View allAll Photos Tagged Mecum
.... my portable memory or 'extra eyes'
For the Macro Monday challenge "everyday carry" or EDC (15th November 2021)
I've never really thought about it, or tried to name it - but I take a small notebook everywhere with me. The exact size and shape has varied over the years, but I've settled on an Art sketch Album (14x9cm) so I can sketch, draw or write. Especially useful with my phone camera when I'm out walking. I've always got one in my jacket pocket or shoulder bag, along with pencil and/or pen, and there's a growing collection of filled ones that I think of as my 'ideas store'.
This shot fills the 3" frame, and I added a leaf, as occasionally I press a leaf in the pages (if it is small enough).
When this topic came up I looked it up online, and the idea of the Vade Mecum goes back as far as the Romans and is defined as "something a person carries about for frequent or regular use".
HMM!! and have a lovely week ahead!
My 2021 MM set: Here
Everyday Things : Here
and previous years of the Macro Mondays challenge:
My 2020 set: Here
My 2019 set: Here
My 2018 set: Here
My 2017 set: Here
My 2016 set: Here
My 2015 set: Here
My 2014 set: Here
My 2013 set: Here
Playing with desaturation too much on this one. I like the car though. This was taken at the Mecum Auction in Seattle 2015.
Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.
2004 Ford Shelby Cobra Concept
SOLD
Engine 6.4L
Trans 6-Speed
Color Tungsten Grey
Interior Blue/Black
HIGHLIGHTS
o Ford Special Project Codename: Daisy
o Built by Ford with full cooperation and participation of Carroll Shelby
o Driven and tested for more than 150 miles by Carroll Shelby at Irwindale Speedway in California
o Carroll Shelby said of Project Daisy, “There are so many things left in the world that I want to do … and building a new Cobra is number one.”
o Chris Theodore, former Ford VP of Product Development, oversaw the design and build of Daisy along with Carroll Shelby and J Mays, GVP Ford Design
Introduced at the 2004 Detroit North American International Auto Show, where it was awarded Best in Show by “Autoweek” magazine
o 1 of 1 fully functioning Project Daisy concept car intended for production
o Prototype engineered welded and bonded space frame, made up of billet aluminum plus castings and extruded aluminum sections sourced from the Ford GT
6.4L/605 HP DOHC 40-valve aluminum V-10 with dry sump lubrication—1 of 4 specialty V-10 engines produced by Ford
o Advanced Powertrain
o Power is transferred through a torque tube to the rear mounted Ricardo 6-speed
o Ford GT manual transaxle
o Currently owned by Chris Theodore, who purchased Daisy in November 2017
o Proceeds of Chris Theodore's purchase were used towards the restoration of the Fair Lane mansion, the home of Henry and Clara Ford
o Restored to running form by Technosports of Livonia, Michigan, assembler of the original Cobra Concept chassis
o Fitted with a new twin-plate clutch, flywheel, wiring harness, spark plugs, mufflers and all fluids
o New output shaft made to original specifications by Livernois Motorsports of Dearborn Heights, Michigan
o Hydraulically operated power hood
o Tungsten Grey Metallic exterior with Silver stripes
o Blue and Black interior with aluminum trim
o Daisy is barely longer than a Mazda Miata, yet thanks to the rear mounted traxsaxle, provides a spacious interior with more legroom than a Ford Crown Victoria
o 2005 Ford GT front and rear suspension, o Power assisted rack-and-pinion steering and Brembo cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes with 4-piston monoblock calipers
o Includes both original BF Goodrich Racing Slicks (not for road) mounted on BBS Billet show car wheels, and the BBS 3-piece wheels and Goodyear tires fitted during Carroll Shelby's drive at the Irwindale Speedway
o Featured on one hour “Rides” television episode “Codename: Daisy”
o Driven by Jay Leno on “Jay Leno's Garage” Season 6, Episode 1 with Donald Osborn and Chris Theodore
o Hero car driven by Ice Cube in the movie “XXX: State of the Union”
o Appeared at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
o Shown at the 2018 Concours d'Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan
o Subject of the award-winning book, “The Last Shelby Cobra” by Chris Theodore
Letter of Authenticity from Ford Motor Company included
o Build book presented to Ford CEO, Nick Scheele, included
o Ford Shelby Cobra Promotional Brochure included
o Extensive photographs taken during design and development with Carroll Shelby included
o Listed in the Shelby Registry
o Sold with Montana title
o Must be sold to an out of state resident or a licensed dealer
It’s fondly known as “Daisy”—a one-of-one, fully functional concept car—and it’s now slated to cross the Mecum auction block in Monterey this August. When Carroll Shelby and Chris Theodore announced at Pebble Beach in August of 2003 that “Ford and Shelby were joining forces to develop high-performance vehicles,” few knew that a secret project, code-named Daisy, was already underway to design and develop a new Cobra. Intended as a follow-on product to the 2005 Ford GT, Daisy was more than a typical concept car. Built by Ford with the full cooperation and participation of Carroll Shelby, Daisy was developed as a fully functional prototype to establish production feasibility. Working with Carroll Shelby, Chris Theodore, former Ford Vice President of Product Development, and J Mays, Group Vice President of Product Design, oversaw the design and build. The entire design and build process was documented on the one hour “Rides” television episode “Codename: Daisy,” during which Shelby stated, “There are so many things left in the world that I want to do … and building a new Cobra is No. 1.”
