- RM Sotheby’s announces addition of three rare Delahaye models for annual Paris auction on 5 February
- Cabriolet, Coach and Roadster versions of the 135 model all offered for sale from the single-owner Dayez Collection
- Long list of rare Delahaye spare parts from the same collection also set for the auction
- Additional event information and updated list of entries for the 2020 Paris sale available at rmsothebys.com
LONDON (23 October 2019) – RM Sotheby’s is delighted to announce that a group of rare Delahaye models will be offered for sale at its seventh annual Paris auction, due to take place on 5 February 2020. Arriving at the Place Vauban auction from the Dayez Collection, the group includes one Delahaye 135 Cabriolet, one 135 Roadster and one 135 Coach. The collection also includes an expansive set of spare Delahaye parts, to go under the hammer as a separate lot, as well as a Land Rover Defender 110 used by the owner to tow and trailer the Delahayes between locations. The late Jacques Dayez was a prominent collector who was very enthusiastic and precise about the restoration and maintenance of his cars. The concours field was one of his favorite places, and he was passionate about every aspect of the events.
The 1939 Delahaye 135 Roadster, chassis no. 47420, is widely regarded as a desirable European pre-war classic and is presented in immaculate condition having recently been restored to concours standard. The build of the car by the French automotive manufacturer commenced in 1939, but completed in 1947, likely due to the outbreak of war. The 13th and final Delahaye Roadster designed by respected French poster artist Georges Hamel—otherwise known as Géo Ham—the resplendent car was built on the Competition Court chassis. This Roadster was presented at the 1947 Trocadéro Concours d’Élegance in Paris by Miss France, Juliette Figueras, and in 1948 appeared at the Biarritz Concours. In the 1960s, the car was stored and eventually forgotten in Bordeaux, where it subsequently lost its original body. In 2005, the Roadster was found by Jacques Dayez, who commissioned a full restoration including complete body rebuild by Tessier in Tours, France (Est. €500,000 - €800,000).
As a garage stablemate, the 1946 Delahaye 135 Cabriolet, chassis no. 800308, is more well-travelled, having been exported upon construction to a representative of the French embassy in Argentina. This example, with its sleek lines and elegant hood the ideal ingredients to any classic convertible design, later went on sale at a show in Buenos Aires with some modifications having been made including a new bumper and a new hood in the style of coachbuilder Guilloré. Like the Roadster, the car was stored for a number of years before being imported back to France in 2003, where it also underwent restoration work at Tessier (Est. €350,000 to €450,000).
The third car from the French marque in the collection—a 1949 Delahaye 135 Coach by Chapron—is a restoration project with excellent potential to be returned to concours standard, having been in storage for a number of years (Est. €50,000 to €60,000, offered without reserve). An assortment of Delahaye spare parts for any of the three model body types on offer here – including five engines, a Cotal gearbox, fuel tanks, spare wheels, axles, steering wheels and more – is also presented as one complete lot and would prove to be a useful addition to the workshop for any bidder looking to buy a Delahaye from the collection, or for an existing owner of a classic Delahaye model (Est. €30,000 to €40,000, offered without reserve). A 1993 Land Rover Defender 110 is also presented as part of the collection in Paris, having been used by the owner to tow and trailer the Delahaye cars between locations (Est. €8,000 to €10,000, offered without reserve).
Augustin Sabatié-Garat, European Auction Manager for RM Sotheby’s, said: “These Delahaye models are all significant in their own right, and we are very excited to bring them to our auction in Paris. It is fitting that the cars will be offered for sale in French capital, as the marque has played such an important part in the automotive history of France. We are sure that potential bidders will be pleased with the diverse nature of the collection seen here, covering each of the Cabriolet, Coach and Roadster body types. Two of these cars are immaculate, while the Coach by Chapron is a great starting point for a potential restoration project. Spare parts can be hard to come by for such a project, making the long list of parts and accessories a fantastic opportunity.”
For further information on RM Sotheby’s Paris auction or to view a frequently updated list of entries, please visit rmsothebys.com. To speak to an RM Sotheby’s specialist about entering your important motor car in the Paris sale, please call RM Sotheby’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.