Delahaye 135 MS Competition
The Delahaye 135 MS Competition represents the finest flowering of French automotive art and engineering in the years before World War II. In an era when France was the world's leading automotive nation, the 135 MS stood as one of its most accomplished creations — a car that combined genuine competition capability with bodywork of extraordinary beauty.
The 135 MS was powered by a 3,557cc inline-six engine with overhead valves and, in Competition specification, triple Solex downdraft carburetors. Output was approximately 135 horsepower — a strong figure for the mid-1930s. The engine was notably flexible, producing usable power from low RPM while pulling willingly to its upper reaches.
What truly distinguished the Delahaye 135 MS was its coachwork. The rolling chassis was delivered to the finest Parisian carrossiers — Figoni et Falaschi, Saoutchik, Chapron, and others — who clothed it in bodywork that ranged from the elegant to the extraordinary. The flowing, organic forms created by these craftsmen produced some of the most beautiful automobiles ever built. Each car was unique, a bespoke creation tailored to its owner's specifications.
In competition, the 135 MS was remarkably successful. It won the 1938 Le Mans 24 Hours (in standard touring form — an extraordinary achievement), multiple Alpine Trials, and numerous French national races. The Competition specification included stiffer springs, larger brakes, and the triple-carburetor engine, transforming the car from a grand tourer into a genuine racing machine.
The chassis used a conventional ladder frame with independent front suspension using a transverse leaf spring and live rear axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs. A four-speed Cotal electromagnetic pre-selector gearbox was optional and added to the car's sophisticated character. Drum brakes at all four corners were the standard of the era.
Delahaye production was interrupted by World War II and the company never regained its pre-war momentum, eventually being absorbed by Hotchkiss in 1954. Surviving 135 MS examples, particularly those with coachwork by the most prestigious carrossiers, are now among the most valuable pre-war automobiles, regularly selling for millions at international auctions.
Provenance and coachbuilder attribution are paramount — bodies by Figoni et Falaschi command the highest prices. Verify through the Delahaye Club registers. Chassis condition must be carefully assessed. The inline-six engine is robust but parts are scarce. Cotal gearbox requires specialist knowledge. Each car's value is primarily determined by its coachbuilder and body style.
Produced at the Delahaye factory in Paris from 1935 to 1951. The 135 MS was built as a rolling chassis and sent to independent coachbuilders for bodywork. Each car is effectively unique. Total 135-series production was approximately 2,000 units across all variants.