Description
The Delahaye 32 Coupé Chauffeur 2.9 was an elegant and refined automobile produced in the mid-1920s, representative of Delahaye’s pre-war luxury and chauffeur-driven vehicle offerings. It combined smooth performance with stately design, appealing to affluent clientele who valued both comfort and discretion.
The designation “32” referred to the model type within the Delahaye lineup, while “2.9” indicated the approximate engine displacement of 2.9 litres. This straight-four engine was water-cooled and featured side valves, producing a modest but smooth power output in the range of 45 to 55 horsepower. The car’s drivetrain included a 4-speed manual transmission with a right-hand gear lever and a robust rear-wheel-drive layout. This provided reliable performance and made it well-suited for both city driving and longer journeys.
The Coupé Chauffeur body style was a common sight among luxury vehicles of the 1920s and early 1930s. It was characterized by an enclosed passenger cabin and an open or semi-enclosed front compartment for the driver. This arrangement reflected the social hierarchy of the time, where owners typically rode in the back while being driven by a uniformed chauffeur.
The passenger compartment was often upholstered in fine cloth or leather, with features such as thick carpets, folding occasional seats, interior lighting, and even heating options. Privacy features included a glass partition between the driver and passengers, along with curtains or blinds on the rear windows. The exterior bodywork, often created by independent coachbuilders, showed off clean lines, curved fenders, and a sweeping rear section with either a fixed roof or a small rear landaulet-style folding section.
Suspension was provided by semi-elliptic leaf springs and solid axles at both ends, offering reasonable ride quality for the time. The braking system usually included mechanical drum brakes on the rear wheels, with some later examples possibly featuring four-wheel braking systems depending on the coachbuilder’s specification and production year.
The Delahaye 32 Coupé Chauffeur 2.9 was typically custom-bodied, with chassis delivered to respected French coachbuilders such as Letourneur et Marchand, Labourdette, or Million-Guiet. Each car would have subtle differences depending on the client’s preferences, but all shared the dignified, reserved styling that defined the chauffeur-driven vehicles of the era.
Though the Type 32 was eventually overshadowed by more powerful and luxurious Delahaye models in the 1930s, it played an important role in establishing the brand’s reputation for elegance, craftsmanship, and engineering excellence. Surviving examples of the Delahaye 32 Coupé Chauffeur 2.9 are extremely rare today, but those that remain are prized for their early luxury features and the insight they provide into the lifestyle of France’s interwar elite.