The 2004 Shelby Cobra Concept is powered by a 6.4L/605 HP 40-valve aluminum V-10 with dry-sump lubrication. It is one of four experimental engines produced by Ford’s Advanced Powertrain group (the other three remain in Ford’s possession). Power is transferred through a torque tube to the rear-mounted Ricardo 6-speed Ford GT manual transaxle.
The all-aluminum space frame chassis was designed by Ford’s Advanced Product Creation team, utilizing Ford GT extrusions and castings, along with a bespoke billet aluminum front structure. The front and rear independent suspensions are from the Ford GT, tuned specifically for Daisy. Steering is power-assisted rack-and-pinion, and stopping power is provided by Brembo cross-drilled and ventilated discs with four-piston monoblock calipers. The show car was fitted with custom BF Goodrich Racing Slicks (not for road use) mounted on unique seven-spoke BBS billet wheels, and it was fitted with BBS three-piece wheels and Michelin tires for Shelby’s drive at the Irwindale Speedway.
To cope with the stresses of a high-performance car, the body is made of a double-wall fiberglass construction with a foam core for rigidity. The one-piece tilting hood is hydraulically operated to show off the unique engine and chassis. Exterior details include billet aluminum A-pillars, bumperettes with carbon fiber splitters, rockers and rear diffuser.
Thanks to the rear-mounted transaxle, weight distribution is approximately 50/50, and Daisy is barely longer than a Mazda Miata, yet the interior provides more legroom than a Ford Crown Victoria. The bespoke interior is all custom, with a billet aluminum dashboard, headrests and novel interior release handles along with carbon fiber details. The custom leather-covered Sparco seats are made of carbon fiber with four-point Sparco seatbelts.
By December of 2003, Daisy was ready for a photo shoot with Carroll Shelby followed by two days of testing at the Irwindale Speedway in California. During those two days, Shelby put more than 150 miles on Daisy doing high speed runs around the oval, taking journalists for rides, and doing a flurry of donuts on the infield. At the end of day two, he said, “It turned out just beautiful, didn’t it? I’m very happy with the car. At 81 years old, how lucky can you get to be part of a continuation of something that happened 40 years ago? It’s going to be a real ass kicker!” Perhaps Matt Stone of Motor Trend summed it up best; after a test ride with Shelby, Stone noted that it was of little concern to Shelby “that he was driving a multimillion-dollar hand-built prototype, as he stabs the gas and takes the racer’s low line through a long, sweeping corner,” and concluded, “There’s one final reason Ford should—no, must—give us the Cobra: to put the final, iconic punctuation mark on Carroll Shelby’s extraordinary life, with a car that’s worthy of the name.”
The Shelby Cobra Concept was introduced at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit by Bill Ford and Carroll Shelby to great fanfare. Autoweek magazine awarded Daisy Best-in-Show. The Cobra Concept continued on the auto show circuit for many years and starred as the hero car in the movie “XXX: State of the Union,” driven by Ice Cube.
