232 - DELAHAYE AUTOMOBILES - c.1935

DELAHAYE AUTOMOBILES - c.1935 Very rare original round, single-sided enamel advertising sign with a half-round domed border. A generous size at 70 cm in diameter. Enamelwork by “Email Ed. Jean.” In good condition— retains a good sheen and fresh colors, particularly the well-preserved reds. There are some surface scratches. A few chips of enamel are visible along the rim and scattered throughout the design. There are fine perforations in the metal located only on the top and left edges, as well as slight traces of oxidation. The eight original mounting holes are perfectly preserved. French luxury and elegance are epitomized by this Delahaye Type 135, known as the “city limousine”; the “six” refers to the number of cylinders in the engine. Founded in 1894 in Tours by Émile Delahaye and later relocated to Paris in 1898, the brand initially built a reputation for durability. In the early 1930s, it took a turn toward prestige and sportiness, becoming a flagship of French coachbuilding. Models such as the City Limousine embodied an absolute paradox: offering the engine of a race car within the aristocratic comfort of a ceremonial vehicle. This mechanical excellence was crowned by the legendary Type 135, which triumphed at Le Mans and the Monte Carlo Rally. On the industrial front, Delahaye invested in Chaigneau-Brasier as early as 1930 (the Ivry plants were acquired in 1933) and took control of Delage in 1935. The company was eventually absorbed by Hotchkiss and ceased to exist in 1954. Indre-et-Loire/Centre-Val-de-Loire