Delahaye 135
Encyclopedia
Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye
. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles
. A sporting tourer, it was also popular for racing.
straight-six was derived from one of Delahaye's truck engines and was also used in the more sedate, longer wheelbase (3160 mm (124 in)) Delahaye 138. Power was 95 hp in twin carburetor form, but 110 hp were available in a version with three downdraught Solex carbs, offering a 148 km/h (92 mph) top speed. The 138 had a single carburetor and 76 hp, and was also available in a sportier 90 hp iteration.
The 135 featured independent, leaf-sprung front suspension, a live rear axle
, and cable operated Bendix
brakes. 17-inch spoke wheels were also standard. Transmission was either a partially synchronized four-speed manual or a four-speed Cotal pre-selector
.
The list of independent body suppliers offering to clother the 135 chassis is the list of France's top coach-builders of the time, including Figoni & Falaschi, Letourner & Marchand, Guilloré, Marcel Pourtout, Frères Dubois, J Sautchik, Franay, Antem and Henri Chapron
.
Production of the 3.2-litre version ended with the German occupation in 1940 and was not taken up again after the end of hostilities.
N was also available, with a 2,150 cc four-cylinder version of the 3.2-litre six from the 135. Along with a brief return of the 134, production of 148, 135M, and 135MS models was resumed after the end of the war. The 135 and 148 were then joined by the larger engined 175,178, and 180 derivatives
. The 135M continued to be available alongside the newer 235
until the demise of Delahaye in 1954.
s rather than spoked items meant minor differences in track. This curious hybrid was the result of an effort by Renault to steal in on Delahaye's lucrative near monopoly on fire vehicles: after a complaint by Delahaye, Renault relinquished contracts it had gained, but in return Delahaye had to agree to purchase a number of Viva Grand Sport bodyshells. In an effort to limit the market of this cuckoo's egg
, thus limiting the number of bodyshells it had to purchase from Renault, Delahaye chose to equip it with the unpopular Wilson preselector (even though the marketing material referred to the Cotal version). This succeeded very well, and with the war putting a stop to car production, no more than thirty were supposedly built. Strong, wide, and fast, like their Viva Grand Sport half sisters, the 168s proved popular with the army. Many were equipped to run on gazogène
during the war and very few (if any) remain.
finally called a halt. The MS had the 2.95 m wheelbase, but competition models sat on a shortened 2.70 m chassis.
The type 235
, a rebodied 135MS with ponton-style design by Philippe Charbonneaux
, appeared in 1951.
1937 and 24 Hours of Le Mans
in 1938. The LeMans victory, with Chaboud and Trémoulet at the wheel, was decisive, with two more Delahayes coming in second and fourth. A regular 135 came seventh at the 1935 Le Mans, and in 1937 135MS came in second and third. Appearing again in 1939, two 135MS made it to sixth and eighth place, and again after the war the now venerable 135MS finished in 5th, 9th, and 10th.
Delahaye
Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.-History:...
. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles
Car body style
Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...
. A sporting tourer, it was also popular for racing.
History
The Delahaye 135, also known as "Coupe des Alpes" after a success in the event, was first presented in 1935 and signified Delahaye's decision to build sportier cars than before. The 3.2-litre, four-bearing overhead valveOverhead valve
An overhead valve engine, also informally called pushrod engine or I-head engine, is a type of piston engine that places the camshaft within the cylinder block , and uses pushrods or rods to actuate rocker arms above the cylinder...
straight-six was derived from one of Delahaye's truck engines and was also used in the more sedate, longer wheelbase (3160 mm (124 in)) Delahaye 138. Power was 95 hp in twin carburetor form, but 110 hp were available in a version with three downdraught Solex carbs, offering a 148 km/h (92 mph) top speed. The 138 had a single carburetor and 76 hp, and was also available in a sportier 90 hp iteration.
The 135 featured independent, leaf-sprung front suspension, a live rear axle
Live axle
A live axle, sometimes called a solid axle, is a type of beam axle suspension system that uses the driveshafts that transmit power to the wheels to connect the wheels laterally so that they move together as a unit....
, and cable operated Bendix
Bendix Corporation
The Bendix Corporation was an American manufacturing and engineering company which during various times in its 60 year existence made brake systems, aeronautical hydraulics, avionics, aircraft and automobile fuel control systems, radios, televisions and computers, and which licensed its name for...
brakes. 17-inch spoke wheels were also standard. Transmission was either a partially synchronized four-speed manual or a four-speed Cotal pre-selector
Preselector gearbox
A preselector or self-changing gearbox is a type of manual gearbox used on a variety of vehicles, most commonly in the 1930s...
.