Although Daisy was intended for production in 2007, the looming “Great Recession” precluded progam approval, making this car one of one and “The Last Shelby Cobra.” To Theodore’s delight, he purchased the Shelby Cobra Concept at a charity auction, with proceeds going towards the restoration of the Fair Lane mansion, the home of Henry and Clara Ford. Ford disabled Daisy for liability purposes, so Theodore took her to the very team that had assembled the chassis: Technosports in Livonia, Michigan. It was restored to running condition by fitting a new transmission output shaft manufactured to original specifications by Livernois Motorsports of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and it was also fitted with a new twin-plate clutch, flywheel, wiring harness, spark plugs and mufflers, and all fluids were replaced as well. The car was shown at the 2018 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and 2018 Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, Michigan. In 2020, it was featured on “Jay Leno’s Garage” Season 6, Episode 1 with Donald Osborn and Chris Theodore. Daisy is also the subject of the award-winning book, “The Last Shelby Cobra, My Times with Carroll Shelby” by Chris Theodore.
Designed and built by Ford in cooperation with Carroll Shelby, racer, team owner, manufacturer and “The most interesting man in the world,” Daisy received Shelby’s signature of approval after his Irwindale test drive. Appropriately, Daisy is now ready for the next chapter in its storied history as it heads for the Mecum auction block this August at Monterey 2021—the site of the Shelby/Ford announcement 18 years earlier. Accompanying Daisy will be a Letter of Authenticity from Ford Motor Company, a detailed Daisy build book presented to Ford COO Nick Sheele, extensive photographs taken during design and development with Carroll Shelby, and a certificate from the Shelby Registry.
- - -
Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.
Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.
1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe
NO SALE
Engine 3557CC
Trans 4-Speed
Color Black
Interior Red
HIGHLIGHTS
o Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi
o Right-hand drive Lightweight “Goutte D'Eau” style coupe with sunroof
o The only 1936 Delahaye Type 135 with headlamps integrated in between the front fenders
o One of an estimated 30 Competition Court models built from 1935-37
o The last of six short-wheelbase coupes built by Figoni et Falaschi in 1936 and one of three surviving examples today
o The Competition Court was the ultimate Type 135 and only available as a homologation special to a very select group of loyal Delahaye customers. The Competition Court chassis option did not appear in any Delahaye literature and was sold as a bare chassis to be sent to a coachbuilder for a custom-built lightweight body
o Chassis No. 47242 was fitted with special competition components including a 4-speed manual transmission, outside-mounted rear springs, a low-mounted engine, oil cooler mounted below the radiator and racing-style fuel tank with dual fillers
o Delivered new to the Delahaye factory and retained as a demonstrator
o Body No. 609 is unique from the other five examples with a slightly different bonnet and a single row of hood louvers
Steel body with aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers
o 106-inch wheelbase
o 3,557cc inline six-cylinder engine
o 4-speed manual competition transmission
o Chrome knock-off wire wheels
o Class Award at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
o Best of Show at the 2003 Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
o Best of Show at the 2003 Concours d'Elegance of Texas
o Best of Show and People's Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Ontario
o Displayed in the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto
The Delahaye Type 135 coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi launched a series of automotive design masterpieces from the revitalized carrossier, the most prized of which remains the 1936 “Compétition Court” Teardrop Coupe, Chassis No. 47242 and Body No. 609. This is the definitive expression of Giuseppe Figoni’s singular vision, a virtually organic blend of “Goutte D’Eau“ (Teardrop) contours unrivaled in its elegance, every detail fashioned, finished and placed with artistic finesse, a perfect arrangement of notes forming an exquisite composition.
The last of six specially commissioned coupes completed by Figoni in 1936, Chassis No. 47242 is recorded in the Figoni company register, which notes the completed coupe was delivered to the Delahaye factory, suggesting it was exhibited in concours d'elegance or retained as a factory demonstrator. The Compétition Court chassis was one of Delahaye’s most exclusive offerings with only 30 estimated to have been built. It was a homologation special not listed in the company literature and offered through private arrangement only to “special friends” of the company in bare-chassis form to be fitted with lightweight custom coupe or roadster coachwork by the customer’s carrossier of choice.
