Delahaye
Encyclopedia
Delahaye automobile
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
in 1894, in Tours
, France
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
In 1901, the Société des Automobiles Delahaye constructed a factory in Paris
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
. By the end of World War I
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Nazi
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
and Auto Union
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
, 175
, and 168 (Renault
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
s that appeared, initially from Renault
and Chrysler
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
-like vehicle known as VLRD
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Delahaye automobile
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
in 1894, in Tours
, France
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
In 1901, the Société des Automobiles Delahaye constructed a factory in Paris
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
. By the end of World War I
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Nazi
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
and Auto Union
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
, 175
, and 168 (Renault
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
s that appeared, initially from Renault
and Chrysler
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
-like vehicle known as VLRD
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Delahaye automobile
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
in 1894, in Tours
, France
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
In 1901, the Société des Automobiles Delahaye constructed a factory in Paris
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
. By the end of World War I
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Nazi
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
and Auto Union
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
, 175
, and 168 (Renault
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
s that appeared, initially from Renault
and Chrysler
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
-like vehicle known as VLRD
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye was a French automotive pioneer who founded Delahaye Automobiles.Emile Delahaye was born in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, in the Loire Valley. He studied engineering at a trade school in the city of Angers, the same school later attended by Louis Delâge, another automobile pioneer...
in 1894, in Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
History
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. By the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
Delahaye 135
Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His atelier, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret....
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
René Le Bègue
----René Le Bègue was a Parisian-born French race car driver in Rally and Grand Prix motor racing. In his first year of top level racing, his best showing came at the 1936 Spa 24 Hours endurance race when he drove a Delahaye to a 2nd place finish. In 1937 he and his co-pilot Julio Quinlin won the...
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
Million Franc Race
The Million Franc Race, or ‘Prix du Million’, was an effort in 1937 by the French Popular Front to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi...
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus was a French driver who raced automobiles for 14 years in the 1920s and 1930s, the Golden Era of Grand Prix motor racing.-Early life:...
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, 175
Delahaye 175
Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
, and 168 (Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
After the Second World War
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux was a French industrial designer, best known for automobile and truck design, but also known for other products such as television sets. Many of his works are now exhibits in places such as Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, or Museum of Modern Art in New York. He specialised...
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
Delahaye 171
The Delahaye 171 was a “colonial” style vehicle developed by Delahaye for use in French Equatorial Africa and French West Africa. The thinking behind the car was similar to that of Renault chairman Pierre Lefaucheux at this time: the 171 was intended to satisfy similar marketplace objectives to...
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
s that appeared, initially from Renault
Renault Espace
The Renault Espace is a large MPV from French car-maker Renault. Generations 1-3 were sold under the Renault brand but manufactured by Matra. The current fourth generation model, which seats seven passengers, is an all-Renault product; the Renault Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase version with...
and Chrysler
Chrysler Voyager
The Chrysler Voyager or Chrysler Grand Voyager is a minivan sold by the Chrysler division of American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Group LLC...
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
Renault Colorale
The Renault Colorale is a mid-size car produced by Renault between 1950 and 1957. Unusually, it had the profile of a small estate car, which adumbrated successful Renault designs of the 1960s...
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
-like vehicle known as VLRD
Delahaye VLR
The Delahaye VLR was a four wheel drive passenger vehicle clearly inspired by the Jeep and first presented, after an unusually long gestation, by Delahaye during the Summer of 1950...
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Models
- Delahaye 134Delahaye 134Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
- 1933-40 - Delahaye 135Delahaye 135Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
- 1935-54 - Delahaye 138
- Delahaye 148
- Delahaye 168 - 1938-40
- Delahaye 175Delahaye 175Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
- 1948-51 - Delahaye 178
- Delahaye 180
- Delahaye 235Delahaye 235Delahaye 235 is a luxury car built by French manufacturer Delahaye from 1951 until 1954.Presented at the 1951 Paris Auto Salon, the 235 was an attempt at updating the pre-war Type 135 for the 1950s. Delahaye did need a boost, as combined production of the Types 135 and 175 had dropped to an...
