned it for approximately three decades. Around 1989, Barrett had the car refinished once more, this time to its original black color, but retained the red leather interior installed by Dr. Heath.

This Delahaye has low mileage and was primarily used as a parade car during its early existence.

by Dan Vaughan