11 The Delahaye 235 was a product of its time; a stately car that exuded class and a hefty price tag. The background to Delahaye and its cars is fascinating. Its racing tradition saw this car company take home records and even race in the Le Mans. The French automobile industry has a rich tradition, even with some classic French Cars having skyrocketed in value.
The Delahaye 235 was the updated version of the Type 135. The 235 brought in some of the best coachmakers, including Henri Chapron. From the outside, it looked exquisite. On the inside, it reflected the same luxurious appeal. But like most models, it had to come to an end. And its end coincided with its own company’s demise. Let’s take a closer look at the Delahaye 235 to find out why it’s such a cool and underrated classic car today.
10 Delahaye, Racing, And the Post-War Struggle
Delahaye was started by Émile Delahaye in 1894. Émile had studied engineering in France and even worked in Belgium. At the turn of the century, the Delahaye company was taken over by new owners. Delahaye models were soon eating up the track, setting records and winning races.
But with World War 2, the automotive industry in France felt the economic pinch. Production numbers were lower than expected. In the fifties, Delahaye even helped with production of the Delahaye VLR jeep for the French Army.
9 The Delahaye 235 And The French Car Market Of The Fifties
The French automotive industry in the fifties was a defining time, becoming a force to reckon with. The big carmakers such as Peugeot, Renault and Citroën flexed their muscles, competing with the best the European market had to offer.
We first saw the Delahaye 235 at the Paris Auto Salon in 1951. It was an upgrade on the Type 135, one of the coolest French cars everyone forgot about. One of its competition was the classic French four-door Saloon, the Hotchkiss Grégoire, introduced at the start of the decade.
8 The Type 135
There have been some rare finds. A 1939 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet with its original engine is one such find. Not only is it significant because of its rarity, but also because the Type 135M was upgraded to the Type 235.
The Type 135 was introduced in the mid-thirties. The chassis shared common features with the Type 235. However, the 235 had a more powerful engine. The 135M are unique, not only in terms of low production numbers, with only 84 built, but also because of each one’s individuality, with each body being crafted by a coachbuilder.
7 The Henri Chapron Touch – The Saoutchik Factor
The Type 235 received the special treatment from different coachbuilders, who added their own special touch. Henri Chapron was one such coach builder. With his company starting after the First World War, Henri Chapron was responsible for the body work on numerous cars, including work on several Citroën presidential models, made for the likes of Charles de Gaulle. The 235 also received the Henri Chapron touch.
There have been some most stunning cars built by Saoutchik, including a number of Delahaye cars. One of which is the Type 235. Jacques Saoutchik started his company in the early years of the twentieth-century. Along with the Delahaye Type 235, Saoutchik was also involved in projects like the 1948 Cadillac Series 62.
6 Luxurious Design
The Delahaye 235 was constructed from aluminum and steel. It projected that classic feel, with its smooth line and purposeful bulging fenders. It reflected the elegant touches of its coachbuilder.
It came with the broad grille and the wider body. With its 116-inch wheelbase and being over 179 inches long, it was stately in appearance. It was offered in different styles, whether convertible, coach, roadster or coupe. It may have been Delahaye’s last pitch in the French luxury car market, but it certainly left a mark of elegance and refinement with its look.
5 The Delahaye 235’s Engine
The Delahaye 235 is powered by a 3.6-liter inline-six. The 235 was the replacement for the Type 175, which was bigger. The inline six is matched with three Solex carburetors.
The 235’s engine is said to pump out 152 horsepower at 4,200 rpm. It could reach speeds of around 106 mph. However, the 135’s fuel consumption and braking system were criticized.
4 Take A Seat
The Delahaye 235 interior was just as exquisite. The leather interior reflects the 1950s class we expect. The prominent steeling wheel caught the eye. Like its stately exterior, it was spacious and refined.
But it is not surprising that the interior of the Delahaye 235 was so lavish. When we consider that Delahaye was known to delight with their luxury, seen in the Type 135 and also the 175, but also the competition, such as the Hotchkiss brand, not to mention the extravagant price tag. The Delahaye was designed to make you feel important.
3 Taking On The Delahaye 235
Antem and Figoni & Falaschi were other coach builders associated with the Delahaye 235. Figoni & Falaschi had been involved in the 1936 Delahaye 135 that had been commissioned by the French race car driver Albert Perrot.
A 1952 Delahaye 235 by Antem took part in the 1953 Rallye Monte Carlo. Roger Crovetto and Julio Quinlin were the drivers. We could return to the Delahaye racing tradition of past days, but they were mere memories as the end of Delahaye was fast approaching.
2 Production Numbers – Price
After the war, Delahaye restarted production on their Type 135 to get their profits flowing, after the economic miseries that came from World War 2. Other models, like the 175, struggled to make a profit. It was a tough time.
With the Type 235, nothing had changed. Production costs were high, and only 84 cars were produced. As for the price tag, a 1952 Delahaye 235 Coupe by Saoutchik sold for $577,000.
1 Aftermath
The end of production for the Delahaye 235 came in 1954. It was the same year that Hotchkiss, once their rival, took over the company. The end of the Hotchkiss and Delahaye brands was in 1956.
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How you finish is just as important as how you start, maybe even more so. Delahaye started when the car industry was being birthed. Back then, they started with the Type 0, a 1.4-liter single-cylinder model, pushing out around 5 horsepower. But by the early-fifties, the luxurious Delahaye 235 was coming to an end, along with the company that made it. This luxurious car was not only stately and expensive, but arrived at a significant time in the French automotive scene.
