mike6024 958 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 One-of-a-Kind 1939 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet Found in Shipping Container in FL 19 May 2020, 13:36 UTC · by Vlad Mitracheauthor picHome > News > U-turn Every man with a passion for cars reaches an age when he begins about buying a classic car. Depending on his mechanical knowledge, budget, and spare time, he can either go for a completely restored one, or what people often candidly describe as "a project." This 1939 Delahaye 135M Cabriolet certainly falls into the latter category. According to its seller on craigslist, it is one of the two 135M Cabriolets bodied by Letourneur et Marchand back in 1939, and since they were both believed to be lost, this find makes it the lone survivor. The car has seen better days, granted, but considering it has been lying there, untouched, since 1962, it's nothing you wouldn't expect. The Cabriolet surfaced in Orlando, Florida, in what appears to be what's left of a wooden shipping container, but there's no info on the storing conditions it spent the better part of the last 60 years in. Since it's Florida, though, it could mean both good and bad news as there's plenty of sun, but also humidity and that salty air. It's impossible to tell how deep that rust goes and some shots of the interior would have gone a long way - though it's definitely going to be completely ruined. The only specs made available refer to the car's transmission, which is an optional Cotal 4-speed, and its wheels - a set of Rudge center-lock wire wheels. Jean-Paul Tissot, Delahaye expert and president/archivist of the Delahaye Club, is said to have confirmed the vehicle's authenticity. So, all that's left now for this incredibly rare find - make that one-of-a-kind - to be brought back to life is someone willing to spend close to 170k US dollars to get it, and god knows how much for the entire restoration process. The thought they'll end up with a vehicle worthy of attending such venues as Pebble Beach and Amelia Island should be enough to keep them going through what will undoubtedly be a grueling process. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/one-of-a-kind-1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-found-in-shipping-container-in-fl-143857.html# Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 LB Limited sold this 135M with Vesters & Neirinck coachwork a while back. Asking was 195k I believe. How would you compare it to the subject car? I think I prefer the LM car. https://lbilimited.com/offerings/1948-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-by-vesters-neirinck/ This particular Delahaye 135M, chassis number 800611, has been out of the public eye for almost half a decade now, hidden away in a Long Island, New York underground parking garage. Chassis 800611 was originally bodied by Vesters & Neirinck of Belgium in the stunning cabriolet body that it still wears to this day. 800611 is regarded as being a 1 of 1 design and one of only 2 Delahayes bodied by the Belgium firm. The car was displayed at the Vesters & Neirinck show stand during the 1948 Bruxelles auto show which occured February 14th-16th of 1948 (picture included in photos above). The car was originally painted in a deep dark red, remnants of which can still be seen in the trunk area. After the Bruxelles show, the car was registered in Belgium under the license plate B-460357. 800611 next appeared at the Concours d’Elegance Vicy Town in France during the summer of 1948 where it won a first prize (photo from event included in photos above). The history of the car past 1948 is unfortunately largely lost to time. Like many special French bodied cars after the war, it was more than likely bought up by an American G.I. and shipped home with him. The most recent owner purchased the car from Ed Jirst at the Vintage Car Store in Nyack, NY in the early 1970’s, at which time it was already in need of total restoration. The vintage car store reportedly purchased the car from the Eihacke Estate in the Hamptons. The Eihacke family was well known for their interest in Pre-War Mercedes Benz vehicles. It is believed that the car came from the Dutch Caribbean and before that point the history is widely unknown back until 1948. Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Another project 135M. Peter Kumar was mentioned as a possible buyer for our subject car on Barn Finds and I think he would be considered a usual suspect as a buyer. A while back he was selling this project car. Asking was 245k. Not running. It is a 1949 which is a different use space than the 1948 and earlier cars. Better shape. I like it except for the port holes which are original. Link to post Share on other sites
Restorer32 2,106 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Those on these forums who try to make a profit buying and selling antique cars often forget that the vast majority of folks restoring cars or having them restored professionally are fully aware that they will lose money, often a considerable amount of money, on the cars they restore yet they press on. A "return on investment" is seldom the primary consideration. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 16 minutes ago, Restorer32 said: Those on these forums who try to make a profit buying and selling antique cars often forget that the vast majority of folks restoring cars or having them restored professionally are fully aware that they will lose money, often a considerable amount of money, on the cars they restore yet they press on. A "return on investment" is seldom the primary consideration. Agreed. You are "Paying to Play". The cost of getting an unknown car and showing it at Pebble, Amelia, etc. The problem is that 30 or 40 years ago, you got to play and make money. Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Another barn find 135M. This one sold for 247,500 back in 2011. More typical Chapron body than our subject car, but much better condition. I would argue the market was stronger then too. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 The Vesters car is being restored in NZ. So there are still collectors who are stepping up to restore something unique. https://autorestorations.co.nz/project/1948-delahaye-135m-vesters-and-nierinck-cabriolet/ Link to post Share on other sites
