DELAHAYE 148L Cabriolet Chapron, 1939. Chassis number: 60848 Chapron number: 6070 Engine no.: 60848 Registration: 3913 QJ 64 First registration: 1939 Mileage (not guaranteed): 28,318 km Vehicle in good appearance and working order Normal registration In the same collection since 1973 Cabriolet Chapron Grand Luxe 3 positions Cotal" 4-speed gearbox Restoration Quality antique bodywork 315 cm wheelbase Presentation: An automotive pioneer at the end of the 19th century, Delahaye is renowned for its sumptuous luxury automobiles from the 30s and 40s, when the French brand was at its peak. Delahaye is unusual in that it never built its own bodies. As a result, all were dressed by renowned coachbuilders such as Antem, Figoni et Falaschi, Franay, Guilloré, Labourdette, Letourneur et Marchand, Pourtout and Saoutchik, and of course Henri Chapron, the brand's preferred coachbuilder. Introduced in 1935, the Delahaye 135 quickly became the flagship model. Destined for royalty and aristocracy, the "135" was available in a wide range of versions, and excelled in both competition and concours d'élégance (two Monte Carlo victories in 1937 and 1939, and a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938). A favorite base for the best coachbuilders, the Delahaye Type 135 sold well, both in France and abroad, and some 1,400 examples were produced before the outbreak of the Second World War. An evolution of the 135 based on a longer wheelbase, the Delahaye Type 148 could accommodate up to 7 passengers more comfortably. Before the outbreak of WWII, less than 360 Type 148s were produced in all body styles. Delahaye 148L chassis number 60848 features bodywork by Henri Chapron, and is one of the rare 148L 3-position cabriolets in Grand Luxe execution, with the famous "torpedo" fender tips, chrome door edge strips, and a more luxurious interior finish. With its 315 cm wheelbase, this is a two-door, four-seat convertible with a soft top designed to be used either fully open, fully closed or covering only the rear bench seat. Ideally proportioned and well-balanced, this very luxurious Delahaye features right-hand drive, in keeping with the tradition followed by the majority of French luxury cars of the period. The bodywork has undergone a high-quality antique restoration and comes in a two-tone gray/blue livery, accompanied by a dark leather interior that looks original and has an exquisite patina. Engine number 60848 is the famous 3.5-liter 6-cylinder (3557 cm3, Type 135) of the same design as that fitted to the Delahaye that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1938. Reputed to be particularly reliable, in addition to its sporty, torquey appearance, it also provides excellent driving comfort when combined with the optional "Cotal" 4-speed gearbox. Cared for by the same collectors for over half a century, this 148L boasts an authentic patina and a well-known history. According to its owner, it's now a third hand: in 1939, Henri Chapron built this body for the Comte de Leusse (Bd Foch, Paris); after the end of the Second World War, it was sold to Mr. R.A. (of Saint-Symphorien (33)) before joining the collection, where it has sat ever since. There's no need to go back over the success of the "135", both in competition and at concours d'élégance. Even rarer and more exclusive is the luxurious Delahaye 148L bodied by Henri Chapron, with the discreet yet assertive elegance of a true queen of French automotive history! Consultant : Ulysse JAMES - Tel: +33(0)7.63.16.31.52