- Built as an homage to the Ecurie Lutetia GP Racer
- Desirable combination of triple carburetors and pre-selector gearbox
- Features factory-style GP coachwork
- An exciting Grand Prix-style car evocative of racing's golden age
LOT 393
Selling on Saturday
1948 Delahaye 175 GP Re-Creation
In 1935, Delahaye introduced the Type 135 at the Paris Salon, featuring a lowered chassis that marked a continued trend toward high-performance automobiles. Initially available in Sport, Competition, and Special variants, the Type 135 became renowned for its racing prowess and sophisticated design. Esteemed coach builders such as Henri Chapron, Joseph Figoni, Marius Franay, Marcel Pourtout, and Jacques Saoutchik crafted many examples, with factory competition and privateer racing models being produced in smaller quantities on shortened-wheelbase chassis.
The Type 135's 3.5-litre engine, especially in its competition form with three carburetors producing 110 horsepower, achieved significant success in European racing. Notable achievements include podium finishes at the 24 Hours of Spa in 1936, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937, and a 1-2 finish at Le Mans in 1938. As peace returned to Europe in the wake of World War II, Delahaye looked to restart production of its pre-war models as a means to generate revenue. Postponed by some eight years because of the conflict, the marque's first new model since the Type 165 was finally launched in 1948, dubbed the 175. Delahaye's 175 was among the most modern and advanced cars built anywhere in the world upon its 1948 introduction. The 175 utilized a variant of the 135's Le Mans-proven, overhead-valve straight six, enlarged from 3.6 to 4.5 litres, featuring a new aluminum block, and capable of a smoothly delivered 165 horsepower in three-carburetor S specification. The 175 chassis, with its powerful and reliable engine, was intended to launch the company's post-war success; however, just 107 Type 175s of all specifications were built between 1948 and 1951.
This splendid re-creation was built as an homage to the Type 175 Delahayes and their accomplishments both on and off the track. This car was commissioned with open-cockpit, cycle-fendered coachwork in the style long favored by Delahaye for its GP racers and stamped with chassis number 815001 that replicates the chassis number of another Delahaye during the build. Presented in correct French Racing Blue and modeled after the Ecurie Lutetia 175 SC GP car that ran at Le Mans in 1949, 1950, and 1951, this car faithfully reproduces many of that unique car's features, down to its four-speed, Cotal pre-selector gearbox, three side-draft carburetor setup, Rudge-style wire wheels, and hand-formed aluminum body. Upon completion, this car was displayed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2005, subsequently joining a significant West Coast collection where it remained on static display for many years. While it remains in running condition, additional sorting and recommissioning are suggested before it returns to the road or track.
Only a small percentage of 135s and 175s were completed as open grand prix racecars. Surviving examples of these celebrated competition cars have evolved into the centerpieces of some of today's most respected collections, sharing a top-shelf niche with contemporaneous cars by Bugatti and Talbot-Lago, among others. This meticulously finished example offers significant performance and aesthetic value, making it an excellent addition to any sporting collection.
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