1946 Delahaye 135

This 1946 Delahaye 135M is a right-hand-drive example clothed in cabriolet coachwork by Pennock of the Netherlands. Chassis 800424 is said to have been initially delivered to Holland, where it remained with the family of its original owner until the 1970s. A subsequent owner reportedly retained possession through the mid-1990s, at which point its next owner commissioned a refurbishment that was completed in the early 2010s. Finished in two-tone cream and dark blue over blue upholstery, the car is powered by a 3,557cc OHV inline-six that breathes through a single Solex carburetor and is mated to a four-speed Cotal electromagnetic gearbox. Additional equipment includes painted 17” steel wheels, four-wheel drum brakes, independent front suspension, rear-hinged doors, and a blue three-position convertible top. The car was acquired by the current owner in 2015 and later brought stateside. This 135M is now offered on dealer consignment in California with a clean Mississippi title. The Type 135 was introduced in 1935 on a lower chassis with a shorter wheelbase than that of the outgoing 138, with bodywork provided by the purchaser’s supplier of choice. The range was expanded in 1936 to include a Modifie variant with a higher-displacement engine that could be had with one, two, or three carburetors. This 135M was bodied by Carrosserie Pennock of the Netherlands as a two-door, four-seat cabriolet with a convertible top designed to be used fully open, fully closed, or covering the rear seat only. The bodywork is said to have been stripped prior to being refinished in two-tone cream and dark blue as part of the aforementioned refurbishment. Features include a blue soft top with landau bars as well as a louvered centrally hinged bonnet, a pop-out windshield, chrome-finished bumpers, Marchal headlights, and rear-hinged doors. Imperfections in the finish are shown up close in the gallery below. Body-color 17″ steel wheels are wrapped in older 6.00/6.50 Firestone Deluxe Champion wide-whitewall tires, while a non-matching spare is stored in the trunk compartment. Suspension incorporates an independent front setup with a transverse leaf spring and a solid rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drums that the selling dealer describes as “sensitive.” The right-hand-drive cabin features front bucket seats and a rear bench trimmed in blue leather that extends to the door panels. Burl wood trim adorns the dashboard and door caps, while tan carpets cover the floors. A lockable glovebox and plexiglass sun visors are also fitted. The banjo-style steering wheel is finished in ivory and sits ahead of a column-mounted selector for the Cotal gearbox, while a floor shifter allows engagement of forward or reverse. O.S. instrumentation includes a 180-km/h speedometer, a tachometer, an ammeter, and inset gauges monitoring oil temperature, coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer in inoperative and shows 41k kilometers (~25k miles). Total mileage is unknown. The 3,557cc OHV inline-six was reportedly overhauled as part of the refurbishment and features a single downdraft Solex carburetor. An alternator conversion has been carried out, and the cylinder head is said to have been rebuilt with hardened valve seats under previous ownership. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed Cotal pre-selector gearbox, which incorporates a series of electromagnetic clutches to engage gears. The manufacturer’s tag lists the car as a Type 135 with chassis number 800424, while the Mississippi title lists the VIN as 135M800424.