Delahaye 145 Chapron Coupe - 48772 - 1937
The Delahaye 145 is a luxury car manufactured by French automaker Delahaye. Based on a sporting tourer, it was designed to be capable for racing.
Only four 4.5 litre naturally aspirated V12 Type 145 racecars were built, all exclusively for Lucy O'Reilly Schell and her Écurie Bleue racing team. These were build numbers 48771, 48772, 48773, and 48775. The missing chassis number in the sequence, 48774, was the only Type 155 built — a grandprix monoposto fitted with an experimental De Dion tube independent rear suspension system and innovative geared hubs.
All five of the V12 engined chassis were based on the 2.70 m (106 in) wheelbase Type 135SC. The only difference in the Type 145 was a pair of short rear suspension trailing arms that were supposed to improve handling. The chassis of the Type 155 was an original one-off that used only the Type 135's proprietary independent front suspension that Delahaye shared with Delage and Talbot.
Despite two early wins by Type 145 number 48771, the five V12s were less than successful, and by 1939 all five racecars had been consigned by owner O'Reilly Schell to the Wilson Garage's proprietor, Fernand Lacour, to sell.
Originally built as one of the Type 145 racing cars, chassis 48772 was raced by Ecurie Bleu with little success in 1938 and 1939. The potent machine was acquired by Chapron, who, on behalf of a customer, fitted it with a spectacular coupe body. Interrupted by the War, the work was not completed until 1947. Briefly owned by a French enthusiast, it quickly made its way across the Atlantic. Between 1972 and 2004, the V12-engined Delahaye was owned by Count Hubertus von Donhoff. Since 2004, it is part of the Mullin Collection and today is on permanent display in the Mullin Automotive Museum.
Delahaye 145 Chapron Coupe - 48772 - 1937
The Delahaye 145 is a luxury car manufactured by French automaker Delahaye. Based on a sporting tourer, it was designed to be capable for racing.
Only four 4.5 litre naturally aspirated V12 Type 145 racecars were built, all exclusively for Lucy O'Reilly Schell and her Écurie Bleue racing team. These were build numbers 48771, 48772, 48773, and 48775. The missing chassis number in the sequence, 48774, was the only Type 155 built — a grandprix monoposto fitted with an experimental De Dion tube independent rear suspension system and innovative geared hubs.
All five of the V12 engined chassis were based on the 2.70 m (106 in) wheelbase Type 135SC. The only difference in the Type 145 was a pair of short rear suspension trailing arms that were supposed to improve handling. The chassis of the Type 155 was an original one-off that used only the Type 135's proprietary independent front suspension that Delahaye shared with Delage and Talbot.
Despite two early wins by Type 145 number 48771, the five V12s were less than successful, and by 1939 all five racecars had been consigned by owner O'Reilly Schell to the Wilson Garage's proprietor, Fernand Lacour, to sell.
Originally built as one of the Type 145 racing cars, chassis 48772 was raced by Ecurie Bleu with little success in 1938 and 1939. The potent machine was acquired by Chapron, who, on behalf of a customer, fitted it with a spectacular coupe body. Interrupted by the War, the work was not completed until 1947. Briefly owned by a French enthusiast, it quickly made its way across the Atlantic. Between 1972 and 2004, the V12-engined Delahaye was owned by Count Hubertus von Donhoff. Since 2004, it is part of the Mullin Collection and today is on permanent display in the Mullin Automotive Museum.