DELAHAYE 135M on sale at SOFT AUCTION
| Brand | Delahaye |
| Model | 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe |
| Year | 1948 |
| Coachbuilder | Chapron |
| State | Restored |
| Complete overhaul | 2022 |
| Estimated value | €180,000 – €250,000 |
Delahaye 135 M
N°801.025 – Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron – 1948
Between 1935 and 1950 the Delahaye 135 chassis is certainly the one that most inspired the great body builders in Europe.
From the wisest to the most exuberant, without forgetting the great classics, all tried their hand at this marvellous chassis with ideal proportions to give free rein to their creativity.
The car we present here is a “Grand Luxe” convertible, bodied by Henri Chapron n°801.025, “matching number” and very recently restored by JWA Classic.
Click on menus below to find out more detailed information.
Gallery
History
From Paris to the Côte d’Azur
The first owner of the car was Mr. Leblanc, manager of the “Distilleries de Bretagne et Normandie réunies”. Mr. Leblanc was located at 5 rue Lincoln in Paris, just a few steps from the Avenue des Champs Elysées where the Parisian showcase of Delahaye was coincidently located, just around the corner from Rue Lincoln.
Documents from the Chapron archives show that choices of the model, options and personalized settings had been done meticulously.
We do not know how long Mr Leblanc kept the car, but we find her later in 1963 in the hands of Mr Michel Picard, architect living in Le Lavandou, in the South of France. Michel Picard sold it in 1966 for 150 Francs.
The car entered the JWA-Classic collection in 2009. It was a wreck that hadn’t been driven for decade
Cabriolet Grand Luxe
The Delahaye 135 M 801.025 is one of the first post-war Delahaye, a time when the economic revival allowed some people to access with frenzy to expenses they had had to deprive themselves of for years.
The delivery of this upgraded “S” Cabriolet is described as “Very Urgent” on Henri Chapron’s body shop sheet. And indeed, barely two months after its entry as a chassis, the car was invoiced to its new and happy owner.
It is a beautiful convertible in the purest “Chapron” line, both classic and timeless. The bodywork benefits from several options that justify the term “improved” found in the bodybuilder’s files: luggage rack on rear trunk, “aviation” bumpers, “sport hood”, “chrome wheels”, …
The engine is of the “M” type with three carburetors.
Features
- Brand: Delahaye
- Type: 135 M
- Coachbuilder: Henri Chapron
- Chassis & Motor: 801.025
- Year: 1948
- Body: 6579
Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet by Chapron – 1948 – Technical Data Sheet (French)
- Engine : 3’557 cm3, 6 cylinders straight : 84X107, Soupapes en tête par culbuteurs, Vilebrequin à quatre paliers, Graissage sous pression, Compression : 7,6 :1
- Puissance : Puissance fiscale : 20CV, Puissance au frein : poussée à 140 CV
- Alimentation : Trois carburateurs Solex inversés de 40
- Allumage : Delco, Batterie 12 V 90 AH
- Refroidissement : Par eau
- Réservoir : Capacité : 100L
- Transmission : Propulsion aux roues arrière, Embrayage monodisque à sec
- Boîte de Vitesse : Électromagnétique Cotal à 4 rapports : Première : 0,321, Deuxième : 0,46, Troisième : 0,72, Quatrième : 1
- Châssis : Châssis surbaissé (Châssis semi-élargi)
- Suspension : Ressorts à lames et quatre amortisseurs hydrauliques Messier à double effet
- Direction : À vis globique et secteur, Rayon de braquage : 6 m, Trois tours de volants d’une butée à l’autre
- Roues, pneus : Type Rudge à rayons, pneus de 6/650X17
Restoration
The car arrived in 2009 in the JWA Classic collection. It was in a completely dilapidated state.
But it was an authentic “Grand Luxe Cabriolet” signed by Chapron and matching number.
You’ll find below some of the pictures we took during the restoration work done by JWA Classic.
Before restoration – Restoration
Before restoration
Restoration
Videos
Latest posts
- A new Delahaye 135M for sale
Introducing this beautiful Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Chapron from 1948. For sale. - Cotal gearbox – Shifting gears
How to shift gears in a car equipped with a Cotal gearbox? Operation and use of a Cotal box - Delahaye 135M 1948: new price published!