George Cole 966 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 It's still posted on Craigslist, but updated yesterday with a few more pics. Engine looks pretty ratty. Same with the interior...rust holes in floor. https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/brookfield-1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet/7125804810.html Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) On 5/20/2020 at 7:19 AM, alsancle said: LB Limited sold this 135M with Vesters & Neirinck coachwork a while back. Asking was 195k I believe. How would you compare it to the subject car? I think I prefer the LM car. https://lbilimited.com/offerings/1948-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-by-vesters-neirinck/ This particular Delahaye 135M, chassis number 800611, has been out of the public eye for almost half a decade now, hidden away in a Long Island, New York underground parking garage. Chassis 800611 was originally bodied by Vesters & Neirinck of Belgium in the stunning cabriolet body that it still wears to this day. 800611 is regarded as being a 1 of 1 design and one of only 2 Delahayes bodied by the Belgium firm. The car was displayed at the Vesters & Neirinck show stand during the 1948 Bruxelles auto show which occured February 14th-16th of 1948 (picture included in photos above). The car was originally painted in a deep dark red, remnants of which can still be seen in the trunk area. After the Bruxelles show, the car was registered in Belgium under the license plate B-460357. 800611 next appeared at the Concours d’Elegance Vicy Town in France during the summer of 1948 where it won a first prize (photo from event included in photos above). The history of the car past 1948 is unfortunately largely lost to time. Like many special French bodied cars after the war, it was more than likely bought up by an American G.I. and shipped home with him. The most recent owner purchased the car from Ed Jirst at the Vintage Car Store in Nyack, NY in the early 1970’s, at which time it was already in need of total restoration. The vintage car store reportedly purchased the car from the Eihacke Estate in the Hamptons. The Eihacke family was well known for their interest in Pre-War Mercedes Benz vehicles. It is believed that the car came from the Dutch Caribbean and before that point the history is widely unknown back until 1948. I will guarantee the car doe sale is much more attractive than this - much sportier belt line, you can already see it has a totally chrome windshield,, skirts, wire wheels, grill, and ... Edited May 21, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) Bingo, not the best of tails, but nevertheless a pretty good tail ! Edited May 21, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Now, let's discuss this photo of what is close, but not the same car - car for sale has different wheels, different landau irons, different belt trim - double wide, possibly different lower door sill treatment, and different skirt trim, plus the for sale car seems to have more "tail". And, appears to carry a different chassis number than the photo too. Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 7 minutes ago, John_Mereness said: Now, let's discuss this photo of what is close, but not the same car - car for sale has different wheels, different landau irons, different belt trim - double wide, possibly different lower door sill treatment, and different skirt trim, plus the for sale car seems to have more "tail". This is the other L&M car which is a sister but not identical. You have pointed out the obvious differences, subject car has more chrome trim too. I talked to Seller yesterday who seems like a reasonable fellow. Not a prewar guy but car guy. He's helping his friend sell the car and will affably answer any questions. Body is steel, with aluminum doors and hoods. Not a 3 carb car which hurts. He states wood is remarkably solid. Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 1 minute ago, alsancle said: Not a 3 carb car which hurts. He states wood is remarkably solid. Not a competition model - yes I noticed right away. As to wood, hard to say - I would still lean via the seats that when it went into the trailer it was a pretty respectable car - and then it sweated for years and years. Link to post Share on other sites
edinmass 12,642 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 10 minutes ago, alsancle said: This is the other L&M car which is a sister but not identical. You have pointed out the obvious differences, subject car has more chrome trim too. I talked to Seller yesterday who seems like a reasonable fellow. Not a prewar guy but car guy. He's helping his friend sell the car and will affably answer any questions. Body is steel, with aluminum doors and hoods. Not a 3 carb car which hurts. He states wood is remarkably solid. The subject car has better lines......I agree. L&M usually built nice stuff compared to many of the others. I purchased a factory triple carb set up for one of these at Hershey four years ago. It's still sitting on the shelf. I was guessing what it was off of when I saw it.........one of my better finds the last ten years at the fall meet. If the car is really solid, and has good wood, its a better project than it looks like in the photos......than there is a much better chance of someone taking on the project. ......the last one of these that I know of done as a resurrection was about 8 years ago, but generally I don't follow this particular marque. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, edinmass said: The subject car has better lines......I agree. L&M usually built nice stuff compared to many of the others. I purchased a factory triple carb set up for one of these at Hershey four years ago. It's still sitting on the shelf. I was guessing what it was off of when I saw it.........one of my better finds the last ten years at the fall meet. If the car is really solid, and has good wood, its a better project than it looks like in the photos......than there is a much better chance of someone taking on the project. ......the last one of these that I know of done as a resurrection was about 8 years ago, but generally I don't follow this particular marque. As a sidenote: Without a build sheet and knowing the in's and out's of the marque, you never know if a 3 carb model originally (with its look it is hard to believe they opted for bare bones) - I consider them the good looking Buick's of France and my guess was 3 carbs were more than many mechanics could handle with a fair number quickly loosing their 3 carbs for something more simple (albeit I certainly could be very wrong about that, especially since still a relatively rare drivetrain any way about it compounded by WWII that made really any work on it difficult). Edited May 21, 2020 by John_Mereness (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
