Beschreibung:

According to ‘Le Grand Livre Delahaye’ (page 398), the Type 135 20CV Competition model was first introduced at the Paris Salon in October 1935. ‘The Delahaye 135 chassis appeared in various guises, and 453 examples of the Competition 18 and 20CV type were produced from 1935 to 1938. The Competition 20CV model was the faster 3.557 litre engine version. Both the cabriolet and coupé Chapron made coachwork was offered. In the 1939 Monte Carlo Rally, a Chapron coupé bodied car, in the hands of Joseph Paul and Marcel Contet… was classified 1st (jointly with Jean Trevoux/Marcel Lesurque in a Hotchkiss). This Delahaye chassis 46069 is of exactly the same type as that winning car, and is self-evidently in extremely unrestored original and fine condition, the car has had very stable ownership, and has not been subjected to either mechanical or coachwork modifications. A rare and worthy car indeed - well documented.’ For 76 years ‘46069’ has been carefully maintained by two long-term owners within the same family: Marius Galeron from March 1936 to April 1964 (first French registration ‘3118-CB’) and Patrick Bouillot (married to Mr Galeron’s grand niece) who bought the car on 6th April 1964 and kept it until 26th April 2012 (second French registration ‘977 AR 13’). The Delahaye has been carefully maintained throughout its life and remains 100% original including the Chapron ‘Coupe des Alpes’ coachwork, cream/green colour scheme and leather seats. The car simply oozes patina. A resident of St Rémy de Provence, Mr Galeron bought the Delahaye at the Salon de l’Automobile in 1936 and drove it in rallies and races until the outbreak of WW2. The earliest proof of his continued ownership and activity is an appointment with the ‘Chef d’Atelier’ (workshop manager) at the Delahaye factory, written on an original Delahaye price list from 1938, which is conserved in the history file. In addition, there are two original letters from the Delahaye factory addressed to him dated April and September 1947 concerning carburettor settings and replacement of the cylinder block and pistons, necessitated after long cold storage during the war. The former document states that the original engine number would be retained despite the rebuild, which included a capacity increase to the later model’s 3,557cc. It should be noted that the number ‘46069’ is recorded on original engraved (not stamped) plates affixed to both the chassis and engine. The Delahaye remained in Mr Galeron’s ownership until April 1964, when the second owner Mr Bouillot, then a 19 year-old student, acquired the car. Mr Bouillot kept it most of his adult life (48 years) maintaining it and participating in various rallies. The present owner, a Scandinavia former champion racing driver, purchased the Delahaye on 26th April 2012 and registered the car in the UK on the age-related number ‘129 YUN’. Wisely, he has done nothing to disturb the car’s exceptional originality, merely replacing the carpets and fitting mesh filters to the carburettor intake trumpets. Indeed, when the Delahaye Club Magazine featured ‘46069’ in its March 2013 edition, the article concluded by stating that this car’s originality made it a reference point for the marque. An outstandingly original and well documented example of the legendary Delahaye 135M, bodied by one of the foremost coach builders of its day, ‘46069’ is described as in generally excellent mechanical condition and in working order. The car is offered with UK V5C registration document, current roadworthiness certificate (MoT) and FIA Historic Technical Passport making it eligible for all the most important motor sports events worldwide. Pendant 76 ans '46069' a été soigneusement conservée et entretenue par deux propriétaires appartenant à la même famille : Marius Galeron de mars 1936 à avril 1964 (sous la première immatriculation, 3118 CB) et Patrick Bouillot (petit-neveu de M. Galeron par alliance) qui acheta la voiture le 6 avril 1964 et la conserva jusqu’au 2