• One of the most significant pre-war competition Delahayes
• Finished 2nd overall at the 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Previously owned and raced by the famous French Ferrari concessionaire Charles Pozzi
• Brilliant period race history; known to have competed in nearly 50 events from 1936 to 1956
• Restored in 2005 by l’Atelier Concept & Restauration Bonnefoy
• Accompanied by a detailed report by marque expert, Christian Huet
• Highly eligible for historic events including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Classic

Please note this vehicle is titled as 1935.

Please also note if this vehicle is exported outside of France an export license will be required.

Veuillez noter que ce véhicule est une année-modèle 1935.

Veuillez noter que si ce véhicule est exporté en dehors de la France, une licence d'exportation sera nécessaire.

Unveiled at the 1935 Paris Motor Show, the Delahaye 135 was not only favoured by Europe’s most renowned coachbuilders, but also racing drivers. The model came to be known as the “Coupe des Alpes” for its success in the Alpine Rally, and would also leave its mark on the Mille Miglia and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Construction of chassis 46084 began in late-1935, and by February 1936 the 3.6-litre 135 S wore a body by the coachbuilder, Pourtout, and had been registered to French racer Daniel Porthault. It was the first or second competition example built, and had very specific features such as the side-draught carburettors, and the “in line” Cotal pre-select gearbox. This is most likely the ancestor of the current paddle shift. It was entered into that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans but due to civil unrest the race was cancelled, and chassis 46084 instead made its debut at the Grand Prix de l’A.C.F. on 28 June 1936. Porthault competed in 15 events between 1936 and 1938, earning two podium finishes.

Chassis 46084 finally had its moment at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1938, where it was piloted by Gaston Serraud and Yves Giraud-Cabantous, under race number “14”. The pair drove courageously, following in the tyre tracks of sister car, chassis 47190, driven by Eugene Chaboud and Jean Tremoulet. Having completed 233 laps—two fewer than the other Delahaye—this 135 S finished 2nd overall, resulting in an all-French podium and a 1-2 finish for the marque.

After Le Mans, the Delahaye competed once more before being laid up during World War II. In 1945 it was acquired by the Belgian, Baron Pierre Cornet, who had previously raced chassis 46084. In April 1946, the French racing driver and future Ferrari concessionaire, Charles Pozzi, purchased the car, and from 1946 to 1947 would race in over 20 events. Pozzi’s competition highlights included a 4th-place finish at the 1946 Grand Prix de Bourgogne, and 3rd at both the Grand Prix d’Albi and Grand Prix du Salon in 1947. Pozzi drove under Paul Vallée’s team banner, Ecurie France, with chassis 46084 rebodied in early 1947 to match the team’s other Delahayes.

In late-1947, Vallée acquired the car from Pozzi, retaining it for four years before selling to Henri Auriac in December 1951. Auriac swiftly rebodied the Delahaye as a barchetta to compete in events that included the 1954 Tour de France Automobile. In 1955, Auriac rebodied chassis 46084 again, but this time as a cabriolet. He later placed the car into storage, where it remained for 40 years, changing hands twice in that time.

When the previous owner acquired the Delahaye in 2005, he set about the daunting task of returning the Delahaye 135 S to period specification. With Christian Huet’s expertise, the car was the subject of a nut-and-bolt restoration, receiving a new body in the correct Pourtout style by l’Atelier Concept & Restauration Bonnefoy. The restoration was completed in 2008, and the car was subsequently displayed at Rétromobile in Paris.

In current ownership for the past decade, the Delahaye is accompanied by a FIVA identity card. Its history file contains a 1938 24 Hours of Le Mans programme, period photographs, ownership history, expert reports, and restoration photographs. It is an ideal candidate for historic racing and is highly eligible for the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Classic.

This 1936 Delahaye 135 S presents an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire one of the great pre-war French competition cars in the setting of RM Sotheby’s Le Mans sale.