Unregistered

Chassis No 800846 Engine No 800846

- Two owners for the past 70 years!

- Rare Pennock bodywork from that era

- Quality older restoration

According to insights provided by Jean-Paul Tissot, honorary President and historian of the Delahaye Club, this Delahaye 135 M has the distinction of having a bodywork made by the Pennock coachbuilders, based in The Hague in Holland. Thanks to a specific agreement with the Dutch government and starting from 1946, these workshops received around 100 Delahaye 135 chassis and some 148 L chassis, in order to build their respective bodyworks. Pennock would then export them, which enabled the Netherlands to replenish its funds with foreign currencies. Most of these exports were destined for the United States and England where the importer was Alan Selborne. A few examples also made their way to France between 1947 and 1949, including this car. During 1948, the grille evolved into the shape of a fencing mask designed by Philippe Charbonneux, with headlights integrated on the wings. Bearing the bodywork number 4152, this particular car is believed to have been produced in early 1948, which enabled it to retain the classic front end with separate headlights. The engine bears the number 46, which relates to the 1946 year: a perfectly normal situation for Delahaye, which sometimes delivered engines from their stock at whichever point they were needed. 

This 135 M cabriolet was likely delivered new in France, as it received its first registration in August 1949 in the Seine region under the number 6095 RS 1. On the 4th April 1955, it was again registered 7329 DU 75, in the name of company director P. Pfister who resided in Paris (Rue Ordener); the registration plate remains present to date on the car’s dashboard.

On the 2nd April 1987, this car was acquired by a major collector who then used it to participate in multiple prestigious rally events and he also had a meticulous restoration carried out, most probably around the 1990s.

The car has remained in the same family since and regularly used. It became static around 2022, it was restarted in April 2025 and is now in beautiful condition, with the old restoration sustaining perfectly the test of time. The midnight blue bodywork with red trim is superb and the patinated red leather upholstery on the seats and door panels will truly make you want to have a seat inside. The gorgeous wooden dashboard is consistent to the origin, with its two large round dials which showcases control panels specific to luxury cars of that era. The famous “moutardier” of the four-speed Cotal electromagnetic gearbox can also be found behind the large steel-spoke steering wheel, which was a real pleasure to operate during our test drive. The same can be said about the 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine, powered by three carburettors and one of the most powerful engines in the range.

Known as a timeless classic, the Delahaye 135 is one of the most iconic cars of the 1930s and 1940s. It performed brilliantly on track with victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Monte Carlo Rally, while also being a star at concours d’elegance events. The model has retained all its splendour to date and with its spacious four-seater interior under the soft top, its elegant Pennock bodywork, as well as its powerful and reliable engine, this Delahaye will feel equally at home during touring rally events as it will be at the most prestigious concours d’elegance gatherings.