This 1935 Delahaye 135 is a right-hand-drive “Coupe des Alpes” model with coachwork by Autobineau and a 3,227cc OHV inline-six equipped with triple Solex carburetors. Chassis 46074 was first registered near Paris and remained in France for more than five decades, changing hands several times. In the late 1980s, the car was brought to Japan, where it spent time at the Yuzen Museum in Chiba. After the collection was liquidated in the mid-2000s, it was imported to the US, where it was purchased by the current owner in 2018. Refurbishment work was initiated at L’Cars Automotive Specialties in Bruce, Wisconsin, where a replacement brass grille shell was installed, and the exterior was stripped and left largely unfinished. The interior upholstery and trim are incomplete, and various systems will need additional service before returning to regular use. This running-and-driving Delahaye 135 project is now offered in Wisconsin by the seller on behalf of the owner with spare parts, tools, and a clean Minnesota title.
Introduced in 1935 as a sportier alternative to the longer-wheelbase 138, the 135 was produced by Delahaye as a chassis and driveline only. Bodywork was supplied separately by various coachbuilders such as Figoni et Falaschi, Letourneur et Marchand, and Henri Chapron. Variants equipped with triple carburetors were dubbed “Coupe des Alpes” to commemorate the marque’s victory in the Alpine Rally.
Chassis 46074 wears steel bodywork fabricated by Autobineau, a subsidiary of Letourneur et Marchand. Details include rear-hinged doors, a left-side trafficator, Marchal headlamps, vented hood side panels, fluted bumpers, and vent windows for both front and rear occupants. Following damage to the front end in the late 1930s, the brass grille shell was replaced with a later design; a factory-style replacement was fitted in 2020. The paint was stripped at L’Cars Automotive Specialties, the window seals and weatherstripping were removed, and gray primer was applied to the roof. Exposed welds, pitting, corrosion, and other imperfections around the car are shown up close in the image gallery below.
Painted 17” wire wheels are retained with two-eared spinners and wrapped in a mixed set of tires that need to be replaced. The car rides on a 116” wheelbase with an independent front suspension supported by a transverse leaf spring, a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaves, and lever-arm shocks all around. Braking is handled by cable-operated mechanical drums at all four corners.
The right-hand-drive cabin features individual front seats and a rear sofa trimmed in red cloth with a color-coordinated headliner and carpets. No door panels are present, although portions of the wood structure and trim remain. The latch for the tilt-out windshield is missing, and the front floor panel is not secured. Deterioration on the interior surfaces and upholstery can be viewed in the gallery.
The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a 200-km/h speedometer with inset auxiliary gauges as well as a 5k-rpm tachometer with inset gauges for coolant and oil temperature. The five-digit odometer shows 88k kilometers (~55k miles).
The 3,227cc OHV inline-six features four main bearings, pushrod-actuated overhead valves, and triple Solex 40 PAI carburetors. Output was rated at 110 horsepower when new. The fuel filler is accessed via the trunk, and the cap is missing.
The engine number aligns with the chassis number.
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission with synchromesh on all but first gear. Rust is visible on underbody components, which can be viewed in the gallery.
A replacement emblem will accompany the car along with spare parts and tools.
Source: 1935 Delahaye 135 Coupe des Alpes by Autobineau Project
