1936 Delahaye Type 135 135 "S" FIGONI - Ex Louis Villeneuve - 4 times Le Mans entrant -

• Convertible
• Chassis number 

  46626
• Competition car 

  Yes

• Drive 

  LHD
• Condition 

  Original condition
• Interior colour 

  Red
• Number of seats 

  2

• Location

  
• Exterior colour 

  Blue
• Drivetrain 

  2wd
• Fuel type 

  Petrol

Description

The Delahaye’s legacy was mostly forged in the second part of the 30s with the introduction of the make’s iconic model, the “135”. Designed by Jean François the engineering consisted in a very modern and stiff chassis with independent front suspension and 3557cm3 engine. The all-new model was available into various versions and immediately raised a huge success, being a superb and safe driver.

In order to promote new model, Delahaye built a race version to comply with the new ACF regulation, indeed the same rules applied for “Grand Prix de l’ACF” and “Les 24 Heures du Mans “, required a minimum run of 50 chassis built the same year for homologation purposes.
Among the 50 chassis built, around a shortened 2700 cm wheelbase, only 17 were real race cars, designated by the factory as “135 Speciale”. These 135 “S” had different suspensions, brakes and 152HP engine. The other shortened chassis didn’t have the racing mechanical components, they only shared the shorter chassis and were called “135 C”.
In competition the 135 “S” beat several times the Bugattis and were highly successful as they won the “Grand Prix de L’ACF, Belgique, Donington, Le Mans, Paris Nice, Monte Carlo, Mont Ventoux and many other premium races in the end of the 30s.

The subject car chassis 46626 is exceptional since its building. Indeed it has been ordered by Louis Villeneuve but only as a rolling chassis, preferring to bring it to the famous Figoni. The body is Figoni’s work number 569 and described in the company’s book as “ Carrosserie selon règlement des 24 Heures du Mans”. This is a much refined body, especially due to the spectacular tail, than the pretty rough factory bodied cars.

Louis Villeneuve entered the car in a total of 30 major events from 1936 to 1949, here are the most notable ones :

1936 Season :

- 3h de Marseille : 14th
- 24h du Mans : Cancelled
- Grand Prix ACF : 7th
- Grand Prix de la Marne : 14th
- Grand Prix du Comminges : 11th
- Grand Prix de France de MCF : 2nd
- Coupe d’Automne AGACI : 2nd

1937 Season :

- 3h de Marseille : 11th
- 24h du Mans : DNF
- Grand Prix de l’ACF : DNF
- Grand Prix de la Marne : 8th
- Coupe de l’Automne de l’AGACI : 4th

1938 Season :

- Rallye Azur AGACI
- 24h du Mans : 4th
- 12h de Paris : 2nd

1939 Season :

- Grand Prix de Pau : 7th
- Coupe de Paris
- 24h du Mans : 6th
- Grand Prix de Belgique : 6th
- Grand Prix du Comminges : 6th

1945 Season :

- Coupe des Prisonniers : 7th

1946 Season :

- Coupe du Bois de Boulogne : DNS
- Grand Prix de Belgique : DNF

1949 Season :

- 24h du Mans : DNF

In 1952 Louis Villeneuve after 16 years of ownership sold the car to Jacques Devinot who continued to have it looked after by Maurice Sineau who was Villeneuve’s mechanic. Devinot slightly modified the car to comply with the new motorsport regulations and removed the cycle-type wheel arches, which were banned then, by very nice ones wings . He also added a Jaguar XK 120 windscreen and soft top and side boxes for tools, while the body was repainted into green.

1952 : Season :

- Coupe de Vitesse : DNS
- Coupe de Printemps : DNF
- Coupe des Alpes : DNF

After the 1952 season Devinot realised the old Delahaye had to retire from motor racing and putted the car for sale at Ed. Mouche Garage were Pierre Bardinon saw the car and immediately purchased it. It’s not necessary to recall that Pierre Bardinon assembled the most impressive race car collection in the world and only bought the cars of most interest. Pierre used the glorious racer to travel from Paris to his native village in the center of France with his wife Yanne. This 135 ”S” was actually his first classic race car purchase, he took the best care of it with Mister Sineau the ex. Villeneuve and Davinot mechanic, whom Bardinon borrowed to look after his cars. Pierre who used it as a road car, continued to use it with the new wings and added windscreen, which for sure was an interesting improvement for a daily use.

After four years of ownership he putted an advertisement in “L’Equipe” newspaper to sell the Figoni Delahaye. The ad was noticed by a marke enthusiat, actually a young Delahaye sales man at Garage Waller : Jean Pierre Bernard. He knew the history from the car and purchased it from Bardinon.

Jean Pierre Bernard who was introduced into the vintage car collection by Serge Pozzoli, is one of the pioneers from the vintage racing world. In order to use the 46626 on track he organised meetings mostly at Montlhéry with his friends who were no less that Serge Pozzoli, Pierre Bardinon, Carlos Ankersmit and many others who will later gather from the most prestigious classic cars in the world.
Though the 135 “S” was very pretty with its Devinot’s changes, he decided to put the car back to its original specifications and drove it to Figoni. It received there exactly the same cycle-type wheel arches as they built in 1936 for Louis Villeneuve. Depending one the event, Bernard used the car with or without the lights and wheel arches.
In 1958 the ACO organized a vintage event to commemorate its 50th Anniversary, held before the 24 hours. Bernard brought 46626 and led the race at the first lap. This race is actually the very first vintage race ever organized in France. The Bernard ownership would be much too long to tell but he was one of the founders from “Grand Prix de l’Age d’Or” in 1964 and the Delahaye Club in 1966. The original engine damaged in 1959 was replaced by another competition one. He will race the car very successfully until 1981 without any damage, preserving all of its original components. During these 25 years of ownership he gathered an impressive history file. In 2000 he was invited to write for the Delahaye Club’s bulletin a superb 12 pages article about the car’s history, including a lot of period pictures and amazing memories.

In 1981 Bernard sold 46626 to Hervé Charbonneaux, son of Philippe Charbonneaux, the famous post war Delahaye designer. Hervé during the 70s and 80s used to own several vintage race cars including a handful of 135 and 145 but he decided to keep 46626 which he knew since the 60s and extensively used it. Over 33 years of ownership he entered the car into the most prestigious events such as the Mille Miglia, Oldtimer Grand Prix, Grand Prix de Monza, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Coupe de l’Age d’Or, Mont Fuji, Villa d’Este, Le Mans 50th Anniversary of the 1938 Delahaye win, etc… During his ownership he only did some mechanical services, keeping the car as original as possible. It has also been largely displayed in France including at the Retromobile and Mondial de l’Automobile salons in Paris.

This fabulously original Delahaye “Course” is offered to public sale today for the first time since 1956, among the 17 original 135 ”S” built, this is the only one to retain its original body and mechanical components. It should be noted that only a handful of race cars from the Vintage years have survived in a so original condition, with continuous history and having had only 2 owners in the last 58 years. This a unique opportunity to acquire a master piece and the Pinnacle from the Delahaye’s golden area.

Do not hesitate to contact Florent MOULIN on +352 661 700 777 or by emailcontact@artandrevs.com

http://www.artandrevs.com/delahaye-135-s-figoni/en/pr-106-1