A barn-find Delahaye has been consigned to the Worldwide Auburn Labor Day Auction, scheduled for September 2-4, 2011 at the Worldwide Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana.
Restorer and Chrysler enthusiast, Jeff Carter and his wife Lisa, on an ongoing hunt for early Chryslers, made the ultimate discovery in a Washington barn — a 1948 Delahaye 135M Chapron DHC. Awakened from a 35-year slumber, complete with vintage volcanic ash from the 1982 Mount St. Helen’s eruption, the Delahaye began life as a Paris show car bearing coachwork by master craftsman Henri Chapron. It retains complete originality, with just a handful of owners from new, and remarkably still runs and drives. It will be offered without reserve at the Worldwide Auburn sale, going home to the highest bidder on the evening of Saturday, September 3, 2011.
Since its discovery earlier this year, the car’s history has been extensively researched. Henri Chapron’s daughter, Noelle, has revealed original factory records indicating that it was displayed at the Salon d’Automobile in Paris in 1949 on the Chapron stand, confirmed again by the founding President of Club Delahaye, himself a Delahaye salesman after World War II. Subsequently sold to a French gentleman living in Meknes, Morocco, the car still bears its original Moroccan license plate. In 1958, an American Air Force pilot traded his 1955 Lincoln Convertible for the Delahaye in Morocco, later shipping it to New Orleans, and then driving it through California up to Spokane, WA, before eventually trading it in to Empire Lincoln Mercury for a brand new 1964 Lincoln convertible. The next owner was a jeweler who kept it for a few years and then traded it to Don Rohrer’s Select Cars for a 1959 Cadillac Coupe. In 1966, the car was sold to the owner of the farm in whose barn it was discovered in 2011, having been moved there in 1976 with just 61,397 miles showing on the odometer.
“This is a remarkable barn find that has not only survived with completely original panels, chassis, paint and interior, but also runs and drives,” said Rod Egan, Worldwide Auctioneers’ Principal & Chief Auctioneer. “Whether it’s fortunate new owner chooses to simply maintain the mechanicals and enjoy it untouched, or completely restore it, this wonderful motorcar is sure to be much sought after by the serious collector.”
The Auburn Auction is scheduled for September 2-4, 2011, at the Worldwide Auction Park in Auburn, Indiana. The More Great Cars segment of the sale runs from September 2nd- 4th from 10am daily, with Saturday evening’s Main Event on September 3rd at 6pm.
For more information, visit WWGauctions.com or call +1.260.925.6789.
[Source: Worldwide Auctioneers]
What is the aircraft hanging in the rafters?