The best of show in this years’ Cobble Beach Concourse d’Elegance was 1938 Delahaye 135 MS. Although the Delahaye was a French car maker, it was designed by designed by Italian -French coach builders Figoni et Falaschi in very Italian style of goccia d’aqua (tear drop).  The wind was the enemy of Joseph Figoni, and he pushed the aero dynamic possibilities to extreme.  His creations are characterized by a very personalized style, often flamboyant but always elegant.

     The 1920’s and the 30’s were really the time of the coach builders, and not really car makers. The cars were status symbols, and people treated them as such.  They were works of art, sculptures, expressions of the designer, the craftsman - anything but just mere products.  All are unique one-offs; just like  the Mona Lisa, a coach builder never hammers same panel twice.

     The engine features robust four main bearing 3557 cc capacity with light alloy cylinder head - just like the racing Delahayes with 8.4 : 1 compression ratio. The car featured hemi-head inline  6- cylinder counter balanced engine                                                                                             The 42 mm vertical inlet valves were operated by slender pushrods and the  intake and exhaust ports  were transposed with triple downdraft Solex carburetors.  The six exhaust ports fed into six - pipe “bunch of bananas” feeding a single exhaust pipe. This set up in the top model Modifie Speciale (MS) was good for 160 horsepower at 4300 rpm, which could propel the Delahaye to 120 mph                                                                                       The chassis is light but very strong and rigid box section.  It has independent front suspension by the means of transverse leaf spring and radius arms, while the rear axle was carried on semi-elliptical leaf springs.  The brakes operated in a substantial 14 inch diameter drums and were operated on the Bendix duo-servo principle.                                                                                                                                                                             The steering was particularly light and sensitive, thanks to well engineered steering box and dual track rods pivoting on a needle roller idler.

     Delahaye is fitted with ingenious Cotel electromagnetic gearbox. While it was complicated and difficult to maintain, the clutch only had to be used for starting and stopping. Instantaneous gear changes  were made with a little lever acting in a gate on the steering column - much like today’s paddle shifters. The central lever on the floor selects neutral, forward and reverse modes.  An idiosyncratic feature of this system is that there are also 4 reverse speeds - although attempting maximum velocity rearwards in high gear is not recommended.

     This car was chosen as the epitome of the coach building skills to be exhibited at the 1938 Paris Salon. Teardrop Coupe was painted in gleaming off white, accented by red interior, with colours of French flag proudly adorning the radiator grille.   The design was heavily influenced by the advances in aircraft design and aerodynamics.  This resulted in the elliptical (tear drop) silhouette and  enveloppantes (tear drop style pontoon fenders) which gave the vehicle its fluid grace and inherent motion.  In the pursuit of aerodynamics, fender skirts were utilized, often in both front and rear wheel openings.. Windshield was steeply raked back and headlights, door handles were fitted flush to the body. Hood ornaments and mouldings were also streamlined, windswept in design.  Figoni used nitrocellulose lacquers  to paint the cars in brilliant and metallic colours, often two or three colours in designs which flowed with the body lines. The dashboards were made of rich golden wood, which were Figoni et Falaschi      

     The car’s early history is unknown, however it was deliver to its first owner shortly after the Paris Salon.  With the war looming, it is likely that the Delahaye was hidden away to protect it from occupying forces.       

      The Car was not seen until 1964, when Antoine Raffaeli found it hidden amongst the reeds in Southern France.  Mr Raffaeli pursued the car until 1985, when Madame Gautier agreed to sell it.  A year long restoration took place at Conforti Brothers in Nice. The coach work was restored and re-crafted using the originals as a template.   Delahaye was sold in 1990 to Rosso Bianco collection in Germany, and then sold to US to John O’Quinn in 2006.  He commissioned fresh restoration, managed by Parisian Delahaye expert Benoit Bocquet.  Restoration was done by Atelier Automobile Anciennes Dominique Tessier, which was a 2 year restoration.  The car was brought to bare metal, with every nut and bolt restored..  Using period photographs, earlier changes in the nose were brought to original, including the V-shaped front bumper and tri-colour grille.  The grille was particularly important, as Joseph Figoni used it as a show of pride for his adopted country during the years leading to WW II.                                                              Since Mr.O’Quinn’s passing, car was sold again to a new owner, who performed extensive mechanical restoration to  Cotal gearbox, rear axle and the electrical system.

     This vehicle has been shown in its original colours at Pebble Beach 2016, Amelia Island Concours d;Elegance in 2017 (Best in Class) and Ault Park Concours in 2017 Best in Show).

      There are number of reasons why this Delahaye is significant.  It was chosen by Joseph Figoni to show case his talents as a premier coach builder at the 1938 Paris Salon at a great time of instability and insecurity. Today, this numbers matching vehicle, with it racing engine will run 100+mph, while the restored transmission and rear end make it safe to do so.  What captures everyone’s heart is the flamboyant tear drop shape from the most elegant coach builder of the age.

Sources:

https://www.supercars.net/blog/1938-delahaye-135-ms/

https://www.bonhommes.com/auctions14018/lot/527/

https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z13527/delahaye-type-135.aspx

https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/5999-1938-delahaye-135ms-coupe/

http://www.coachbuild.com/2/index.php/encyclopedia/coachbuilders-models/item/figoni-falaschi-delahaye-135-ms-coupe-1938-60112

http://www.coachbuild.com/index.php?option=com.gallery2&itemid=50&g2_itemid=4040