1953 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet by Franay
- Engine
- Straight-six with triple carburettors
A 1950 Delahaye 135M cabriolet carrying unique coachwork by Carrosserie Franay of Levallois-Perret, this right-hand-drive chassis was reportedly the last Delahaye to receive a Franay body before the coachbuilder's death in 1954. Powered by the desirable three-carburettor M-specification 3.6-litre six, it was first registered in November 1953 in Finistère and remained in Brittany into the 1960s before eventually passing through the United States and Canada to its present owner in 1996. The interior retains its original luxurious finish, and the car presents as a well-preserved older restoration.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate £300,000 – £400,000
- —Auction saleEstimate £190,000 – £240,000
- 2021-04-23Auction saleEstimate €250,000 – €350,000
- 1953-11-14 →Factory deliveryPierre Le Brisfull documentation
Founder of a bookshop and publishing chain across several Breton and Parisian cities; the car was registered new in the Finistère department on his behalf and remained in Brittany through the 1960s, with subsequent re-registrations in Ille-et-Vilaine in 1964 and Loire-Atlantique in 1965.
- 1953-11-14 →Factory deliveryPierre Le Brisfull documentation
Founder of a bookselling and publishing group with locations across Brittany and Paris; car was registered in the Finistère department and remained in Brittany during his ownership. Vehicle was sold through Baron Petiet's dealership.
- → 1964-03-04Acquisition unknownBrittany-region ownerpartial documentation
Car remained in Brittany through the 1960s before registration was transferred to the Ille-et-Vilaine department in early 1964.
- 1964-03-04 → 1965-09-02Acquisition unknownIlle-et-Vilaine department registrantpartial documentation
Registered as 285 KA 35 in the Ille-et-Vilaine department; subsequently re-registered in Loire-Atlantique.
- 1965-09-02 →Acquisition unknownLoire-Atlantique department registrantpartial documentation
Registered as 496 NU 44 in the Loire-Atlantique department.
- 1996 →Acquisition unknownCurrent UK-based collectorpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Canada into their present collection; the car is registered in the UK and described as a well-preserved older restoration that runs and drives well.
- 1996 →Acquisition unknownCurrent Canadian collection ownerpartial documentation
Car entered the present collection after a brief time in Canada following its Pennsylvania registration; owner describes it as driving well in a well-preserved older restored state, currently UK-registered.
- Date unknownBrittany-based owner or ownerspartial documentation
The car remained in the Brittany region through the 1960s, passing through re-registration in at least two additional French departments before eventually leaving France.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPennsylvania-registered US ownerpartial documentation
The car was brought to the United States in the early 1990s and recorded as registered in Pennsylvania for a period before moving on.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPennsylvania-registered ownerpartial documentation
Car arrived in the United States in the early 1990s and was recorded as registered in Pennsylvania before moving to Canada.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Restoration
A comprehensive restoration was carried out at an undetermined date, leaving the car in a well-preserved condition with matching contrasting colours consistent with its original livery and an interior described as retaining its original luxurious finish.
Described as an older restoration; exact date and workshop unknown.
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