- 1951-54
External links
- Delahaye fan page
- Delahaye Flickr Group
- Club Delahaye
- 1949 Delahaye Roadster belonging to Diana Dors (BBC)
Delahaye automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye was a French automotive pioneer who founded Delahaye Automobiles.Emile Delahaye was born in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, in the Loire Valley. He studied engineering at a trade school in the city of Angers, the same school later attended by Louis Delâge, another automobile pioneer...
in 1894, in Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
History
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. By the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
Delahaye 135
Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His atelier, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret....
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
René Le Bègue
----René Le Bègue was a Parisian-born French race car driver in Rally and Grand Prix motor racing. In his first year of top level racing, his best showing came at the 1936 Spa 24 Hours endurance race when he drove a Delahaye to a 2nd place finish. In 1937 he and his co-pilot Julio Quinlin won the...
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
Million Franc Race
The Million Franc Race, or ‘Prix du Million’, was an effort in 1937 by the French Popular Front to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi...
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus was a French driver who raced automobiles for 14 years in the 1920s and 1930s, the Golden Era of Grand Prix motor racing.-Early life:...
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, 175
Delahaye 175
Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
, and 168 (Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
After the Second World War
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux was a French industrial designer, best known for automobile and truck design, but also known for other products such as television sets. Many of his works are now exhibits in places such as Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, or Museum of Modern Art in New York. He specialised...
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
Delahaye 171
The Delahaye 171 was a “colonial” style vehicle developed by Delahaye for use in French Equatorial Africa and French West Africa. The thinking behind the car was similar to that of Renault chairman Pierre Lefaucheux at this time: the 171 was intended to satisfy similar marketplace objectives to...
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
s that appeared, initially from Renault
Renault Espace
The Renault Espace is a large MPV from French car-maker Renault. Generations 1-3 were sold under the Renault brand but manufactured by Matra. The current fourth generation model, which seats seven passengers, is an all-Renault product; the Renault Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase version with...
and Chrysler
Chrysler Voyager
The Chrysler Voyager or Chrysler Grand Voyager is a minivan sold by the Chrysler division of American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Group LLC...
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
Renault Colorale
The Renault Colorale is a mid-size car produced by Renault between 1950 and 1957. Unusually, it had the profile of a small estate car, which adumbrated successful Renault designs of the 1960s...
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
-like vehicle known as VLRD
Delahaye VLR
The Delahaye VLR was a four wheel drive passenger vehicle clearly inspired by the Jeep and first presented, after an unusually long gestation, by Delahaye during the Summer of 1950...
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Models
- Delahaye 134Delahaye 134Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
- 1933-40 - Delahaye 135Delahaye 135Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
- 1935-54 - Delahaye 138
- Delahaye 148
- Delahaye 168 - 1938-40
- Delahaye 175Delahaye 175Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
- 1948-51 - Delahaye 178
- Delahaye 180
- Delahaye 235Delahaye 235Delahaye 235 is a luxury car built by French manufacturer Delahaye from 1951 until 1954.Presented at the 1951 Paris Auto Salon, the 235 was an attempt at updating the pre-war Type 135 for the 1950s. Delahaye did need a boost, as combined production of the Types 135 and 175 had dropped to an...
- 1951-54
External links
- Delahaye fan page
- Delahaye Flickr Group
- Club Delahaye
- 1949 Delahaye Roadster belonging to Diana Dors (BBC)
Delahaye automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye
Emile Delahaye was a French automotive pioneer who founded Delahaye Automobiles.Emile Delahaye was born in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, in the Loire Valley. He studied engineering at a trade school in the city of Angers, the same school later attended by Louis Delâge, another automobile pioneer...
in 1894, in Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.
History
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where they continued to manufacture cars and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s. In 1908, they began producing four-cylinder engines, in sizes of 1.5 and 2.1 litres, as well as a 2.6-litre V6. They also licensed their designs to manufacturers in the U.S. and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. By the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, their major income was from their truck business.