It was essentially a road-going Grand Prix-specification chassis on the shorter 106-inch wheelbase, described in the definitive history “Delahaye: Le Grand Livre” as having “a cocktail of parts from the series three Type 135 chassis and the Specials,” with additional specially made components. Its racing-purposed features included the powerful and reliable 3.5L competition-spec inline-6 engine—mounted low in the chassis to lower the center of gravity—a remote oil cooler mounted below the radiator, outside-mounted rear springs, a competition fuel tank with dual fillers and a rare competition-spec 4-speed manual transmission.
This car’s body, No. 609, is unique among the six Figoni-bodied coupes, with its distinctive bonnet flanked by Marchal headlights faired into the inner front wings, a signature feature of future Figoni designs. Fashioned in steel with an aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers, its streamlined teardrop fender shapes are emphasized by accents flowing back from the bonnet’s leading edge, down across the doors and then scribing the rear fender arches. Thin chrome strips delicately accent the fender peaks, their contours repeated in small chrome accents on the rear fender skirts, and a central tail fin contoured to match those on the rear fenders divides the split rear window.
Like many French treasures, the car was hidden from occupying forces during World War II, resurfacing in the early 1950s in the possession of Jean-Pierre Bernard, then sales manager for Delahaye and eventual founder and president of Club Delahaye. Its history shows that it passed through several owners in France before being sold to an Italian buyer around the end of the 1950s. Some four decades passed before it again re-emerged in the late 1990s, this time with a garage owner in Brescia who sold it to its next owner in Geneva, Switzerland. It was remarkably complete; while the opening for the sunroof had been closed, the operating mechanism remained intact, and the chassis plate showing No. 47242 was in its correct location on the firewall.
The car was then imported into the United States, where it was restored for concours d’elegance judging. After its postwar discovery, the car had been fitted with a newer engine, so, in keeping with the strict standards of its restoration, the search began for an extremely rare Competition-spec 3.5L engine. Interestingly, the replacement—featuring the unique triple Solex carburetors and correct date-code stamping—was found not far from where the car was located for decades near Brescia.
While the car’s mechanical systems were being rebuilt, the wood framework was refurbished to Figoni et Falaschi’s exacting standards, and the body was refinished in its magnificent black paint and rich chromed trim. The gorgeous interior is likewise worthy of the Figoni et Falaschi legacy, a luxurious mixture of supple red leather upholstery with quill ostrich inserts, hand-sculpted and mirror-polished wood trim, an elegant engine-turned dash panel and blue-faced gauges and tachometer.
The masterful restoration of this exceptional automobile was rewarded with a First in Class upon its public unveiling at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Amazingly, in 2003, in the space of less than one week, it earned Best of Show awards at the Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Lovingly maintained in concours-winning presentation, it also earned Best of Show and People’s Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Kemble, Ontario, and it was honored with an invitation to the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto.
A superlative machine built with great care and precision and restored to its original splendor, this 1936 Delahaye Type 135 “Competition Court” Teardrop Coupe is one of Giuseppe Figoni’s finest creations, a genuine masterpiece born of race-proven engineering coupled with the peerless vision of a master of the art of coachbuilding.
- - -
Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.
Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.
1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe
NO SALE
Engine 3557CC
Trans 4-Speed
Color Black
Interior Red
HIGHLIGHTS
o Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi
o Right-hand drive Lightweight “Goutte D'Eau” style coupe with sunroof
o The only 1936 Delahaye Type 135 with headlamps integrated in between the front fenders
o One of an estimated 30 Competition Court models built from 1935-37
o The last of six short-wheelbase coupes built by Figoni et Falaschi in 1936 and one of three surviving examples today
o The Competition Court was the ultimate Type 135 and only available as a homologation special to a very select group of loyal Delahaye customers. The Competition Court chassis option did not appear in any Delahaye literature and was sold as a bare chassis to be sent to a coachbuilder for a custom-built lightweight body
o Chassis No. 47242 was fitted with special competition components including a 4-speed manual transmission, outside-mounted rear springs, a low-mounted engine, oil cooler mounted below the radiator and racing-style fuel tank with dual fillers
o Delivered new to the Delahaye factory and retained as a demonstrator
o Body No. 609 is unique from the other five examples with a slightly different bonnet and a single row of hood louvers
Steel body with aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers
o 106-inch wheelbase
o 3,557cc inline six-cylinder engine
o 4-speed manual competition transmission
o Chrome knock-off wire wheels
o Class Award at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
o Best of Show at the 2003 Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
o Best of Show at the 2003 Concours d'Elegance of Texas
o Best of Show and People's Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Ontario
o Displayed in the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto
The Delahaye Type 135 coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi launched a series of automotive design masterpieces from the revitalized carrossier, the most prized of which remains the 1936 “Compétition Court” Teardrop Coupe, Chassis No. 47242 and Body No. 609. This is the definitive expression of Giuseppe Figoni’s singular vision, a virtually organic blend of “Goutte D’Eau“ (Teardrop) contours unrivaled in its elegance, every detail fashioned, finished and placed with artistic finesse, a perfect arrangement of notes forming an exquisite composition.
