Description
The Delahaye 135 MS Pennock Landaulette is a refined and rare variant of the distinguished Delahaye 135 MS line, representing a marriage between French engineering and Dutch craftsmanship. The “MS” in the name stood for Modifiée Spéciale, referring to the high-performance specification of the 135 series, and the body was crafted by Carrosserie Pennock, a respected coachbuilder based in The Hague, Netherlands.
Under the bonnet, the 135 MS typically featured the most powerful engine option available from Delahaye—a 3.6-litre inline six-cylinder engine with triple carburettors. This configuration produced up to 160 horsepower, depending on the tuning and carburettor setup, offering impressive performance for a luxury touring car of its era. It was often paired with a Cotal pre-selector gearbox, known for its ease of use and rapid gear changes, ideal for both city driving and long-distance travel.
The Pennock Landaulette body was designed with a strong focus on rear passenger comfort and prestige. The landaulette configuration featured a partially retractable roof over the rear seating compartment, allowing the occupants to enjoy open-air motoring while the chauffeur remained sheltered in the fixed front section. This made it a popular choice among dignitaries, aristocrats, and wealthy individuals who wanted both formality and flexibility in their transport.
Pennock’s design sensibility was more conservative and formal than that of French coachbuilders like Figoni & Falaschi, but no less elegant. The Landaulette body typically featured a tall, upright grille, formal roofline, and gracefully flowing fenders that echoed Art Deco influences without excessive flamboyance. The use of chrome detailing, discreet two-tone paintwork, and subtle curvature gave the car a dignified and stately appearance.
The interior was luxuriously appointed with high-quality materials including fine leather upholstery, polished wood veneers, thick carpeting, and, in some cases, folding occasional seats or division glass between driver and passengers. These details emphasized the car’s role as a formal, chauffeur-driven limousine while preserving the performance pedigree of the 135 MS chassis underneath.
Mechanically, the 135 MS Pennock Landaulette retained all the hallmarks of Delahaye engineering: independent front suspension, a strong ladder frame, and powerful drum brakes. Despite the heavier coachwork, the performance remained strong, especially when equipped with the higher-output engine. This allowed the car to be both an opulent mode of travel and a capable grand tourer.
Only a few of these Pennock-bodied 135 MS Landaulettes were ever produced, and today they are exceptionally rare. Their survival into the modern day is often thanks to careful preservation or detailed restoration, usually commissioned by collectors who appreciate their unique place in automotive history. The combination of Dutch coachbuilding and French engineering makes them particularly interesting to enthusiasts of pre-war and early post-war European automobiles.
The Delahaye 135 MS Pennock Landaulette is a distinctive expression of high society motoring from an era when custom coachwork was a symbol of status and taste. With its elegant proportions, luxurious appointments, and robust mechanicals, it stands as a lasting tribute to a time when cars were not merely bought, but commissioned as individual works of rolling art.