wrote: «Few cars offer such good road holding, handling and performance.» Such a judgement about a French car from a British newspaper perfectly describes the level of Delahaye cars at the end of the 1930s. The Type 135 had an exceptionally long career. It was a solid, durable, luxurious and sporty car that gave rise to racing and rally versions and to cabriolets and coupés bodied by the best designers of the 1936-1952 period. Delahaye supplied bare chassis, so the customer could choose his own coachbuilder. Two schools of coachwork were in vogue: the traditional one with Chapron, Letourneur & Marchand, Pourtout, Guilloré and the second one which sought a new style with Figoni & Falaschi, Saoutchik, Antem or Autobineau. In total, 2,592 Delahaye 135 were produced. Purchased in 2014 from the estate of Jean-Michel Cérède, this car has always been kept with great care by its owner. Attached to the history of each car in his collection, Claude Gratzmüller had been seduced by its provenance but also
by the balance of its Chapron design. If we go back in history, the car had been bought in 1964 by an architecture student who stored it for a long period in a Parisian car park. Jean-Michel Cérède bought the car from him in 1986 before undertaking a complete restoration of the chassis, bodywork and mechanics. The red leather upholstery had been preserved and now has a delightful patina. Is it really the original one? We can’t confirm it but we can assume so. The beautiful wooden dashboard reminds us of the sporty nature of this model. The 3.2l six-cylinder engine is equipped with three Solex type 40 carburettors. Jean-Michel Cérède’s penchant for classic car rallies is well known, and he will drive it for thousands of kilometers. Originally fitted with a Cotal electromagnetic gearbox, it was replaced by a manual gearbox in 1990 for easier use and maintenance. This Delahaye is a real stylistic crush as well as being easy to use with performances that allow it to honour the luxury and sportiness of the time.
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