Delahaye 135M 1947 Coup

1947 Delahaye 135M Coupé

Coachwork by Dubos Frères

Registration no. DEL 135

Chassis no. 801097

Bought recently on ebay. due to a change in circumstances this car is now for sale. An absolute gem of a rare car. Wonderfully stylish curves. this car is in need of full restoration. It has been off the road for many years. Please see photos for all the parts that are with this car included as part of the sale. See details below. /span>

Based initially at Tours and from 1906 in Paris. Delahaye built its first automobile in 1894 and soon diversified into commercial vehicle manufacture. Its early products tended to be rather lacklustre. but then in 1935 came the first of a new generation that would change the marque's image: the T135 Coupe Des Alpes. A fine sporting car. the T135 somewhat paradoxically borrowed its engine from one of its maker's trucks. The 3. 2-litre. six-cylinder. overhead-valve unit produced 110bhp on triple Solex carburettors. while the chassis featured transverse-leaf independent front suspension. four-speed synchromesh or Cotal gearboxes. centre-lock wire wheels and Bendix brakes. 
Delahaye improved on the formula the following year with the 3. 6-litre. 120/130bhp T135MS. and the sports version was soon making a name for itself in competitions. taking 2nd. 3rd. 4th and 5th places in the run-to-sportscar-regulations 1936 French Grand Prix and winning the Monte Carlo Rally and Le Mans 24-Hour Race outright in 1937 and 1938 respectively. Prince Bira won the 1938 Donington 12-Hour Sports Car Race in Prince Chula's example and went on to take victory in Brooklands' ‘fastest road car in England' race against some formidable opposition. The model reappeared post-WW2 as the 135M with the 3. 6-litre engine and lasted in production until 1951. 
Delahaye had no in-house coachworks. so all its chassis were bodied by inde¬pendents. which created some of their most attractive designs on the Type 135. It was a most fortuitous partnership. which resulted in memorable automotive sculpture from the likes of Saoutchik. Chapron. Franay. Graber. Pennock and Figoni et Falaschi.


         The example offered here features well proportioned coupé coachwork by the firm of Dubos Frères of Puteaux. Seine. which had secured a series-production bodying contract from Delahaye. Purchased in Lancashire by Barry Burnett from one M Johnson. ‘DEL 135' comes with an old-style continuation logbook listing five owners between 1959 and 1963 (all in the Nottingham area) together with a history file containing ‘as found' photographs and a list of missing parts. which includes the gearbox. starter motor and carbs.

   The vehicle is in need of total restoration and is sold as seen.

   Viewing is encouraged and welcome.  

   The car is situated at present in Hereford UK.

    Please no time wasters.

    Advertised elsewhere so reserve the right to end auction early.

   Any questions please email or telephone +44 (0)1432 273366.   07788588538 (Nick)

   Can arrange transportation or shipping for export.

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