Description
The Delahaye 32 was an early model from the French manufacturer Delahaye, introduced in the 1910s and positioned during a time when the automobile was transitioning from an experimental machine to a more standardized and practical mode of transport. Though relatively obscure compared to the company’s more famous later models, the Type 32 holds historical interest as part of Delahaye’s efforts to produce dependable cars for a growing middle-class clientele.
Mechanically, the Delahaye 32 featured a four-cylinder engine, likely around 2.1 to 2.6 litres in displacement. It used a side-valve layout and ran on petrol, producing modest horsepower—estimated in the 20 to 30 hp range. This was sufficient to propel the car to top speeds of around 60 km/h (approximately 37 mph), quite reasonable for its time and intended usage.
The engine was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. Gear selection was through a floor-mounted lever, and drive was delivered to the rear wheels by a shaft, which was becoming more common as a cleaner and more efficient replacement for chain drives. Delahaye’s mechanical components were already known for their durability, and the Type 32 helped build the brand’s reputation for reliability.
The chassis was a conventional ladder frame constructed from pressed steel, providing a robust base for a variety of body styles. The most common configuration for the Type 32 was the open four-seat “Torpedo” style, although other versions such as the Landaulet and Phaeton may have been available depending on the coachbuilder.
Suspension was handled by semi-elliptical leaf springs on both axles, and braking was via mechanically operated drums, likely on the rear wheels only. While simple, this system was typical for the era and effective enough for the modest speeds involved.
Styling was restrained and functional. The car featured large, upright radiators, spoked wheels, and minimal body overhangs. Headlamps were usually acetylene-powered on earlier examples, with electric lighting systems appearing later as technology advanced. Coachwork was generally provided by small-scale French coachbuilders, and finishing varied from utilitarian to moderately elegant, depending on customer specifications.
The Delahaye 32 was not a car for the elite, but rather one aimed at the professional class—doctors, merchants, and well-to-do artisans—who wanted personal transportation without the extravagance or mechanical complexity of high-end marques. Its robustness and mechanical simplicity made it well-suited for the rougher roads of the 1910s and early 1920s, and it served as a stepping stone toward more refined and luxurious models that Delahaye would develop in the decades that followed.
Today, the Type 32 is a rarity, and very few examples are known to survive. Those that do are valued for their early position in the Delahaye lineage and for representing the dependable, workmanlike nature of early 20th-century French motoring. They are most often seen in vintage car museums or in the hands of collectors with a specific interest in pre-war French marques.