1949 Delahaye 135 MS Ghia-Aigle Coupe

1949 Delahaye 135 MS Ghia-Aigle Coupe

This unique example of a landmark model from one of motoring's most charismatic marques carries audacious coachwork by Carrosserie Ghia, Aigle - the Swiss offshoot of the famous Italian styling house. (Delahaye had no in-house coachworks, so all its chassis were bodied by inde¬pendents that created some of their most attractive designs on the Type 135). Founded on 30th April 1948 as Carrosserie Ghia SA, Aigle by Dr Pierre-Paul Filippi, a Torinese physician, the firm bodied cars in Switzerland to Ghia designs. Turin-based Carrozzeria Ghia was owned by Mario Boano at the time, and its post-war products were initially styled by him, subsequently by Giovanni Michelotti, and then by Pietro Frua.

This car left the Delahaye works at rue du Banquier, Paris in June 1949 in the ultimate 'MS' configuration, equipped with the triple-carburettor engine. Bodied by Ghia Aigle in this unusual body style, it features wheel spats that can be lifted by pulling a lever, thereby facilitating tyre changes. The gearbox is the Cotal-Maag electromagnetic type, featuring four forward and four reverse gears.

According to an article in the French magazine 'Auto Passion' (Issue No. 67, April 1992, scanned copy on file), this car featured at the 1950 Salon de Genève before being sold to its first owner, Automobilwerke Franz AG, a company based in Zürich, Switzerland. The date of first registration was 16th June 1950.

Descriptions & pictures by artcurial & delahayeclub & flickr