2023, Jan. 30th: new price update of the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron. - Price update – Soft Auction Delahaye 135M
In accordance with the schedule, the new opening price has just been released for the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron! - Price update – Soft Auction Delahaye 135MIn accordance with the schedule, the new opening price has just been released for the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron!
- Cotal gearbox : Shifting gears (video)
We took advantage of an autumn outing with our Delahaye 135 Cabriolet Chapron to make a short video of the gear change. - New starting price – Delahaye 135M Soft Auction
A new price has been pubished for the Soft Auction of the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron! - Delahaye 135M for sale: the Soft Auction is now open!
The Soft Auction for the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron is now open ! - Soft Auction now opened: Delahaye 135 – Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron – 1947
1947 – Delahaye 135 – Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron Soft auction opening now ! Fully restored in 2010/2011 Complete overhaul – End… Read More »Soft Auction now opened: Delahaye 135 – Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron – 1947 - Delahaye 135 : The clutch release bearing
The clutch release bearing is traditionally made of graphite on the Delahaye 135. This one has a particular shape in order to adapt… Read More »Delahaye 135 : The clutch release bearing - Overhauling the clutch mechanism of our Delahayes 135
Both Cotal gearboxes have been removed, as explained in our previous article.On the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe by Chapron, we noticed that… Read More »Overhauling the clutch mechanism of our Delahayes 135 - We “drop” the Cotal gearboxes
Fall is here and the maintenance season is starting. Our cars have been driven quite a bit during the nice days and we… Read More »We “drop” the Cotal gearboxes - “News d’Anciennes” in Belmont!
On July 23rd, we had the pleasure to welcome the “News d’Anciennes” team. It was a great day during which the tests of… Read More »“News d’Anciennes” in Belmont! - Let’s go!
After some preparations, it’s time to pack up. Today, the Talbot T150C, the Delahaye 135M Cabriolet and the Talbot-Lago T23 Baby are out.… Read More »Let’s go! - 1948-Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand-Luxe by Chapron
A new video of the Delahaye 135M from La Collection is online on Youtube.Currently on sale in Soft Auction Related posts – - 1948 – Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Cotal gearbox
Things didn’t take long. In less than a week, the Cotal gearbox that we had sent to Auto Classique Touraine, came back to… Read More »1948 – Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Cotal gearbox - 1948-Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Cotal gearbox.
Just arrived at Auto Classique Touraine, the box has been opened and disassembled. The diagnosis is rather good: most of the wear is… Read More »1948-Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Cotal gearbox. - Cotal gearbox: the siren song
The COTAL gearbox of the Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet Grand Luxe has been restored about ten years ago. It has always produced a… Read More »Cotal gearbox: the siren song - The four Delahayes put up for sale by JWA Classic.
The last four “Soft Auctions”, after the Aston Martin (1931) and the Rochet-Schneider (1930), will concern four Delahayes. As explained on the website,… Read More »The four Delahayes put up for sale by JWA Classic. - Exceptional barn find
Stored near Paris in a basement garage.The car has not been moved since 1965. The car is a Delahaye 135M bodied by Henri… Read More »Exceptional barn find - Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Chapron – The steering wheel is back.
The steering wheel (leather coverded) of the Delahaye is back. It has been installed and adjusted. The dashboard has received its leather covering.… Read More »Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Grand Luxe – Chapron – The steering wheel is back. - Upgrading the fuel hoses
About two years ago, we had a hose problem on the Delage. A hose that was sold to us as a high quality… Read More »Upgrading the fuel hoses - The dashboard is installed
The re-varnishing operation was a success.As well for the dashboard as for the wooden parts of the doors. Unfortunately, we are still waiting… Read More »The dashboard is installed - The dashboard is restored
I went to our cabinetmaker to get the woodwork. All the veneers have been restored and varnished on the door panels and on… Read More »The dashboard is restored - First day : First overview of the situation
The sheet metal of the body is not in too bad condition.The metal used in 1947 was of good quality.The wooden structure, on… Read More »First day : First overview of the situation
