Description
The Delahaye 135 MS Coupé by Pourtout is a masterwork of prewar French automotive design, combining Delahaye’s proven sporting underpinnings with the refined craftsmanship and styling of Carrosserie Pourtout. Emerging during the late 1930s, this model reflected the height of the Art Deco movement and marked a synthesis of elegance, performance, and individuality.
Built on the 135 MS chassis—Modifiée Spéciale—the car benefited from an upgraded version of Delahaye’s 3.6-litre straight-six engine. This unit, especially when fitted with a triple-carburettor setup, produced between 120 and 135 horsepower. Such performance figures allowed the car to comfortably exceed 90 mph, offering competitive speed in a grand touring format. The engine was matched to Delahaye’s renowned Cotal four-speed electromagnetic gearbox, known for its smooth and responsive shifts without the use of a clutch pedal.
Carrosserie Pourtout was a leading French coachbuilder based in Bougival, celebrated for its close collaboration with designer Georges Paulin. Though not all Pourtout-bodied Delahayes were aerodynamic, even the more traditional coupé variants bore hallmarks of streamlined thinking, with fluid lines, restrained ornamentation, and a sense of visual momentum from bonnet to tail. The coupé rooflines were often low and elegantly curved, tapering gently into a short rear deck, while the fenders were sculpted to integrate smoothly with the bodywork.
The Coupé’s proportions were typically long and low, emphasizing the Delahaye’s chassis length and rear-wheel-drive layout. Chrome detailing was tastefully applied, framing the grille, outlining the windows, and accenting the door handles or hood louvres. Pourtout’s craftsmanship ensured that the joints and finishes were precise, the panels well-balanced, and the weight distribution ideal for a sporting grand tourer.
Inside, the 135 MS Coupé featured a luxurious and driver-focused cabin. Leather upholstery, typically in warm tones, covered wide, comfortable seats and interior panels. The dashboard was fitted with a full suite of period gauges—speedometer, tachometer, oil pressure, fuel, and ammeter—often encased in a symmetrical layout, trimmed with polished wood or machine-turned metal. Door cappings, gear selectors, and switchgear reflected the high standard of artisanal work Pourtout brought to each commission.
While each Pourtout-bodied Delahaye was built to the tastes of its original owner, the overall approach combined classic French luxury with hints of modern aerodynamic influence. The cars were ideal for continental touring, equally at home on mountain passes or Parisian boulevards. Suspension consisted of independent front torsion bars and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic springs, giving the car an agreeable ride with predictable road manners.
Only a limited number of 135 MS chassis were clothed by Pourtout, making each surviving car an object of high historical and collector value. Though overshadowed at times by the more flamboyant creations of Figoni & Falaschi, the Pourtout coupés offered a more reserved, architectural beauty. Their timeless design, advanced mechanicals, and rarity make them enduring symbols of a golden age in French motoring.
The Delahaye 135 MS Coupé Pourtout today stands as a testament to a unique moment in automotive history—when the line between engineering and sculpture was blurred, and when performance and grace were not competing ideals but perfectly aligned ambitions.