French registration title

Elegant bodywork by Chapron
Beautiful old restoration Efficient and easy to drive
Owned by Jean-Michel Cérède from 1986 to 2014

Founded in 1894 by Emile Delahaye, the company began its activity by building engines, which allowed it to produce the Type 1, the first car to receive electric ignition, in 1895. When Emile Delahaye died in 1905, the company was able to rely on talented men, including Charles Weiffenbach, who made it prosper by building high-quality, reliable and fast cars. In 1933, the company turned to the production of large, sporty road cars and in 1935, production of the type 135 began. Based on the type 138, the type 135 was offered on a new low-profile chassis with a 3.5l, 20 hp six-cylinder engine. After testing a Delahaye 135 in 1938, the British trade magazine "The Motor" wrote: "Few cars offer such good road holding, handling and performance." Such a judgement about a French car from a British newspaper perfectly describes the level of Delahaye cars at the end of the 1930s.
The Type 135 had an exceptionally long career. It was a solid, durable, luxurious and sporty car that gave rise to racing and rally versions and to cabriolets and coupés bodied by the best designers of the 1936-1952 period. Delahaye supplied bare chassis, so the customer could choose his own coachbuilder. Two schools of coachwork were in vogue: the traditional one with Chapron, Letourneur & Marchand, Pourtout, Guilloré and the second one which sought a new style with Figoni & Falaschi, Saoutchik, Antem or Autobineau. In total, 2,592 Delahaye 135 were produced.
Purchased in 2014 from the estate of Jean-Michel Cérède, this car has always been kept with great care by its owner. Attached to the history of each car in his collection, Claude Gratzmüller had been seduced by its provenance but also by the balance of its Chapron design. If we go back in history, the car had been bought in 1964 by an architecture student who stored it for a long period in a Parisian car park. Jean-Michel Cérède bought the car from him in 1986 before undertaking a complete restoration of the chassis, bodywork and mechanics. The red leather upholstery had been preserved and now has a delightful patina. Is it really the original one? We can't confirm it but we can assume so. The beautiful wooden dashboard reminds us of the sporty nature of this model. The 3.2l six-cylinder engine is equipped with three Solex type 40 carburettors. Jean-Michel Cérède's penchant for classic car rallies is well known, and he will drive it for thousands of kilometers. Originally fitted with a Cotal electromagnetic gearbox, it was replaced by a manual gearbox in 1990 for easier use and maintenance.
This Delahaye is a real stylistic crush as well as being easy to use with performances that allow it to honour the luxury and sportiness of the time.

This car will be sold by auction by AGUTTES Auction House, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, on June the 20th, 2021.
The digital catalog is available by the following link
https://www.aguttes.com/en/catalog/113642?

Please contact us for any further details.
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