A 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition is up for grabs for U.S. $12,000,000 right now – three times the starting price of the mint Bugatti Bolide.
Delahaye was a pre-World-War-II car company renowned for its opulent and technologically sophisticated vehicles. It designed the chassis model 135 in the early ‘30s and delivered it in road-going and track variants. The latter benefitted from a longer wheelbase and a more powerful engine. It proceeded to score multiple racing victories, including the gold of the 1938 Le Mans.
The original owner of this car also ordered it from the manufacturer as a naked chassis. He then asked Figoni et Falaschi to come up with a stylish bodywork for it. The coachbuilder designed a smooth and aerodynamic body with flowing fender lines, a rounded front grille and a sleek soft top.
A unique mechanism was devised for this particular cabriolet to enable the roof to disappear completely inside the bodywork when folded. Figoni et Falaschi even patented it in early 1936. The seller claims, however, that no other Delahaye models like this has been made since.
In 1949, the car took part in Rallye Monte Carlo and came sixth – a rather impressive achievement, considering that only 166 out of 227 participants made it to the finish line at all. It had a 3.6-liter inline-six engine under the hood and could exceed 150 km/h (93 mph).
Aside from being a true collector’s rarity, this Delahaye boasts a pristine condition after two restorations. It has won a few dozen prestigious awards at various expos by now, which helps explain the asking price.