Vehicle Description
The Delahaye name is revered among enthusiasts of great French
automakers. Founded in 1894, the company earned an enviable
reputation through its series of robust road cars and in the dust
and grit of motorsport venues, including Le Mans and the Grand Prix
circuit. For many fans of the marque, the 1935 model year
represents a high-water mark, as it saw the arrival of the
superlative Type 135. A natural-born performer in motorsport, the
Type 135 chassis was also a darling of the prestigious French
coachbuilding industry, providing a versatile canvas for
carrossieres like Chapron, Franay, Figoni et Falaschi, and others
to perfect their craft. As France emerged from the shadows of war,
Delahaye returned to work. Occupying German forces controlled
Delahaye's factories, and despite orders to produce heavy trucks
and munitions, boss Charles Weiffenbach kept his staff busy
disorganizing every aspect of production, and not a single bullet
left the works. After the liberation of France, Delahaye returned
to work in earnest, producing a 3 1/2 -ton truck to pay the bills.
In 1946, Type 135M production resumed, marking Delahaye's
long-awaited return to the sports car business. Engineers revised
the 135 chassis with a widened track for better handling and made
numerous improvements to the overhead-valve six-cylinder engine.
The proven unit offered up to 130 horsepower for the triple-carb
"MS" spec and considerably more for racing. Delahaye did not have
an in-house body shop, so many high-profile coachbuilders applied
the latest post-war aesthetic to the superb chassis. Ultimately,
1155 examples of the post-war Type 135 were produced through 1952.
As expected from a French marque, most type 135 chassis were bodied
by local coachbuilders, but a handful of cars crossed borders to
receive their coachwork. Chassis number 800368, featured here, is
notable for its unique drophead coupe body crafted by the Belgian
masters Van den Plas. The Belgian firm had deep roots, first as a
wheelwright shop, and by the 1880s, as a constructor of complete
carriages. After a takeover in 1870 by Guillaume Van den Plas, the
company was named Carrosserie Van den Plas in 1898 and moved to a
new factory in Antwerp. Motor bodies followed soon after, and they
soon grew to become complex, expensive, and ideally suited to
prestige chassis like Minerva, Hispano-Suiza, and Mercedes-Benz.
The British "Vanden Plas" counterpart was, in fact, an independent
firm operating under a licensing agreement to use the prestigious
name. Chassis number 800368 is one of just a handful of Delahayes
bodied by the Belgian firm, with the added distinction of being a
one-off design. The unique and flamboyant drophead coupe styling is
characterized by its sweeping pontoon fenders, upright radiator
grille flanked by twin spot lamps, and dramatic cat's eye air
inlets. It is finished in an appropriately bold red and crimson
two-tone color scheme, with flashy accents such as chrome wire
wheels, whitewall tires, and polished copper-plated brake drums.
The early history of this chassis has yet to be discovered;
however, a brass firewall tag from the legendary New York imported
car dealer Fergus Motors suggests the car has been in the USA since
new or nearly-new. The glamorous drophead would have undoubtedly
made quite a statement on the streets of New York City! Since being
restored in the late 1980s, it has made rare public appearances and
appeared in Nick Georgano's Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the
Automobile: Coachbuilding as an example of Van den Plas design.
Since 2008 it has been displayed in a prestigious private
collection alongside other superb models of coachbuilt French and
art-deco automobiles. As offered, the older restoration is
well-maintained and benefits from some recent freshening and
detailing. Some age-related imperfections can be found in the
paintwork and chrome, though the body is in fundamentally good
order with crisply defined lines and details. The cabin is finished
in deep maroon with tan accents and is also in good condition, with
nicely patinated leather and period-correct fittings, including the
banjo-type steering wheel and OS instrumentation. The robust and
powerful inline-six is the desirable "MS" high-performance variant,
equipped with a trio of Solex downdraft carburetors and mated to a
Cotal four-speed gearbox. The stamping on the brass tag corresponds
with the chassis number, indicating the engine is original. Recent
recommissioning work has found it to be a good running and driving
example, though additional attention may be warranted before
embarking on extended tours. Delahaye's superlative 135 MS is one
of the most revered grand tourers of the early post-war era, and
chassis 800368's striking Van den Plas coachwork makes it an
intriguing prospect for collectors of coachbuilt motoring icons.
Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details please
view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7456-1947-delahaye-135ms-van-den-plas-drophead/
