1938 Delahaye 135 MS Coupe
Figoni et Falaschi’s Goutte d’Eau (teardrop) streamliners emerged in the mid-1930s and quickly set new benchmarks for French coachbuilt design. Executed as both coupes and cabriolets on Delahaye and Talbot-Lago chassis, these dramatic, flowing bodies turned their manufacturers’ displays at the Paris Salon into must-see attractions.
Produced in limited numbers, the teardrop cars became instant icons of prewar automotive design and remain among the most celebrated coachbuilt automobiles today.
The Delahaye Type 135 chassis debuted at the 1935 Paris Salon to widespread acclaim. In its most sporting MS specification, the overhead-valve inline six-cylinder engine displaced 3,557 cc and, depending on tune, produced up to about 160 horsepower.
Power was typically delivered through a Cotal electro-magnetic preselector four-speed gearbox, a sophisticated feature for the era. Contemporary road tests praised the 135 MS for its combination of performance, handling, and refinement, with period publications highlighting its responsive controls and exceptional road manners.
Independent front suspension used a transverse leaf spring, while the live rear axle was located by quarter-elliptic springs. Braking was handled by large Bendix drum brakes with mechanical actuation at all four wheels.
Figoni et Falaschi clothed the chassis in flowing aluminum coachwork, most often on the longer wheelbase configuration of approximately 116 inches, which provided elegant proportions and allowed the dramatic teardrop form to fully develop.
Source
