Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupé Set to Dazzle.
The 1938 Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupé will be on display at the Concours of Elegance in 2023, which is less than three months away. The event is hosted by A Lange & Söhne. This extraordinary piece of automotive history, a star of concours events throughout the world, will join the concours field of 70 privately owned automobiles at this year's elite event, which will be hosted in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace from September 1st to 3rd.
One of the greatest works of French engineering from the late 1930s is the Delahaye Type 145. The Type 145's V12 engine set it apart from the potent German "Silver Arrows" of Mercedes-Benz in international Grand Prix racing. The unique 4.5-litre engine produced 185 horsepower and sent that power to the rear wheels via a four-speed, all-alloy race manual gearbox. The Pau Grand Prix triumph and the "Million Franc" reward, given to the champion of a time trial race over 200 kilometres on a closed circuit, were the highlights of the 145's competition.
1937 Delahaye 145 Coupe
The second vehicle in the four-vehicle Ecurie Bleue squad is the Type 145 Delahaye that will be on show in September. It participated in competition from 1937 to 1939 before retiring and sitting in storage until the end of World War II. It reappeared during the post-war era and quickly fell into Fernand Lacour's hands. Renowned coachbuilder Henri Chapron Carrossier created a Grand Luxe Coupé with two doors and two seats for the racing vehicle after Lacour ordered a new body from him. As the original V12 stopped functioning, the 1948-built 145 was subsequently equipped with a six-cylinder Type 165 engine and a racing three-carburetor configuration.
The automobile was acquired for Peter Mullin's renowned collection in 2003 after going through many collections and several restoration procedures. The original V12, which had been located and preserved with the car since the 1980s, was installed once again when the Delahaye was brought back to its pre-restoration state.
1937 Delahaye 145 Coupe
Since then, this exquisitely designed road-racer has been on display at important concours occasions all over the world by the Mullin Motor Museum, garnering praise and admiration, including a class victory at the Pebble Beach Concours in 2019.
James Brooks-Ward, Concours of Elegance CEO, said: “We are delighted to host the Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupé at the 2023 Concours of Elegance. It’s an exceptional motor car; we’re proud that it will be appearing at our event, and thankful to the Mullin Motor Museum for showing it. September’s event—now under three months away—will be a rare opportunity to enjoy this significant motorcar on UK soil. We can’t wait to welcome guests back to the Palace for the UK’s leading automotive extravaganza. Further star cars will be announced in the coming months, so watch this space.”
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