In 1934, they introduced the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, a 12cv car with a 2.15-litre four-cylinder engine, and the 18cv 138, powered by a 3.2-litre six — both engines derived from their successful truck engines. In 1935, the introduction of the sporting Model 135 "Coupe des Alpes"
Delahaye 135
Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
car brought success to their car business as well, while the truck business also continued to thrive. Some of the great coachbuilders who provided bodies for Delahayes include Figoni et Falaschi, Chapron
Henri Chapron
Henri Chapron was a prominent French automobile coachbuilder. His atelier, created in 1919, was located in the Paris suburb of Levallois-Perret....
, and Letourneur et Marchand.
As was customary for car manufacturers in this period, Delahaye also tried its hand in racing in the middle of the 1930s after the American heiress Lucy O'Reilly Schell approached the company with an offer to pay the development costs to build cars to her specifications for rally racing. In 1937, René Le Bègue
René Le Bègue
----René Le Bègue was a Parisian-born French race car driver in Rally and Grand Prix motor racing. In his first year of top level racing, his best showing came at the 1936 Spa 24 Hours endurance race when he drove a Delahaye to a 2nd place finish. In 1937 he and his co-pilot Julio Quinlin won the...
and Julio Quinlin won the Monte Carlo Rally
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rally Monte Carlo is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco which also organises the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and the Rallye Monte-Carlo Historique. The rally takes place along the French Riviera in the Principality of Monaco and...
driving a Delahaye. This was the time when the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party, in an attempt to establish dominance for their party, nation, and philosophy, nationalized the Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
racing teams, pouring money in to glorify Germany. Against this juggernaut, Delahaye brought out the Model 145, the so-called "Million Franc Delahaye" after its victory in the Million Franc Race
Million Franc Race
The Million Franc Race, or ‘Prix du Million’, was an effort in 1937 by the French Popular Front to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi...
; it was driven by René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus was a French driver who raced automobiles for 14 years in the 1920s and 1930s, the Golden Era of Grand Prix motor racing.-Early life:...
to victory at Pau in 1938, doubly humiliating the Nazis since a Jewish driver in a French car beat their vaunted, state of the art, Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows
Silver Arrows was the name given by the press to Germany's dominant Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union Grand Prix motor racing cars between 1934 and 1939, and also later applied to the Mercedes-Benz Formula One and sports cars in 1954/55.For decades until the introduction of sponsorship liveries, each...
. This competition victory combined with French patriotism to create a wave of demand for Delahaye cars, up until the German occupation of France during World War II.
In early 1940, over 100 cars of the 134N
Delahaye 134
Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
, 175
Delahaye 175
Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
, and 168 (Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
-bodied) types were built for the French government. Private sales effectively ceased around June, but small numbers of cars continued to be built for the occupying forces until at least 1942.
After the Second World War
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in late 1945, production of the 135 was resumed, and the 4.5-litre model 175 was introduced in 1948. This model was followed by the Type 235 in 1951, with an uprated 135 engine and styling by Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux
Philippe Charbonneaux was a French industrial designer, best known for automobile and truck design, but also known for other products such as television sets. Many of his works are now exhibits in places such as Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, or Museum of Modern Art in New York. He specialised...
. After the war the depressed French economy and an increasingly punitive tax regime aimed at motoring in general and at cars with engines above 2-litres in particular made life difficult for luxury auto-makers. Like all the principal French automakers, Delahaye complied with government requirements in allocating the majority of its vehicles for export, and in 1947 88% of Delahaye production was exported (compared to 87% of Peugeot and 80% of Talbot output), primarily to French colonies. Nevertheless, Delahaye volumes, with 573 cars produced in 1948 (against 34,164 by the market leader, Citroen), were unsustainably low.
Until the early 1950s a continuing demand for military vehicles enabled the company to operate at volumes, primarily thanks to demand for the Delehaye Type 163 trucks, sufficient to keep the business afloat.
A 1-ton capacity light truck sharing its 3.5-litre engine with the company's luxury cars (albeit with lower compression ratios and power output) made its debut at the 1949 Paris Motor Show. During the next twelve months this vehicle, the Delahaye 171
Delahaye 171
The Delahaye 171 was a “colonial” style vehicle developed by Delahaye for use in French Equatorial Africa and French West Africa. The thinking behind the car was similar to that of Renault chairman Pierre Lefaucheux at this time: the 171 was intended to satisfy similar marketplace objectives to...