The last of six specially commissioned coupes completed by Figoni in 1936, Chassis No. 47242 is recorded in the Figoni company register, which notes the completed coupe was delivered to the Delahaye factory, suggesting it was exhibited in concours d'elegance or retained as a factory demonstrator. The Compétition Court chassis was one of Delahaye’s most exclusive offerings with only 30 estimated to have been built. It was a homologation special not listed in the company literature and offered through private arrangement only to “special friends” of the company in bare-chassis form to be fitted with lightweight custom coupe or roadster coachwork by the customer’s carrossier of choice.
It was essentially a road-going Grand Prix-specification chassis on the shorter 106-inch wheelbase, described in the definitive history “Delahaye: Le Grand Livre” as having “a cocktail of parts from the series three Type 135 chassis and the Specials,” with additional specially made components. Its racing-purposed features included the powerful and reliable 3.5L competition-spec inline-6 engine—mounted low in the chassis to lower the center of gravity—a remote oil cooler mounted below the radiator, outside-mounted rear springs, a competition fuel tank with dual fillers and a rare competition-spec 4-speed manual transmission.
This car’s body, No. 609, is unique among the six Figoni-bodied coupes, with its distinctive bonnet flanked by Marchal headlights faired into the inner front wings, a signature feature of future Figoni designs. Fashioned in steel with an aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers, its streamlined teardrop fender shapes are emphasized by accents flowing back from the bonnet’s leading edge, down across the doors and then scribing the rear fender arches. Thin chrome strips delicately accent the fender peaks, their contours repeated in small chrome accents on the rear fender skirts, and a central tail fin contoured to match those on the rear fenders divides the split rear window.
Like many French treasures, the car was hidden from occupying forces during World War II, resurfacing in the early 1950s in the possession of Jean-Pierre Bernard, then sales manager for Delahaye and eventual founder and president of Club Delahaye. Its history shows that it passed through several owners in France before being sold to an Italian buyer around the end of the 1950s. Some four decades passed before it again re-emerged in the late 1990s, this time with a garage owner in Brescia who sold it to its next owner in Geneva, Switzerland. It was remarkably complete; while the opening for the sunroof had been closed, the operating mechanism remained intact, and the chassis plate showing No. 47242 was in its correct location on the firewall.
The car was then imported into the United States, where it was restored for concours d’elegance judging. After its postwar discovery, the car had been fitted with a newer engine, so, in keeping with the strict standards of its restoration, the search began for an extremely rare Competition-spec 3.5L engine. Interestingly, the replacement—featuring the unique triple Solex carburetors and correct date-code stamping—was found not far from where the car was located for decades near Brescia.
While the car’s mechanical systems were being rebuilt, the wood framework was refurbished to Figoni et Falaschi’s exacting standards, and the body was refinished in its magnificent black paint and rich chromed trim. The gorgeous interior is likewise worthy of the Figoni et Falaschi legacy, a luxurious mixture of supple red leather upholstery with quill ostrich inserts, hand-sculpted and mirror-polished wood trim, an elegant engine-turned dash panel and blue-faced gauges and tachometer.
The masterful restoration of this exceptional automobile was rewarded with a First in Class upon its public unveiling at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Amazingly, in 2003, in the space of less than one week, it earned Best of Show awards at the Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Lovingly maintained in concours-winning presentation, it also earned Best of Show and People’s Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Kemble, Ontario, and it was honored with an invitation to the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto.
A superlative machine built with great care and precision and restored to its original splendor, this 1936 Delahaye Type 135 “Competition Court” Teardrop Coupe is one of Giuseppe Figoni’s finest creations, a genuine masterpiece born of race-proven engineering coupled with the peerless vision of a master of the art of coachbuilding.
