Description

The Delahaye 235 MS Coupé by Chapron represents one of the final chapters in the history of Delahaye, a marque once celebrated for its elegant Grand Touring cars and lavish coachbuilt creations. Produced between 1951 and 1954, the 235 series was Delahaye’s last attempt to remain competitive in the postwar luxury automobile market. It carried forward the spirit of prewar craftsmanship but faced the challenge of an industry rapidly shifting toward mass production and modern design principles.

The 235 was powered by Delahaye’s proven 3.5-liter inline-six engine, derived from the successful 135 MS. In MS (Modifiée Spéciale) specification, it produced around 150 horsepower, depending on tuning and carburetion setup. It was a well-balanced engine, providing both refinement and enough performance to make the 235 an effective Grand Tourer. Most cars were equipped with the Cotal electromagnetic pre-selector gearbox, a signature feature of Delahaye models that offered smooth gear changes and ease of driving.

The Coupé body by Henri Chapron was among the most elegant interpretations of the 235. Chapron, who had long collaborated with Delahaye, brought a sense of classic proportion and restrained opulence to the model. The design typically featured flowing front fenders, a gently sloped rear deck, and a cabin trimmed with rich materials. The roofline of the coupé was graceful, with a low profile and panoramic visibility, and the interior was tailored to match, often including finely stitched leather seats, polished wood dashboards, and carefully integrated gauges.

Unlike earlier Delahayes, the 235 was offered as a semi-standardized model, with coachbuilders working on completed chassis rather than entirely bespoke designs. Still, each Chapron-bodied Coupé was finished by hand, and many were subtly individualized for their owners. While the lines had become more conservative compared to the flamboyant prewar bodies, they still retained a sense of old-world craftsmanship.

Production of the Delahaye 235 was extremely limited. Fewer than 85 examples were built in total, with only a small number receiving Chapron coupé bodies. These cars were expensive and exclusive, appealing to a narrow clientele during a time when the demand for large, hand-built French luxury cars was fading.

The Delahaye 235 MS Coupé Chapron thus stands as a beautiful but bittersweet swan song for both the marque and the era it represented. It is prized today not only for its rarity but for the elegance and integrity of its design, a final flourish from one of France’s most storied automotive manufacturers.