, spawned several "break" bodied versions resembling very large station wagons, the most interesting of which were the ambulance and 9-seater familiale variant, this latter being a precursor to the mpv
Minivan
Minivan is a type of van designed for personal use. Minivans are typically either two-box or one box designs for maximum interior volume – and are taller than a sedan, hatchback, or a station wagon....
s that appeared, initially from Renault
Renault Espace
The Renault Espace is a large MPV from French car-maker Renault. Generations 1-3 were sold under the Renault brand but manufactured by Matra. The current fourth generation model, which seats seven passengers, is an all-Renault product; the Renault Grand Espace is a long-wheelbase version with...
and Chrysler
Chrysler Voyager
The Chrysler Voyager or Chrysler Grand Voyager is a minivan sold by the Chrysler division of American automobile manufacturer Chrysler Group LLC...
, in the 1980s. The vehicle's large wheels and high ground clearance suggested that it was targeted on markets where many roads were constructed largely of dust and mud, and the 171 was, like the contemporary Renault Colorale
Renault Colorale
The Renault Colorale is a mid-size car produced by Renault between 1950 and 1957. Unusually, it had the profile of a small estate car, which adumbrated successful Renault designs of the 1960s...
which it in some respects resembled, intended for use in France's African colonies. The vehicle also enjoyed some export success in Brazil, and by 1952 the Delahaye 171 was being produced at the rate of approximately 30 per month.
As passenger car sales slowed further the last new model, a 2.0-litre Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
-like vehicle known as VLRD
Delahaye VLR
The Delahaye VLR was a four wheel drive passenger vehicle clearly inspired by the Jeep and first presented, after an unusually long gestation, by Delahaye during the Summer of 1950...
, sometimes known as the VLR (Véhicule Léger de Reconnaissance (Delahaye)), was released in 1951. The French army believed that this vehicle offered a number of advantages over the "traditional" American built Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
of the period. During 1953 the company shipped 1,847 VRDs as well as 537 "special" military vehicles: the number of Delahaye or Delage badged passenger cars registered in the same year was in that context near negligible at 36.
In 1954, Delahaye was taken over by Hotchkiss
Hotchkiss et Cie
Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Cie was a French arms and car company established by United States engineer Benjamin B. Hotchkiss, who was born in Watertown, Connecticut. He moved to France and set up a factory, first at Viviez near Rodez in 1867, then at Saint-Denis near...
, who shut down car production and, after producing trucks with the Hotchkiss-Delahaye nameplate for a few more months, dropped the Delahaye name altogether.
Models
- Delahaye 134Delahaye 134Delahaye 134 is a four cylinder automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Based on Jean François' Delahaye 135, it was produced from 1933 to 1940 and was briefly brought back by Delahaye manager Charles Weiffenbach in 1945 after hostilities ended. At the same time, the larger engined 134G also appeared...
- 1933-40 - Delahaye 135Delahaye 135Delahaye 135 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye. Designed by young engineer Jean François, it was produced from 1935 until 1954 in many different body styles...
- 1935-54 - Delahaye 138
- Delahaye 148
- Delahaye 168 - 1938-40
- Delahaye 175Delahaye 175Delahaye 175 was an automobile manufactured by Delahaye between 1947 and 1951. The last of the large Delahayes, the type 175 was essentially a 135 with a larger engine and more modern suspension, with between 120 and 160 hp depending on compression and how many Solex carburettors were fitted...
- 1948-51 - Delahaye 178
- Delahaye 180
- Delahaye 235Delahaye 235Delahaye 235 is a luxury car built by French manufacturer Delahaye from 1951 until 1954.Presented at the 1951 Paris Auto Salon, the 235 was an attempt at updating the pre-war Type 135 for the 1950s. Delahaye did need a boost, as combined production of the Types 135 and 175 had dropped to an...
- 1951-54
External links
- Delahaye fan page
- Delahaye Flickr Group
- Club Delahaye
- 1949 Delahaye Roadster belonging to Diana Dors (BBC)