Description
The Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi is one of the most graceful and glamorous automobiles of the 1930s and early 1940s. It combined the high-performance capabilities of Delahaye’s finest mechanicals with the flowing, aerodynamic bodywork of Figoni & Falaschi, France’s most celebrated coachbuilders of the era. The result was a cabriolet that not only dazzled concours crowds but also performed impressively on the road.
The 135 MS, or Modifiée Spéciale, was the top-tier variant of the Delahaye 135 series. It was powered by a 3.6-litre straight-six engine, equipped with triple Solex carburettors in its highest-performance form. This setup delivered up to 160 horsepower, depending on tuning, and was mated to a Cotal electromagnetic pre-selector gearbox. This gearbox offered effortless shifting with fingertip control, making it ideal for the elegant and relaxed driving style the car encouraged.
The chassis of the 135 MS featured independent front suspension and a live rear axle, providing a good balance of comfort and handling. This made the car suitable for both fast touring and more spirited driving, despite its luxurious demeanor. The long-wheelbase version gave extra room for custom coachwork, which in the case of Figoni & Falaschi was treated as a canvas for automotive sculpture.
Giuseppe Figoni, the creative mind behind the design firm, worked alongside Ovidio Falaschi to craft some of the most celebrated bodies of the pre-war era. The 135 MS Cabriolet was no exception. These cars were typically designed with sweeping, teardrop-shaped fenders, integrated headlights, and a low, raked windshield. The doors and body panels were often subtly contoured to enhance the car’s motion-inspired silhouette. The rear deck was long and elegant, often sloping into a finely shaped tail that housed a discreetly integrated spare wheel.
The convertible top, when lowered, disappeared neatly under a sculpted rear cover, preserving the car’s aerodynamic lines. Interiors were bespoke and finished with the highest quality materials. Seats were upholstered in fine leather, and dashboards were typically trimmed in walnut, brushed metals, or painted finishes to match the exterior. Every switch, dial, and lever was designed with aesthetics in mind, blending form and function seamlessly.
What truly set the Figoni & Falaschi cabriolets apart was the attention to proportion and flair. Their use of color, chrome, and sweeping forms was guided by the streamline moderne movement, where visual speed and luxury were in harmony. Some examples featured contrasting paint schemes with chrome accents that emphasized the flowing curves, while others used minimalist monochrome finishes that let the form speak for itself.
These cabriolets were not mass-produced; each one was individually commissioned and tailored to the customer’s desires. As such, no two are exactly alike, though all bear the unmistakable hallmarks of Figoni & Falaschi’s design language. Many were shown at European concours d’elegance events, winning awards and gaining the admiration of both critics and enthusiasts.
In the post-war years, as hand-built coachwork gave way to mass production, the Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet by Figoni & Falaschi became a symbol of a lost golden age of craftsmanship. Surviving examples today are treasured by collectors and often seen at events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance or Villa d’Este. Their value has appreciated significantly, both as historical artefacts and as icons of French luxury motoring.
The Delahaye 135 MS Cabriolet Figoni & Falaschi remains one of the finest expressions of automotive elegance ever created, a car where power, design, and bespoke artistry converged to create something truly timeless.