1936 Delahaye 135 S

Factory-built as one of two final examples specifically for works competition use; raced by Albert Divo in French events during the 1936 season.

London-based importer who brought the car to Britain and arranged its British registration. Sold quickly to a racer rather than retaining it long-term.

Raced the car in two British events before passing it on to the White Mouse Stable.

Siamese prince who acquired the car for his racing outfit, with his cousin Prince Bira as driver. The car was campaigned in several British and European events.

Reacquired the car and lent it out for various race appearances during the season before placing it for sale at his Park Lane premises.

Cambridge student and whisky-fortune heir who purchased the car on hire-purchase at £400. Raced it extensively pre-war including Le Mans 1939, then continued entering it post-war before selling at the end of the 1952 season with bodywork modified for reduced drag.

Attended events at Goodwood and Silverstone with the car before eventually selling it on.

Brief custodian between Margulies and Thomson; no further details provided.

Shipping magnate and principal financial backer of Ecurie Ecosse. The car formed part of a collection that was eventually auctioned for charity.

Repurchased at a Sotheby's sale for £5,000, buying without prior inspection. Commissioned a full body rebuild by John Chisman based on a scale model, returning the car to factory-style configuration in French racing blue.

The car has remained continuously within the Walker family following Rob Walker's ownership.

Approximately one month after the Marseille event.

Held at Reims; final works outing before the car was sent to Britain.

First British race entry under Clarke's ownership.

Second British outing before the car passed to Prince Chula's stable.

Opening competitive appearance for the newly completed works car; Divo came very close to a top-three finish.

Car ran competitively before being forced to retire.

Victory shared with co-driver Hector Dobbs.

Prince Bira recorded a notable fastest lap of 126.09 mph; the event was also the final Outer Circuit appearance of the Napier-Railton.

One of several appearances while the car was on loan from Count Heyden during the 1938 season.

Part of a series of loan appearances arranged by Heyden in 1938.

One of four events contested during the 1938 loan season under Heyden's stewardship.

Final recorded appearance of the 1938 loan season.

Walker's first competitive outing in the car after purchase.

Co-driver Ian Connell was forced to withdraw after eight hours due to foot burns from an exhaust failure, leaving Walker to complete the remaining sixteen hours alone; the car had been fitted with a Cotal electromagnetic gearbox at the Delahaye factory shortly beforehand.

Walker loaned the car to Bira for this event, which resulted in a victory.

Walker entrusted the wheel to ERA driver Dobson; the Delahaye lost the opening leg to Hugh Hunter's Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 but won the second leg after the Alfa suffered gearbox failure, earning the title of Britain's Fastest Road Car plus a £50 prize and a Gordon Crosby painting.

Shared with co-driver Tony Rolt; the car was running fifth at lap 126 when bearing failure ended the race, apparently because the engine had not been serviced since the 1939 event.

Multiple Goodwood appearances yielding two top-three results under Walker's continued ownership.

Car was present but rapidly withdrawn on mechanical grounds; subsequently used to smuggle Swiss watches, leading to its impoundment at Newhaven.

Final competitive entry prior to Walker selling the car at the close of the following season.

Several appearances under Margulies's ownership after he acquired the car.

Tony Rolt was originally scheduled to co-drive but could not fit in the car, so Moss completed the event unaccompanied.

Additional race outings at Silverstone during Margulies's period of ownership.

The original manual gearbox was replaced with a Cotal electromagnetic unit at the Delahaye factory in Paris, carried out shortly before the Le Mans entry to suit Walker's injured hand.

Work was completed approximately one week before the 1939 Le Mans race.

The bodywork was altered to lower aerodynamic drag before the car was sold to Margulies.

Exact nature and extent of the drag-reduction changes not detailed in the source.

A completely new body was fabricated by John Chisman, modelled on a detailed scale model of the original car made by Henri Baigent; the car was finished in French racing blue in factory-period configuration. Work took approximately eight months.

Commissioned by Rob Walker after reacquiring the car in deteriorated condition at the 1970 Sotheby's auction.