Hot Couture: 1951 Saoutchik Delahaye 235 Roadster Drive
Nothing fits better than bespoke designer fashion. The term “Haute Couture” refers to handmade designer fashions that adorn the world’s top fashionistas and populate New York, Paris, and Milan’s most important runway shows. This voluptuous, hyper-elegant Delahaye certainly qualifies as haute couture on wheels.
Prior to World War II, it was common for wealthy individuals to purchase a chassis from their preferred carmaker and have it delivered to their chosen coachbuilder. Among the better-known French coachbuilders was Jacques Saoutchik, who immigrated to France from Russia. Saoutchik was one of the few custom coachbuilders who survived World War II. The concept of made-to-order car bodies waned after the war but remained an option, particularly in Italy, well into the 1960s.
Delahaye, like Delage, was one of France’s foremost luxury carmakers. They developed the Type 235 chassis as a substantial update of prewar designs. Between 1951 and 1954, Delahaye constructed 84 Type 235 chassis. This particular model, chassis number 818005, was destined for a one-off Saoutchik aluminum and steel roadster body and represented the coachbuilder at the October 1951 Paris auto show.
The prewar engine was an overhead-valve 3.5-liter inline-six, modified with changes to carburetors and camshaft profiles, earning a 150-horsepower rating. The frontal aspect has an almost American flair with a large oval grille opening laced with chrome. Classic French touches remain, such as curvaceous fenderlines, knock-off wire wheels, and suicide-style doors.
Among the great pleasures of this coachbuilt machine are its details. Every fitting and casting is of extremely high quality. The instrumentation is finished like jewelry, and handles, knobs, and buttons are substantial yet feel delicate. The hood louvers are arranged in an arrow-shaped pattern, with each louver being a slightly different size.
Technologically, this Delahaye is fairly straightforward. It features a Cotal preselector semi-automatic four-speed gearbox, which, while sounding complicated, is easy to use. You depress the clutch pedal, select the gear with a column-mounted shifter, and then engage the gear with a floor lever. The engine revs smoothly, and the car will comfortably maintain freeway speeds in fourth gear.
The car’s current owners, Merle and Peter Mullin, are renowned collectors of French Art Deco-era automobiles. They have restored the vehicle to a very high level, maintaining its elegance and original character. The Mullins are the benefactors and founders of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California, which houses an impressive collection of cars, furnishings, sculpture, and art.
This 1951 Saoutchik Delahaye 235 Roadster is a breathtaking example of automotive art. With its rare chassis, elegant design, and historical significance, it stands as a testament to the greatness of both Delahaye and Saoutchik. Though neither survived the 1950s, their legacy lives on through vehicles like this one.
Specifications
- Engine: 217.1-cu-in/3557cc OHV I-6, 3×1-bbl Solex carburetors
- Power/Torque: 152 hp @ 4200 rpm, 225 lb-ft @ 2500 rpm (DIN)
- Drivetrain: Cotal 4-speed preselector manual, RWD
- Brakes: Front: drum, rear: drum
- Suspension: Front: control arms, transverse leaf spring; rear: live axle, leaf springs
- Dimensions: L: 189.4 in, W: 68.9 in, H: 59.4 in
- Weight: 3,250 lb
- Performance: 0-60 mph: 16.0 sec (MTC est)
- Price when new: $7,000
