<< Prev Page 2 of 2 One of the reasons why the Schells had managed to convince Delahaye to develop the new 135 S competition car was that they not only ordered six cars but had also convinced friends to order a further six examples. In addition to these, two examples were built for Delahaye's own works team. It is believed that no more than 16 Delahaye 135 competition cars were eventually constructed. Thanks to their removable cycle fenders and their remarkably durability, they could be used in a wide variety of events, ranging from Grands Prix and road rallies, and for many years.
The Delahaye 135 S made its competition debut at the 1936 Rally Monte Carlo and fittingly, the very first car was driven by Laury and Lucy Schell themselves to second overall. It was a promising start of what would become a remarkably successful career. A first major victory was scored in May of 1936 in the Marseilles Grand Prix by 'Michel Paris'. An all-out assault on Le Mans was planned but sadly the race was cancelled that year. Other victories scored in the 135's debut season were in the Rallye Feminin Paris Saint-Raphael, the Rallye Paris - Nice and the Grand Prix de Algiers.
The 1937 season started off even better with an outright victory in the Rally Monte Carlo. Further victories were scored at Donington and also on the Cote de la Turbie hillclimb. At Le Mans, however, Delahayes placed second and third. For 1938, Delahaye switched their attention to the V12-engined Type 145 but the Type 135 continued to be raced. Thanks to their exceptional durability, they persevered at Le Mans, where the more complicated 145s failed, to score a one-two victory for Delahaye with the privately entered winning 135 driven by Eugene Chamboud and Jean Trémoulet.
With no new competition cars available immediately after the War, the Delahaye 135s continued to be raced for many more seasons. Due to their long careers, very few examples, if any, have survived in their original condition and some were even re-bodied several times. In more recent years, several standard 135s have been converted to competition specification, although none of these feature the lightweight frames of the originals. It is believed that only seven of these genuine 135 Compétition Spéciales have survived. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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One of the reasons why the Schells had managed to convince Delahaye to develop the new 135 S competition car was that they not only ordered six cars but had also convinced friends to order a further six examples. In addition to these, two examples were built for Delahaye's own works team. It is believed that no more than 16 Delahaye 135 competition cars were eventually constructed. Thanks to their removable cycle fenders and their remarkably durability, they could be used in a wide variety of events, ranging from Grands Prix and road rallies, and for many years.