The list of independent body suppliers offering to clother the 135 chassis is the list of France's top coach-builders of the time, including Figoni & Falaschi, Letourner & Marchand, Guilloré, Marcel Pourtout, Frères Dubois, J Sautchik, Franay, Antem and Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His atelier, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret....
.
Production of the 3.2-litre version ended with the German occupation in 1940 and was not taken up again after the end of hostilities.
135M
A larger engined (3,557 cc) 135M version was introduced in 1936. Largely the same as the regular 135, the new engine offered 90, 105, or 115 hp with either one, two, or three carburetors. As with the 135/138, a less sporty, longer wheelbase version was also built, called the "148". The 148 had a 3,150 mm wheelbase, or 3,350 mm in a seven-seater version. On the two shorter wheelbases, a Delahaye 134Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
N was also available, with a 2,150 cc four-cylinder version of the 3.2-litre six from the 135. Along with a brief return of the 134, production of 148, 135M, and 135MS models was resumed after the end of the war. The 135 and 148 were then joined by the larger engined 175,178, and 180 derivatives
Delahaye 175
Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
. The 135M continued to be available alongside the newer 235
Delahaye 235
Delahaye 235 is a luxury car built by French manufacturer Delahaye from 1951 until 1954.Presented at the 1951 Paris Auto Salon, the 235 was an attempt at updating the pre-war Type 135 for the 1950s. Delahaye did need a boost, as combined production of the Types 135 and 175 had dropped to an...
until the demise of Delahaye in 1954.
168
Presented in December 1938 and built until the outbreak of war in 1940 the Type 168 appeared; it used the 148L's chassis and engine (engine code 148N) in Renault Viva Grand Sport bodywork. Wheelbase remained 315 cm while the use of artillery wheelArtillery wheel
The artillery wheel was developed for use on gun carriages when it was found that the lateral forces involved in horse artillery manoeuvres caused normally-constructed cart wheels to collapse. Rather than having its spokes mortised into a wooden nave , it has them fitted together then bolted into...
s rather than spoked items meant minor differences in track. This curious hybrid was the result of an effort by Renault to steal in on Delahaye's lucrative near monopoly on fire vehicles: after a complaint by Delahaye, Renault relinquished contracts it had gained, but in return Delahaye had to agree to purchase a number of Viva Grand Sport bodyshells. In an effort to limit the market of this cuckoo's egg
Brood parasite
Brood parasites are organisms that use the strategy of brood parasitism, a kind of kleptoparasitism found among birds, fish or insects, involving the manipulation and use of host individuals either of the same or different species to raise the young of the brood-parasite...
, thus limiting the number of bodyshells it had to purchase from Renault, Delahaye chose to equip it with the unpopular Wilson preselector (even though the marketing material referred to the Cotal version). This succeeded very well, and with the war putting a stop to car production, no more than thirty were supposedly built. Strong, wide, and fast, like their Viva Grand Sport half sisters, the 168s proved popular with the army. Many were equipped to run on gazogène
Wood gas generator
A wood gas generator is a gasification unit which converts timber or charcoal into wood gas, a syngas consisting of atmospheric nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, traces of methane, and other gases, which - after cooling and filtering - can then be used to power an internal combustion engine or...
during the war and very few (if any) remain.
135MS
An even sportier version, the 135MS, soon followed. 120-145 hp were available, with competition versions offering over 160 hp. The 135MS was the version most commonly seen in competition, and continued to be available until 1954, when new owners HotchkissHotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
finally called a halt. The MS had the 2.95 m wheelbase, but competition models sat on a shortened 2.70 m chassis.
The type 235
Delahaye 235
Delahaye 235 is a luxury car built by French manufacturer Delahaye from 1951 until 1954.Presented at the 1951 Paris Auto Salon, the 235 was an attempt at updating the pre-war Type 135 for the 1950s. Delahaye did need a boost, as combined production of the Types 135 and 175 had dropped to an...
, a rebodied 135MS with ponton-style design by Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux was a French industrial designer, best known for automobile and truck design, but also known for other products such as television sets. Many of his works are now exhibits in places such as Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, or Museum of Modern Art in New York. He specialised...
, appeared in 1951.
Competition
The 135 was successful as racing car during the late 1930s, winning the Monte Carlo rallyMonte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
1937 and 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
in 1938. The LeMans victory, with Chaboud and Trémoulet at the wheel, was decisive, with two more Delahayes coming in second and fourth. A regular 135 came seventh at the 1935 Le Mans, and in 1937 135MS came in second and third. Appearing again in 1939, two 135MS made it to sixth and eighth place, and again after the war the now venerable 135MS finished in 5th, 9th, and 10th.