CLASSICS CHATTER AUCTION UPDATES: 1950 DELAHAYE135M CABRIOLET - BONHAMS AUCTIONS THE MONACO SALE 'LES GRANDES MARQUES À MONACO' FRIDAY 11TH MAY 2018

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TODAY WE FEATURE

BONHAMS AUCTIONS

THE MONACO SALE 'LES GRANDES MARQUES À MONACO'

Friday 11th May 2018

1950 DELAHAYE135M CABRIOLET

Coachwork by Henri Chapron

Chassis no. 801011

• Rare Chapron-bodied 135M Convertible

• Matching chassis/engine numbers

• Restored in New Zealand 2010-2012

• Unused since the restoration

• Registered in the UK

With the arrival of the Delahaye 135M Chapron set a classic style, beautifully proportioned, that remains the benchmark for French bodybuilders for two decades or more. Chapron's influence can be detected in nearly every custom-built body from 1935 to 1955, regardless of the house for which it was designed and built. - 'The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile'.

Based initially at Tours and from 1906 in Paris, Delahaye built its first automobile in 1894 and soon diversified into commercial vehicle manufactory. Its early products but rather lacklustre but then in 1935 the brand's image forever: the T135 Coupe des Alpes. A fine sporting car, the T135 was powered by an engine which, although designed for use, had first appeared in a Delahaye commercial vehicle. The 3.2-liter, six-cylinder, overhead-valve unit produced 110bhp on triple Solex carburettors, while the chassis featured transverse-leaf independent front suspension, four-speed synchromesh gold cotal gearboxes, centre-lock wire wheels and Bendix brakes.

Delahaye improved on the formula of the following year with the 3½-liter, 120 / 130bhp T135MS, and the sports version was soon making a name for itself in competitions, taking 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th place in the run-to-sportscar- 1936 French Grand Prix and winning the Monte Carlo Rally and Le Mans 24-Hour Outright Race in 1937 and 1938 respectively. Prince Bira won the 1938 Donington 12-Hour Sports Car Race in Prince Chula's example and went to Brooklands 'fastest race in England' race against some formidable opposition.

The model reappeared post-WW2 as the 135M with the 3½-liter engine and lasted in production until 1951. By this time, Delahaye was in serious financial difficulty as a result of the French government's taxation policies, which heavily penalized cars of over 3.0 litres, and in 1954 was taken over by Hotchkiss.

Delahaye had no in-house coachworks, so it's all about being one of the most attractive designs on the Type 135. It was a most fortuitous partnership, resulting in memorable automotive sculpture from the likes of Saoutchik, Chapron, Franay, Graber, Pennock, and Figoni and Falaschi. The example is available here handsome four-seater cabriolet coachwork by the influential Parisian coachbuilder, Henri Chapron. This cabriolet is one of a limited edition, although exact production numbers are not known.

'801011' was purchased in the 1980s in Newport Beach, California by Richard Straman, who is best known for his Ferrari 'Daytona' convertible conversions. In 2007, the Delahaye was bought by a gentleman of Monaco, who feels the car to New Zealand where it was completely restored by Auto Restorations Limited of Christchurch (photographs on file). The car has been unrestricted since the restoration's completion in 2012 and is presented in commensurately excellent condition. Accompanying documentation consists of a history file containing a copy of the US Certificate of Title, a current UK V5C Registration Certificate, and the all-important letter of authenticity from Madame Chapron.

Embodiments of the quality and performance of Delahayes are renowned, this beautiful Chapron-bodied 135M would make a fine addition to any collection or simply a wonderful period of summer.