1949 Delahaye 135MS Coupé
Retractable wheel spats operated by an interior lever distinguished the coachwork, facilitating tire changes without removing the covers entirely.
Carrosserie Ghia Aigle (the Swiss offshoot established in 1948 by Dr. Pierre‑Paul Filippi under license from Carrozzeria Ghia of Turin) bodied this coupé in a style associated with Mario Boano, who owned Turin-based Carrozzeria Ghia at the time.
The MS configuration represented the ultimate 135 variant, with a 3.6-liter inline six-cylinder engine equipped with triple carburetors producing between 120 and 160 horsepower depending on tune. Independent front suspension with transverse leaf spring and a live rear axle completed the chassis specification.
Delahaye maintained no in-house coachworks, relying instead on independent carrossiers who created their most distinctive designs on the Type 135 chassis.
The Cotal electromagnetic preselector gearbox offered four forward speeds and a reverse, controlled by a column-mounted selector and utilizing electromagnetic clutches rather than conventional synchromesh.
Shifts were completed when the driver engaged the clutch pedal, eliminating the need for manual gear engagement through an H-pattern.
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