1952 Delahaye 235

“The performance of the final production Delahaye, combined with a leading name in French coachbuilding”

The Delahaye 135 is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of French motoring from the 1930s, on a par with the Bugatti Type 57. In the early 1950s, however, the luxury and sports car sector underwent a rapid transformation. To compete with American, Italian and British rivals, Delahaye had to refresh its range; with the ageing 135 phased out, the firm on Rue du Banquier called upon the designer Philippe Charbonneaux and asked him to design a body that reflected contemporary tastes.

This was to be the 235. The prototype was built by Motto in Turin in 1949, and the factory continued its development in Paris; the car was unveiled for the first time in 1951. The coachbuilders – including Chapron, Antem, Letourneur & Marchand, Faget-Varnet, Beutler and Figoni – who designed the bodywork for the 235 were required to retain the same front end. Exhibited at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952, the 235 was awarded ‘the Grand Prix for the Promotion of Art and Industry’. It made a name for itself in 1953 by setting the record for the trans-African crossing between Cape Town and Algiers.

The 235 is rare, as only 85 – or 86 – chassis were manufactured between 1952 and 1954, but the survival rate is exceptionally high, with more than 50 cars recorded, proof of the model’s popularity right from the start. Of the 85 – or 86 – cars that left the factory, 41 were bodied by Chapron. Antem bodied four, including #818045, which is featured on these pages.

The Antem bodywork on #818045 is highly original. It is, in fact, a convertible with a fixed rear section and a convertible front section. Before the war, this type of bodywork was known as a ‘Conduite-Cabriolet’ or ‘Sedanca Coupé’ across the Channel, but the common name is the Mylord cabriolet… Which makes #818045 a unique model.

Here is a rare opportunity to experience the magic of the Delahaye 6-cylinder, in what can be considered the most accomplished version of the 135, with a unique body designed by a leading French coachbuilder. The car, in perfect working order, also boasts a superb and inimitable patina, particularly on the leatherwork…