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The 135 M (Modifie), is an upgraded version of the 135 first released in 1935. These cars typically feature custom coach built bodies and no two are identical. Combining luxurious appointments and race-winning engineering, the Delahaye 135 is one of the most desirable French cars from its time.

Coachbuilders such as Figoni at Falaschi, Chapron, Franay, Letourner & Marchand, and Guillore all had their turn at building an image for the Delahaye name. Many of these cars were built specifically for Concours events which demanded elegance and uniqueness.

First shown in 1935, the 135 was an lower, more powerful and sporting version of the Type 138 model it replaced. This model was updated in 1937, to include the 3,557cc engine in various states of tune. The the 135M or Modifie featured either one or three carburetors for 95hp or 115hp. The top model was the Modifie Speciale with 135hp.

At the center of the 135 chassis was a robust six-cylinder engine. It's simple pushrod design ensured reliability while the modest capacity gave good fuel economy. For almost fifteen years Delahaye used this engine for their most celebrated chassis.

During the late thirties the 135 Sport competed with success in Grand Prix, rally and endurance racing, winning the 1936 Marsailles GP and closely missing the French GP (but still taking second, third, forth and fifth place). Furthermore, the highlight of the 135's career came at the 1938 LeMans 24 Hours race when Eugene Chaboud and Jean Tremoul took overall victory with their 135 Sport.

Around 50 examples of the 135 were made with a shorter chassis known as the Competition Court for small two seat coupes and cabriolets.

During the onset of war, Delahaye reverted back to their earlier commercial designs for the effort. Afterward they continued their 135 line which was tolerant of the poor fuels available after the war. The new cars featured a longer and narrower grill, but still retained the grace of the pre-war cars.

This Delahaye 135 is represented on the CHF1, Swiss postage stamp for the 100 year anniversary of the Geneva Auto Show. It was bodied by Swiss Carrosie Gabber, and was shown as part of the '100 years of Swiss coachwork' display at the 2005 Geneva Auto Salon.

Chassis & Sales

1948 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Pennock - sold for $220,000 Delivered new to the United States, this Pennock-bodied cabriolet was re-sold to Mr. Dale McCauley of Grosse Ile, Michigan in 1952. It remained in his possession until 1997, when it was sold to a prominent Midwest collector, who had D&D Restorations of Covington, Ohio carry out a show-quality cosmetic and mechanical restoration. It changed hands again in 2002, after which it was entrusted to the Alan Taylor Company of Escondido, California for... more
Gallery: 2010 RM Automobiles of Amelia Island Auction

1951 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Chapron - sold for €117,600 art of the O’Quinn Collection since 2005, its restoration was completed some years ago and comes complete with copies of over 50 pages of invoices and correspondence. A recent inspection confirms that the 135M maintains its post-restoration splendour with the exterior panel fit and deep maroon finish remaining very good, while the bright trim is generally very nice with very slight pitting. The interior continues to present well with the leath... more
Gallery: 2010 RM Auctions Sporting Classics of Monaco

1938 Delahaye 135M Chapron Cabriolet 49278 - sold for €117,940 Our 135 M, a classic four-seater cabriolet with bodywork by Henri Chapron (order n°5785), belonged for many years to the well-known collector Jacques Dumontant, who inherited it from his father and often used it on his travels in search of vintage cars. Although the 135 M usually came with openwork sheet-metal wheels, this one has more elegant wire wheels, always available as an option at the time (and vice-versa). The current owner acquired t... more
Gallery: 2010 Artcurial Sport & GTs au Mans Classic

1948 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet "Malmaison" 800997 - sold for €333,581 This Delahaye 135 M DHC was built in his workshops in 1948 and was one of the first examples of this "transition" model combining the pre-war style and the integral pontoon line. Named "Malmaison" it was exhibited on the Pourtout stand at the 1948 Paris Motor Show. The vertical and narrow grille was a variant of the new front styling by Philippe Charbonneaux for Delahaye in 1946. This car participated in numerous concours d'élégance events in ... more
Gallery: 2012 Artcurial Motorcars à Rétromobile

1946 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet 800269 - sold for €161,000 A desirable 135M model equipped with triple-carburettor induction and Cotal pre-selector gearbox, chassis number '800269' was supplied new to Lucerne, Switzerland in 1946. The body is certainly one of Graber's finest from this period, reminiscent in many ways of the factory coachwork for the contemporary Alfa Romeo 2500. In 1956 the Delahaye was sold to Bern and then again in 1958 to an owner in Thun who kept the car until 1998, since when it ... more
Gallery: The Paris Sale 2012 by Bonhams

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