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| Delahaye 235 MS Coupe 1952 |
A brilliant French industrial engineer from Touraine, Émile Delahaye, constructed his first motor car in 1895. It was subsequently displayed at the Paris Auto Salon and while production remained quite limited, Delahaye’s automobiles soon appeared at racing venues and proved to be both reliable and remarkably competitive. However, lack of funding prevented a substantial automotive manufacturing venture, until the firm’s acquisition by Parisian businessmen in 1898.
Continually expanding, and under new ownership, Delahaye established itself as a builder of reliable and robust trucks, fine cars, industrial engines, and special service vehicles. In 1935 the company unveiled the Type 135, which was fitted with a powerful six-cylinder engine and would remain the basis of the company’s racing projects for several years to come. Victories at the prestigious Rallye Monte Carlo in 1937 and 1939 were followed by a win at the 24-hour race at Le Mans. Concurrently, Delahaye cars were earning top honours at various Concours d’Elegance with striking Art Deco coachwork from Europe’s most renowned craftsmen at Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron, Saoutchik, Franay, and de Letourneur et Marchand, among others.
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| Delahaye 235 MS Coupe 1952 |
The Type 135 was followed by the 175 and 180 models, and finally by the Type 235, which would be the final car offered by the French firm. As had been the custom, Delahaye constructed the chassis and referred all custom bodywork to its various coachbuilders. Although the chassis was very similar to that of the 135, it was modified to accommodate the full-width body styles typical of the 1950s. A large oval grille and two-tone colour schemes further defined the beautiful new Delahaye. While the prototype was designed by Philippe Charbonneaux for Motto of Turin, the final iteration of the car was designated Type 235, of which only 85 examples were ever produced.
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| Delahaye 235 MS Coupe 1952 |
The powerplant was likewise very similar to the 135’s, although the 3.5-litre six-cylinder engine had greater compression and was fitted with three downdraft carburettors and a new camshaft. A single-carburettor model was still available. With a top speed of approximately 115 miles per hour and 0–60 times of 11.5 seconds, the 235’s performance rivalled that of the previous 4.5-litre models, and its handling abilities and driving manners were very respectable as well. The inline six-cylinder was mated to a synchronized four-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed electro-magnetic, pre-selector Cotal gearbox, which eliminated the use of the clutch and shift lever once the car was in motion.
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| Delahaye 235 MS Coupe 1952 |
The lovely right-hand drive 235 shown here features coachwork by Chapron and was one of the last true Delahayes produced, as the company was sold to Hotchkiss in 1954. It recently completed an extensive, professional restoration commissioned by the Kogan Collection, where it remains, road registered in the United Kingdom. The elegant body has been finished in Purple Duotone and is accented by wire wheels and whitewall tyres. The distinctive oval grille and long, sweeping bonnet are met by a split windscreen, while the interior is upholstered in red leather and likewise remains in remarkable, high-quality restored condition.
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| Delahaye 235 MS Coupe 1952 |
With more horsepower than even the 135MS, this lovely 235 is certainly one of the more desirable examples available, particularly given its striking Chapron coachwork. With its exceptional restoration, it represents both the pinnacle and the end of the era of French coachbuilt cars – which in themselves were considered the ultimate achievement of the coachbuilder’s art.
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