- - -
Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.
Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.
1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe
NO SALE
Engine 3557CC
Trans 4-Speed
Color Black
Interior Red
HIGHLIGHTS
o Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi
o Right-hand drive Lightweight “Goutte D'Eau” style coupe with sunroof
o The only 1936 Delahaye Type 135 with headlamps integrated in between the front fenders
o One of an estimated 30 Competition Court models built from 1935-37
o The last of six short-wheelbase coupes built by Figoni et Falaschi in 1936 and one of three surviving examples today
o The Competition Court was the ultimate Type 135 and only available as a homologation special to a very select group of loyal Delahaye customers. The Competition Court chassis option did not appear in any Delahaye literature and was sold as a bare chassis to be sent to a coachbuilder for a custom-built lightweight body
o Chassis No. 47242 was fitted with special competition components including a 4-speed manual transmission, outside-mounted rear springs, a low-mounted engine, oil cooler mounted below the radiator and racing-style fuel tank with dual fillers
o Delivered new to the Delahaye factory and retained as a demonstrator
o Body No. 609 is unique from the other five examples with a slightly different bonnet and a single row of hood louvers
Steel body with aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers
o 106-inch wheelbase
o 3,557cc inline six-cylinder engine
o 4-speed manual competition transmission
o Chrome knock-off wire wheels
o Class Award at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
o Best of Show at the 2003 Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
o Best of Show at the 2003 Concours d'Elegance of Texas
o Best of Show and People's Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Ontario
o Displayed in the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto
The Delahaye Type 135 coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi launched a series of automotive design masterpieces from the revitalized carrossier, the most prized of which remains the 1936 “Compétition Court” Teardrop Coupe, Chassis No. 47242 and Body No. 609. This is the definitive expression of Giuseppe Figoni’s singular vision, a virtually organic blend of “Goutte D’Eau“ (Teardrop) contours unrivaled in its elegance, every detail fashioned, finished and placed with artistic finesse, a perfect arrangement of notes forming an exquisite composition.
The last of six specially commissioned coupes completed by Figoni in 1936, Chassis No. 47242 is recorded in the Figoni company register, which notes the completed coupe was delivered to the Delahaye factory, suggesting it was exhibited in concours d'elegance or retained as a factory demonstrator. The Compétition Court chassis was one of Delahaye’s most exclusive offerings with only 30 estimated to have been built. It was a homologation special not listed in the company literature and offered through private arrangement only to “special friends” of the company in bare-chassis form to be fitted with lightweight custom coupe or roadster coachwork by the customer’s carrossier of choice.
It was essentially a road-going Grand Prix-specification chassis on the shorter 106-inch wheelbase, described in the definitive history “Delahaye: Le Grand Livre” as having “a cocktail of parts from the series three Type 135 chassis and the Specials,” with additional specially made components. Its racing-purposed features included the powerful and reliable 3.5L competition-spec inline-6 engine—mounted low in the chassis to lower the center of gravity—a remote oil cooler mounted below the radiator, outside-mounted rear springs, a competition fuel tank with dual fillers and a rare competition-spec 4-speed manual transmission.
This car’s body, No. 609, is unique among the six Figoni-bodied coupes, with its distinctive bonnet flanked by Marchal headlights faired into the inner front wings, a signature feature of future Figoni designs. Fashioned in steel with an aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers, its streamlined teardrop fender shapes are emphasized by accents flowing back from the bonnet’s leading edge, down across the doors and then scribing the rear fender arches. Thin chrome strips delicately accent the fender peaks, their contours repeated in small chrome accents on the rear fender skirts, and a central tail fin contoured to match those on the rear fenders divides the split rear window.
Like many French treasures, the car was hidden from occupying forces during World War II, resurfacing in the early 1950s in the possession of Jean-Pierre Bernard, then sales manager for Delahaye and eventual founder and president of Club Delahaye. Its history shows that it passed through several owners in France before being sold to an Italian buyer around the end of the 1950s. Some four decades passed before it again re-emerged in the late 1990s, this time with a garage owner in Brescia who sold it to its next owner in Geneva, Switzerland. It was remarkably complete; while the opening for the sunroof had been closed, the operating mechanism remained intact, and the chassis plate showing No. 47242 was in its correct location on the firewall.
