Description
The Delahaye 135 M Coupé by Henri Chapron represents a more restrained yet equally refined interpretation of the famed French grand touring chassis. Unlike the flamboyant and aerodynamic creations of Figoni & Falaschi, Chapron’s designs tended toward understated elegance, classical proportions, and impeccable craftsmanship. His coupé bodies on the 135 M combined sophistication with practical luxury, aimed at discerning clients who valued exclusivity without ostentation.
The Delahaye 135 M, introduced in the late 1930s, was a development of the successful 135 series. It featured a 3.2- or 3.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine, with options for one, two, or three carburettors. In its most powerful configuration, with triple carburettors, it produced up to 130 horsepower. This enabled the car to achieve top speeds around 160 km/h (100 mph), an impressive figure for a road-going luxury car of the period. It was fitted with independent front suspension, a strong X-braced chassis, and typically came with the advanced Cotal pre-selector gearbox, which offered quick, clutchless shifts.
Henri Chapron, based in Levallois-Perret near Paris, was one of France’s most respected coachbuilders and known for his ability to tailor each design to the tastes of individual clients. His work on the Delahaye 135 M coupé emphasized balanced lines, gently flowing curves, and attention to detail. The overall design was formal yet modern, often featuring a long bonnet, gently sloping roofline, and subtle chrome accents.
Chapron’s interpretation of the coupé body retained much of the elegance associated with the Delahaye marque, but with a stronger sense of permanence and structure than the more avant-garde designers of the day. His craftsmanship extended to the interior, where leather seats, fine wood trim, and custom instrumentation created a cabin that was both comfortable and luxurious. The rooflines were usually high enough to offer reasonable headroom, and the windows were generously proportioned to give a light and airy feel to the cabin.
The Chapron coupés were sometimes ordered by clients who planned to use their cars regularly rather than exclusively for display. As such, many included features such as practical luggage compartments, sound insulation, and weather protection that made them well-suited to real-world touring. Despite their functional strengths, they remained exquisite examples of hand-built automotive art.
In the post-war years, some 135 M coupés were completed using chassis that had been stored during the war. These later models retained much of their pre-war character but were updated with subtle modernizations in trim and detail. Chapron continued to work with Delahaye into the 1950s, maintaining a strong reputation even as the era of independent coachbuilding gradually declined.
Today, the Delahaye 135 M Coupé by Chapron is regarded as a collector’s prize—less theatrical than the Figoni-bodied versions, but arguably more usable and just as rare. Its quiet dignity, coupled with the mechanical integrity of the 135 M platform, makes it a perfect representation of the French grande routière tradition. Surviving examples are typically seen in concours events or prestigious private collections, where they continue to impress for their grace, subtlety, and craftsmanship.