Chassis No.

818045French vehicle registration document “The performance of the final production Delahaye, combined with a leading name in French coachbuilding”  The Delahaye 135 is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of French motoring from the 1930s, on a par with the Bugatti Type 57.

In the early 1950s, however, the luxury and sports car sector underwent a rapid transformation.

To compete with American, Italian and British rivals, Delahaye had to refresh its range; with the ageing 135 phased out, the firm on Rue du Banquier called upon the designer Philippe Charbonneaux and asked him to design a body that reflected contemporary tastes. This was to be the 235.

The prototype was built by Motto in Turin in 1949, and the factory continued its development in Paris; the car was unveiled for the first time in 1951.

The coachbuilders – including Chapron, Antem, Letourneur & Marchand, Faget-Varnet, Beutler and Figoni – who designed the bodywork for the 235 were required to retain the ...