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I think it's a Delahaye 135 MS. From around 1938? Figoni & Falaschi bodywork?

 

Ernst

 

Well done Ernst. In addition the interior of this one was done by Louis Vuitton. They were incredibly helpful when we were restoring it. One of the large brass hinges on the cover to the dickey seat was broken and the other was very worn. They had the LV logo on them, so we asked "I don't suppose there is any chance......" They looked through all their old spare parts and amazingly found a new pair of the correct original hinges. They also re-stitched for us, the tiny little leather football that sits on the top of the 10cm long "gear-lever" for the Cotal electric gearbox.

 

The car is a pleasant surprise to drive. The engine is sweet, smooth and has lots of torque. It steers and brakes nicely as well. 135's have a reputation as being somewhat "truck-like", which from this one, is very undeserved. The Cotal electrically operated pre-selector gearbox must have seemed a real revelation at the time. Again in contrast to their reputation, Cotal gearboxes are pretty trouble free and probably give less problems than the Bowden cable operated Wilson pre-selector Boxes, which use the same epicyclic core (both companies were owned by Major Anthony Lago of Talbot Lago fame). Here is the whole car.

 

Your turn.

 

Wilson

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The four French companies were: Delage, Delahaye, Hotchkiss and Talbot Lago. Hispano Suiza's were only assembled in France from Spanish parts and Voisin and Panhard were pretty much out of the business by the late 1930's. Bugatti had already been guessed.

 

Wilson

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It is a stunning looking car.

 

My mother had a Simca Abarth 1300GT (bought by my father in 1961). It was very pretty and made a wonderful noise but was completely unsuitable for her, as it would soot its plugs unless it was revved to at least 7000 RPM regularly. She was a dreadful driver at the best of times and in this near race car, she was completely at sea. It got sold in fairly short order to be replaced by a Mini Cooper.

 

Wilson

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Here is one taken today - should be easy.

 

Wilson

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