robert smith 11 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 Dear Sir Have you more photos of the car and how bad is the rust. please email particulars to robert-smith02@bigpond.com Link to post Share on other sites
C Carl 1,878 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 (edited) On 5/22/2020 at 6:04 PM, robert smith said: Dear Sir Have you more photos of the car and how bad is the rust. please email particulars to robert-smith02@bigpond.com Hi Robert. If you go back to the first page of this topic, scroll down until you come to a response from George Cole. He has posted a link to the Orlando Craigslist ad for this car. There are many pictures there, and contact to the owner. - Carl Edited May 26, 2020 by C Carl Remove a "T." (see edit history) Link to post Share on other sites
George Cole 966 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 It's still listed in the Orlando CraigsList with 18 Pictures. - George https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/brookfield-1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet/7125804810.html Link to post Share on other sites
auburnseeker 4,740 Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 Definitely as crusty as we were expecting. Gat a big vatt of evaporust and soak it. Pull it out and hope there is enough left to start with. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
George Cole 966 Posted May 23, 2020 Share Posted May 23, 2020 I'll leave that to you, auburnseeker. It's in your neck of the woods anyways. Definitely not anywhere near close to me here on the FL Space Coast. Link to post Share on other sites
auburnseeker 4,740 Posted May 24, 2020 Author Share Posted May 24, 2020 Too rough for me. I don't even get around to the cars I have that need much less work. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
George Cole 966 Posted May 24, 2020 Share Posted May 24, 2020 Same with me....and waaaay beyond my budget. I've got enough projects to last me several lifetimes. And of course, the salt air here from the ocean doesn't help. Link to post Share on other sites
BucketofBolts 113 Posted May 25, 2020 Share Posted May 25, 2020 Appears that the previous owner was a relative of the Roman God of the Sea "Neptune" who stored the vehicle in a sunken garage somewhere in the Mediterranean. A daunting task with that restoration. Link to post Share on other sites
flackmaster 41 Posted May 26, 2020 Share Posted May 26, 2020 (edited) Strange. Multiple friends have suggested I consider that car as I want a Delahaye. (easy to spend someone else's money....) It has its good points, or point, being a rather unique body, however the bad points, condition, condition and condition are clearly evident. The owner is looking through rose (or money green) colored glasses. The engine is most likely a disaster and the balance of the chassis is VERY high risk. Whether it was a tri-carb is a moot point, the tri-carb manifold is reproduced - most restored cars are tri-carb, gee, no surprise there. Difficult trim and other parts are absent, no picture of dash, etc. I have about 45 years experience restoring cars, so yes, I could do this car and I have Delahaye resources to lean upon, which leaves only one big problem - $170K is unanimously considered far far too high a price. If the price was anywhere near reasonable, I'd be a player,...but the six figure ante just isn't warranted. Call me when it has a real price and I'll have the cash ready. I am not going to call you and offer you what you might consider an insult today, only to ruin your perception of me when later you do realize I am willing to make a fair offer. Also interesting to note that the Vesters car, which "appears" to be in better condition is being completely re-wooded as an element of its full body dip in the money bath. Edited May 27, 2020 by flackmaster clarification of my willingness to make a fair offer. (see edit history) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
John_Mereness 4,662 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-c-12268.htm Link to post Share on other sites
rg171352 2 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 10 hours ago, John_Mereness said: https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-c-12268.htm It makes you wonder what BHCC paid for it... Link to post Share on other sites
Cadillac Fan 65 Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 (edited) 7 hours ago, rg171352 said: It makes you wonder what BHCC paid for it... my guess : $112,500 or more likely $100k Edited February 17 by Cadillac Fan (see edit history) 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Harwood 12,202 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 On 2/16/2021 at 9:59 PM, John_Mereness said: https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1939-delahaye-135m-cabriolet-c-12268.htm Oh, look, lots of history on Delahaye the company and the coachbuilder in their description. It's MUCH worse than anyone thought. "We meticulously disassembled and cleaned every single engine part but didn't start it..." Hooo boy, it's so far gone they're scared of it. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites
rg171352 2 Posted February 18 Share Posted February 18 7 hours ago, Matt Harwood said: Oh, look, lots of history on Delahaye the company and the coachbuilder in their description. It's MUCH worse than anyone thought. "We meticulously disassembled and cleaned every single engine part but didn't start it..." Hooo boy, it's so far gone they're scared of it. For some reason, your comment reminded me of this car: https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1967-porsche-912-c-5027.htm Link to post Share on other sites
alsancle 5,343 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 4 hours ago, rg171352 said: For some reason, your comment reminded me of this car: https://www.beverlyhillscarclub.com/1967-porsche-912-c-5027.htm "Strong Parts Car"?? Wow. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Matt Harwood 12,202 Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 3 minutes ago, alsancle said: "Strong Parts Car"?? Wow. Will make a strong parts car. What, like after some restoration work? 2 Link to post Share on other sites
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