For Sale: 1946 Delahaye 135M in Saint Louis, Missouri

In the aftermath of World War II, Delahaye had survived battered but not broken. Until production of their landmark 135-series could resume, the company paid the bills by building commercial trucks and buses. Once the 135M was revised for the post-war climate, however, Delahaye was back in business as one of France's premier sports car makers. The revised 135M was in essence the same as the pre-war model but it featured a widened track, and more powerful, refined versions of the same 3,558 c.c. six-cylinder engine, with output as high as 160 horsepower in ultimate specification. As it had before the war, Delahaye partnered with many great French coachbuilders such as Chapron, Franay, and Letourneur & Marchand to skin its fabulous 135M chassis. But it was the work of Figoni et Falaschi that made the biggest impact on Delahaye's image. The partnership was in many ways, the ideal marriage of the flamboyant high style of Figoni, and the engineering excellence of Delahaye.
Giuseppe "Joseph" Figoni was born in Italy in 1894 and immigrated to France with his parents when he was just three years old. As a teenager, he apprenticed with a carriage-maker before serving in the French military for seven years. In 1923, he opened his own body repair shop in Boulogne and quickly won the admiration of clientele who called upon his skills for not only repairs, but also for his ability to perform modifications to suit his clients' wishes. Inevitably, this grew into a full-fledged carrosserie by 1925. He exhibited a natural talent for proportions and detailing, continuing to build upon his reputation for high quality craftsmanship. In 1935, Figoni partnered with Ovidio Falaschi, a Tuscan businessman with a penchant for fast, stylish motorcars. Falaschi's financial backing allowed Figoni to experiment with increasingly flamboyant designs, yet he managed to maintain his fine sense of balance and proportion. The Goutte d'Or (literally "drop of gold") coupe on a Talbot T-150 marked his arrival as a true Avant Garde stylist, one that would attract the attention of the world's elite figures.
One such figure was T'hami El Glaoui, who served as the Pasha of Marrakesh. El Glaoui was an influential figure in Moroccan politics, which was a French held colony at the time. His powerful stature in the caste system and his sympathetic stance with the French government afforded him many business opportunities at home and abroad; enough to amass a huge fortune that at one point topped $50M. El Glaoui enjoyed the fruits of his fortune, indulging in multiple palaces and the finest of French automobiles. In the late 1940s, T'hami El Glaoui commissioned Figoni et Falaschi to construct a body atop a Delahaye 135M chassis. The resulting design was a handsome, four seat GT car that featured a three-position cabriolet top with external pram irons, and elegant, full-figured proportions. It was almost understated, yet still retained just enough of the typical Figoni drama with its chrome flashes and curvaceous details. The design proved quite popular with Figoni's other clients, and he would go on to build a series of approximately 18 cars, built on a common theme though with each example slightly different from the next.
This 1946 Delahaye 135M, S/N 800701, is one of those original El Glaoui series cabriolets, believed to the second in the series of 18 cars and one of just 9 known to survive today. Though the original owner of the car is not known, Mr. Hubert Rees, an avid collector of Delahayes, is the first recorded owner of the car. Notably, this Delahaye was also featured in the number 53 issue of Profile Publications. In the late 1960's, the Delahaye made its way to the southwestern region of the United States. It remained there for some time; however, its condition necessitated new wood framing throughout. Extensive restoration was undertaken by the renowned firm of Hill and Vaughan, but unfortunately, the firm went out of business before the car could be finished, and the Delahaye was sold unfinished. Richard L. Scott, the new owner, then enlisted the help of RM Auto Restorations and D&D Classic Auto Restorations to complete the car. In searching for parts and information on the car, Mr. Scott traveled to Europe where he met with Andre Vaucourt, the historian for the French Delahaye Club, as well as with Claude Figoni, son of Georges Figoni, who provided stunning photographs of the car when new.
Immediately following the completion of the restoration in 1998. the Delahaye entered the show circuit, where it was very well received. Attesting to its stunning condition, the Figoni & Falaschi-bodied Cabriolet was awarded First in Class and the important Chairman's trophy at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1999 and another First in Class at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance. Additional awards included a 100-point judging at a CCCA Grand Classic, and a Best of Show at the Grand Experience of the CCCA Museum. The car has been shown sparingly since but returned to Pebble Beach in 2012 where it completed the Pebble Beach Motoring Tour and scored another class award.
Today, 800701 presents in stunning condition in the elegant livery of dark blue over a lush grey interior. Paint and body quality are exceptional, the car having been preserved in superlative condition since its restoration. Fit and finish are outstanding, and the brightwork presents in fine order, and features the archetypal Figoni "sweepspear" treatment on the fenders. The light grey Stayfast three-position top, black wall Michelin tires and full wheel discs lend a particularly subdued elegance to this exquisite automobile. With the top fully open, the windscreen can be folded forward to transform this elegant drophead into a full-fledged sports car.
The cockpit, which is trimmed in lush grey leather piped in blue, shows only the slightest creasing from use but remains supple and beautifully presented. It is ornate and opulent while also retaining an air of sporting purposefulness that reflects the chassis' potential. From the beautiful chrome-spoke banjo wheel to an array of lovely OS gauges, the cabin is a splendid display of late-40s French luxury.
The finely detailed 3.5-liter overhead valve inline-six engine features a trio of correct Solex carburetors, and is paired with a Cotal pre-select gearbox, operated via the delicate H-pattern gear lever on the steering column. Aside from looking the part, it performs beautifully. In keeping with the rest of this car, the engine is beautifully detailed with proper finishes, correct hardware and correctly presented ancillaries. The same goes for the undercarriage which, again, is fully detailed and exceptionally clean as one would expect from a concours-quality restoration such as this.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a beautiful, fully restored example of the highly desirable Figoni et Falaschi El Glaoui Cabriolet. One of only 9 known to exist and understood to be the second of the series, this magnificent automobile is presented in exquisite condition and is suitable for virtually any major concours event or tour the world over.

Offers welcome and trades considered