Pick of the Day: 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Convertible
The Italians seem to have co-opted the title for “most desirable cars in the world,” but in a different era, that unofficial title could have gone to the French. At one time, Paris was the epicenter of culture for much of the world. Automobiles joined those ranks in the 1920s, with the following decade arguably being the greatest among all automobiles. One of the finest brands, paired with the finest of coachbuilders, is our Pick of the Day. This 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Convertible by Figoni et Falaschi is listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in La Jolla, California.
Delahaye was founded by Emile Delahaye in 1894 in Tours before moving to Paris in 1898. As a producer of low-volume, high-quality luxury cars, trucks, and utility and commercial vehicles, Delahaye took the next logical step by establishing a racing department in 1932, garnering the company international recognition for fast and resilient cars due to setting many world records by the mid- to late-1930s. This was during the time when coachbuilders were developing a reputation separate from the automobiles they were designing.
The most esteemed coachbuilders also were French, though Figoni et Falaschi (like Bugatti) was founded by two Italian expats who moved to France in their youth. Designer Giuseppe Figoni formed his own company after World War I. In 1935, he was joined by business partner Ovidio Falaschi, who handled the business side. Pair their bespoke designs with Delahaye’s winning record of race-proven cars and you have a tour de force among prestigious cars of the 1930s.
One of Figoni’s personal friends was a wealthy gentleman by the name of Monsieur Wolff. While the two were dining together and discussing Figoni’s new streamlined concepts, Wolff decided he wanted to commission a car that would wow the cognoscenti at concours events and be capable of the performance demanded by racing teams. The first of these was “Design 532,” a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Coupe with enclosed fenders and a sliding metal roof.
The second, “Design 581,” is the subject of our Pick of the Day: a Bleu Foncé 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition Convertible. A longer wheelbase was chosen to give Figoni more reign to express his vision, which included a flowing, streamlined design with chrome accents and components. Perhaps most unique was the patented top mechanism that allows the roof to neatly fold into the space between the passenger compartment and the trunk, creating a cleaner look than what was prevalent at the time.
Of course, an automobile of this caliber has an artisan’s bent on the inside as well. Upholstery is light gray quill ostrich with dark blue piping and carpet, with a perimeter of wood trim accenting the cabin. The instrument panel features a guilloché (engine-turned) fascia with Jaeger gauges. The four-spoke steering wheel cleverly uses leaf springs. A pair of ostrich jump seats rest folded behind the front compartment, along with a shelf for three pieces of elegant luggage that inversely match the interior colors: dark blue quill ostrich piped with light gray quill ostrich.
The 3,557cc overhead-valve inline-six engine offered a substantial (for its time) 120 horsepower, equal to a contemporary Buick Century straight-eight. It is paired with a competition-tested four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on the top three gears. Fuel delivery is handled by a trio of Solex 40PAI carburetors, a higher-compression cylinder head, oil cooler, and two fuel fillers in the trunk. Underneath the 116-inch wheelbase, you’ll find an independent suspension using transverse leaf springs as the lower control arm. A set of 17-inch Rudge-Whitworth chromed wire wheels are wrapped in 5.60 x 6.00 Michelin tires.
In modern times, this Delahaye has continued the tradition of visiting concours events, this time around North America. It has garnered approximately 30 Best of Show awards plus a host of other prizes (Best Prewar, Best Paint, Best Interior, Most Elegant, Best of the Best, etc.). At Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Grand Classics competitions, this vehicle proudly wears the Senior Premier badge, the highest CCCA recognition badge available, thanks to never having been judged less than a perfect 100 points. The body is the original from Figoni, as authenticated in writing by Club Delahaye France, along with the competition drivetrain that includes the four-speed manual transmission.
This Delahaye is also very complete thanks to copies of the original build sheet and owner’s manual in English, a comprehensive matching leather tool kit, the correct French jack, a three-inch-thick history/authentication book, a copy of the original French registrations, and a photo of the car being raced by a famous French racing team at Rallye de Monte Carlo in 1949. In all, it is one of the most complete and well documented classic cars extant. If this sounds like one of the most important vehicles listed on ClassicCars.com to you, you are not wrong, so move mountains so you can be the first in line to Venmo $15 million from your account.
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