The car was then imported into the United States, where it was restored for concours d’elegance judging. After its postwar discovery, the car had been fitted with a newer engine, so, in keeping with the strict standards of its restoration, the search began for an extremely rare Competition-spec 3.5L engine. Interestingly, the replacement—featuring the unique triple Solex carburetors and correct date-code stamping—was found not far from where the car was located for decades near Brescia.
While the car’s mechanical systems were being rebuilt, the wood framework was refurbished to Figoni et Falaschi’s exacting standards, and the body was refinished in its magnificent black paint and rich chromed trim. The gorgeous interior is likewise worthy of the Figoni et Falaschi legacy, a luxurious mixture of supple red leather upholstery with quill ostrich inserts, hand-sculpted and mirror-polished wood trim, an elegant engine-turned dash panel and blue-faced gauges and tachometer.
The masterful restoration of this exceptional automobile was rewarded with a First in Class upon its public unveiling at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Amazingly, in 2003, in the space of less than one week, it earned Best of Show awards at the Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Lovingly maintained in concours-winning presentation, it also earned Best of Show and People’s Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Kemble, Ontario, and it was honored with an invitation to the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto.
A superlative machine built with great care and precision and restored to its original splendor, this 1936 Delahaye Type 135 “Competition Court” Teardrop Coupe is one of Giuseppe Figoni’s finest creations, a genuine masterpiece born of race-proven engineering coupled with the peerless vision of a master of the art of coachbuilding.
- - -
Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.
Next Stop, Mecum Auctions. Their catalog did not list estimates. They did not list sold prices online.
1936 Delahaye Type 135 Competition Court Teardrop Coupe
NO SALE
Engine 3557CC
Trans 4-Speed
Color Black
Interior Red
HIGHLIGHTS
o Coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi
o Right-hand drive Lightweight “Goutte D'Eau” style coupe with sunroof
o The only 1936 Delahaye Type 135 with headlamps integrated in between the front fenders
o One of an estimated 30 Competition Court models built from 1935-37
o The last of six short-wheelbase coupes built by Figoni et Falaschi in 1936 and one of three surviving examples today
o The Competition Court was the ultimate Type 135 and only available as a homologation special to a very select group of loyal Delahaye customers. The Competition Court chassis option did not appear in any Delahaye literature and was sold as a bare chassis to be sent to a coachbuilder for a custom-built lightweight body
o Chassis No. 47242 was fitted with special competition components including a 4-speed manual transmission, outside-mounted rear springs, a low-mounted engine, oil cooler mounted below the radiator and racing-style fuel tank with dual fillers
o Delivered new to the Delahaye factory and retained as a demonstrator
o Body No. 609 is unique from the other five examples with a slightly different bonnet and a single row of hood louvers
Steel body with aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers
o 106-inch wheelbase
o 3,557cc inline six-cylinder engine
o 4-speed manual competition transmission
o Chrome knock-off wire wheels
o Class Award at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
o Best of Show at the 2003 Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
o Best of Show at the 2003 Concours d'Elegance of Texas
o Best of Show and People's Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Ontario
o Displayed in the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto
The Delahaye Type 135 coachwork by Figoni et Falaschi launched a series of automotive design masterpieces from the revitalized carrossier, the most prized of which remains the 1936 “Compétition Court” Teardrop Coupe, Chassis No. 47242 and Body No. 609. This is the definitive expression of Giuseppe Figoni’s singular vision, a virtually organic blend of “Goutte D’Eau“ (Teardrop) contours unrivaled in its elegance, every detail fashioned, finished and placed with artistic finesse, a perfect arrangement of notes forming an exquisite composition.
The last of six specially commissioned coupes completed by Figoni in 1936, Chassis No. 47242 is recorded in the Figoni company register, which notes the completed coupe was delivered to the Delahaye factory, suggesting it was exhibited in concours d'elegance or retained as a factory demonstrator. The Compétition Court chassis was one of Delahaye’s most exclusive offerings with only 30 estimated to have been built. It was a homologation special not listed in the company literature and offered through private arrangement only to “special friends” of the company in bare-chassis form to be fitted with lightweight custom coupe or roadster coachwork by the customer’s carrossier of choice.
