Delahaye 135ms Coupé Pourtout

Aerodynamic coupe by coachbuilder Pourtout based on a sporty Delahaye 135MS. This particular car is on display at the 1946 Paris Motor Show.

Aerodynamic coupe by coachbuilder Pourtout based on a sporty Delahaye 135MS. This specific car is on display at the 1946 Paris Motor Show. The streamlined shape is inspired by the prewar designs of Georges Paulin, who worked for Marcel Pourtout. Paulin, originally a dentist, created many remarkable designs, including the 1934 Peugeot Eclipse with a retractable steel convertible roof, a construction for which he held the patent. In 1940 he joined the British secret service to fight the Nazi regime, but he was arrested and executed in 1942. The Delahaye 135MS (Modifie Speciale) was introduced in 1938 as the top version of the three year older 135. The chassis, which is the same as that of Delahaye's successful Le Mans racers, cost 585,000 francs. The 135MS has a 3.5 liter six cylinder engine producing 125 hp with three carburetors and can reach a top speed of 160 km/h. Many major coachbuilders, such as Saoutchik, Chapron, Letourneur et Marchand and Pourtout, created the most magnificent designs on the 135MS chassis at that time.