1948 Delahaye 135 M Cabriolet 'Malmaison' by Pourtout

801199roadFrance

Engine: 3.6L OHV inline-six with triple Solex carburetors, 115 bhp
Colour: Dark blue

A 1948 Delahaye 135 M bodied by Marcel Pourtout in the coachbuilder's so-called 'Malmaison' style, one of only three surviving examples from a production run of four to six. Mounted on the 135 M chassis with the triple-carburettor 103S engine producing 115 bhp, the design is historically significant as an early example of post-war pontoon-style coachwork, photographed at the Château de Malmaison by Pourtout himself. The car retains its numbers-matching engine with a 1948 date code and was the subject of a high-quality restoration prior to entering its current American collection.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$495,000
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Guy Pinsard
partial documentation
Car was registered in the Loiret department of France under a plate it still carries, documented in 1985 under this owner's name.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Jean-François Dumontant
partial documentation
French Delahaye specialist whose ownership is recorded by Club Delahaye; acquired after the Pinsard period.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Current US-based collector
partial documentation
Car was exported to the United States and added to this owner's collection, where it has since been maintained; a high-quality restoration was carried out during this period.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Restoration
A high-quality comprehensive restoration was carried out, covering the bodywork in a deep blue finish, refurbishing the tan leather interior to a high standard, and painting the chassis and inner fenders; the numbers-matching engine with correct triple carburetion was retained.
The prose describes the work as exceptional in quality but does not specify a date or the restorer responsible. Minor cosmetic wear is present at the time of sale.

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