1939 Delahaye 135 MS Competition For Sale in St Louis , 2146379764 Tweet

For Delahaye enthusiasts, 1935 represents a peak in the firms illustrious history, marking the year Delahayes superlative Type 135 grand routier chassis first went on sale. A natural-born performer in motorsport, the Type 135 was also a darling of the prestigious French coachbuilding industry, providing a versatile canvas for carrossieres to perfect their craft.Henri Chapron Carrossier was one of the most prolific coachbuilders in France, producing many beautiful bodies for the Delahaye 135 series in both pre- and post-war eras. Chaprons signature style was typically at the forefront of fashion, with a degree of maturity and restraint that some buyers favored over the more flamboyant Figoni or Saoutchik designs.

Throughout Type 135 production, engineers refined and improved it, squeezing more power from the sublime 3.5-liter OHV inline-six which, in the pre-war era, produced up to 165 horsepower in MS Competition specification. The Type 135 chassis was a formidable racing and rallying tool, and by way of its motorsport success, earned the road car much admiration among Frances social elite, with many stunning, bespoke examples built by Frances greatest coachbuilders.

Once such admirer was Monsieur Aznovorian of Paris, who placed his order for this Type 135 on December 15, 1938. Clearly a man of means and impeccable taste, he selected the ultimate MS triple-carburetor 165 horsepower Competition engine, a 4-speed Cotal electromagnetic gearbox, and a striking cabrio-style body from the great Henri Chapron. The high Art Deco design featured Chaprons distinctive half-moon hood vents, voluptuous fenders, an elegant chrome bodyside sweep, and a tapered, integrated touring trunk. Three months after placing his order, chassis 60166 was delivered to Mr. Aznavorians Paris residence, reportedly finished in a two-tone ivory and blue livery. We can only imagine how striking it must have looked gliding along the streets of Paris in the late 30s.

Unfortunately, Mr. Aznavorians ownership tenure was brief, as war spread to France. Chassis 60166 found a new owner in England, remaining there until the 1950s when it made its way overseas, landing in the United States. It was soon purchased by Wisconsins Ray Wolff, a classic car enthusiast and respected Duesenberg historian, who entrusted its maintenance to specialist restorer Jack Dietz.

The Delahaye was later sold to a friend of Dietz who intended to restore it, but that never happened, and the car was tucked into storage. Dietz was eventually alerted to the cars whereabouts and upon rediscovering it, he found it was still a wonderfully complete, well-preserved original car. Working on behalf of renowned collector William Lassiter, Dietz negotiated the cars purchase and embarked on a full-scale, no-expense-spared restoration, focused on preserving as many original parts as possible.

Jack Dietz obsessively restored the body to an exceptionally high standard, resulting in a beautifully smooth and glassy finish to the two-tone claret and warm silver livery. To the freshly repainted coachwork were fitted beautiful Marchal Aerolux headlamps, silver painted Rudge Whitworth wheels, and finely restored brightwork. The cabin was restored to similar standards in rich dark red leather, wool carpet, and restored O.S. instruments in a lovely wood facia. The top is upholstered in dark red canvas, and insulated with a wool broadcloth headlining.

With the restoration complete, chassis 60166 debuted at the prestigious Concours dElegance at Mar-a-Lago. After intense scrutiny by Classic Car Club of America judges, Mr. Lassiters beautiful Delahaye was awarded a perfect 100-point score, thus earning a coveted CCCA National First Prize award, no. 2140.

Another collector purchased 60166 from Mr. Lassiter, and in 2009, it was acquired by its most recent owner, who proudly displayed it in his extensive collection of Art Deco era automobiles. Even with passage of time since Jack Dietzs restoration, this Type 135 has aged gracefully and is presented in superb condition throughout. It has undergone light mechanical recommissioning in preparation for sale, though further attention may be required before tackling long-distance tours. Since 2009, this Delahaye has remained largely out of the public eye, thus presenting an excellent opportunity to return it to the concours circuit. As a CCCA Full Classic, it is also widely eligible for the clubs popular show and touring events.

Melding impeccable style courtesy of the great Henri Chapron with race- and rally-proven underpinnings, this striking high-performance Delahaye is sure to capture the attention of admirers just as it has since first rolling out on to the streets of Paris in 1939.

Offers welcome and trades considered