It was essentially a road-going Grand Prix-specification chassis on the shorter 106-inch wheelbase, described in the definitive history “Delahaye: Le Grand Livre” as having “a cocktail of parts from the series three Type 135 chassis and the Specials,” with additional specially made components. Its racing-purposed features included the powerful and reliable 3.5L competition-spec inline-6 engine—mounted low in the chassis to lower the center of gravity—a remote oil cooler mounted below the radiator, outside-mounted rear springs, a competition fuel tank with dual fillers and a rare competition-spec 4-speed manual transmission.
This car’s body, No. 609, is unique among the six Figoni-bodied coupes, with its distinctive bonnet flanked by Marchal headlights faired into the inner front wings, a signature feature of future Figoni designs. Fashioned in steel with an aluminum bonnet, boot, fenders, doors and bumpers, its streamlined teardrop fender shapes are emphasized by accents flowing back from the bonnet’s leading edge, down across the doors and then scribing the rear fender arches. Thin chrome strips delicately accent the fender peaks, their contours repeated in small chrome accents on the rear fender skirts, and a central tail fin contoured to match those on the rear fenders divides the split rear window.
Like many French treasures, the car was hidden from occupying forces during World War II, resurfacing in the early 1950s in the possession of Jean-Pierre Bernard, then sales manager for Delahaye and eventual founder and president of Club Delahaye. Its history shows that it passed through several owners in France before being sold to an Italian buyer around the end of the 1950s. Some four decades passed before it again re-emerged in the late 1990s, this time with a garage owner in Brescia who sold it to its next owner in Geneva, Switzerland. It was remarkably complete; while the opening for the sunroof had been closed, the operating mechanism remained intact, and the chassis plate showing No. 47242 was in its correct location on the firewall.
The car was then imported into the United States, where it was restored for concours d’elegance judging. After its postwar discovery, the car had been fitted with a newer engine, so, in keeping with the strict standards of its restoration, the search began for an extremely rare Competition-spec 3.5L engine. Interestingly, the replacement—featuring the unique triple Solex carburetors and correct date-code stamping—was found not far from where the car was located for decades near Brescia.
While the car’s mechanical systems were being rebuilt, the wood framework was refurbished to Figoni et Falaschi’s exacting standards, and the body was refinished in its magnificent black paint and rich chromed trim. The gorgeous interior is likewise worthy of the Figoni et Falaschi legacy, a luxurious mixture of supple red leather upholstery with quill ostrich inserts, hand-sculpted and mirror-polished wood trim, an elegant engine-turned dash panel and blue-faced gauges and tachometer.
The masterful restoration of this exceptional automobile was rewarded with a First in Class upon its public unveiling at the 2001 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Amazingly, in 2003, in the space of less than one week, it earned Best of Show awards at the Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Concours d’Elegance of Texas. Lovingly maintained in concours-winning presentation, it also earned Best of Show and People’s Choice at the 2014 Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Kemble, Ontario, and it was honored with an invitation to the “Art in Automobiles” exhibit at the 2015 Canadian International Auto show in Toronto.
A superlative machine built with great care and precision and restored to its original splendor, this 1936 Delahaye Type 135 “Competition Court” Teardrop Coupe is one of Giuseppe Figoni’s finest creations, a genuine masterpiece born of race-proven engineering coupled with the peerless vision of a master of the art of coachbuilding.
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Had a blast with my auto-enthusiast friend and neighbor, Fred, at Monterey Car Week 2021.
Mecum Auction
Bob Mc Dorman Chevrolet
Canal Winchester, Ohio.
Fairfield and Franklin Counties, USA
September 10-11, 2009
Leland Osborn's 1955 Shannon Crosley Special. (San Miguel, CA) This is a racecar built by Floyd Shannon in 1955, it was raced around southern California at the time. It has a Crosley engine, rear end and Topolino transmission, and races in the H-Mod catagory. It was restored over seven years by Leland Osborn and has been racing in vintage races since 2002, including the Monterey Historics. Crosleys are 750 cc engines and Lee is competitive against 1500 cc Porsches. Plus, he builds his own engines
Mecum at Monterey 2010
via ww.Hooniverse.com
Photos by Abraham Rodriguez
Mecum at Monterey 2010
via ww.Hooniverse.com
Photos by Abraham Rodriguez