Delahaye 175

The Type 165, a large displacement V12 engined grand-touring car, elevated Delahaye's prestige to the pinnacle, but was a flash-in-the-pan that could not be sustained. It was to be replaced by the Type 175 that was needed quickly, to supersede the complex and impractical Type 165, of which only four were made. Both of the Figoni-bodied Type 165 roadsters exist (Mullin Motoring Museum; Club Delahaye; various magazine articles; Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance), but the earlier two Chapron cabriolets were bombed into oblivion during WW-2. (Club Delahaye Journal article).

The Type 175 was planned by director Weiffenbach, to be introduced at the October 1939 Paris Auto Salon, but that was prevented. Timely introduction was important, to sustain the momentum generated by the illustrious Type 165. The instrumental auto-show was where Delahaye traditionally wrote most its purchase orders, but the venue was unexpectedly cancelled without any advance notice, due to an obviously impending German invasion.

The prototype continued to evolve beyond its initial 1939 guise surreptitiously, behind the scenes, until March 1944, when it was deemed safe enough by senior management, to be presented to the shareholding directors for production approval. But, testing of the many previously untried and unproven mechanical features of the entirely new entity was not yet possible, due to circumstances. The introduction of the new 4.5-litre series had to await the postwar return of the Paris Auto Salon. That did not occur until early October 1946.

Progress was being made toward production in the interim. But the new model, that had been state-of-the-art modern, had it debuted in 1939, was less so this many years later. Yet, in 1946, when the optionally Type 175S equipped show-chassis was presented, it was one of the few new lines, and the most prominently displayed. Other automakers reintroduced their rehashed prewar products.

In mid 1939, the shareholders ended the V12 program and cancelled Type 165 production. They decided that both a far simpler, infinitely more practical 4.5-litre engine, of a type familiar to its workers, had to be created; in a modern, completely new, state-of-the-art chassis. That was deemed essential, and had to be cost effective, and able to be both efficiently and expediently built.

As with previous models, bodying the naked motorized-chassis was relegated to outside coachbuilders. The new three-model-line would supersede the Type 165, and ostensibly replace the Types 134, 135, 138 and 148. Those were all supposed to cease production, except the Delage D6-70 model, that would continue as it was before the war. But the more exotic, prestigious, more expensive Delage D8-120 was discontinued. Delahaye management and directors could not allow its large displacement Delage D8-120 model to compete against their new Types 175, 178 and 180.

The decision to perpetuate the 4.5-litre engine in some form, was made to compete against Talbot-Lago, Hotchkiss, Bugatti, and others in that low-volume, bespoke, luxury car market segment. Variations on a singular large displacement theme, would displace the disparate array of impractical dissimilar models made in minuscule volume.

From the authorized twelve sets of V12 engine parts, nine cars resulted, these being: four Type 145 sports-racers (numbers 48771; 48772; 48773 and 48775); one Type 155 grand-prix monoposto (number 48774, despite not being a Type 145 chassis); and, four Type 165 grand-touring cars on an updated Type 135 chassis. The V12, despite its brief 1938 glory, was an extravagance. Delahaye could not continue to subsidize what was an unjustifiable loss leader.

The Type 175 had a naturally aspirated, 4.5-litre, overhead-valve, inline six-cylinder engine. It was ostensibly a one-litre larger variation of the successful Type 135, but with seven rather than four main bearings, and a twelve instead of nine Port cylinder head. The chassis featured Dubonnet independent front suspension built under license; independent de Dion rear suspension; large, deeply finned drums with Lockheed hydraulic brakes; a four-speed semi-automatic Cotal transmission; left-hand drive for the first time by Delahaye; and eighteen inch wheels. The chassis, with its cockpit floor welded as a stressed structural member, on the bottom, rather than top of the chassis, had exceptional strength and torsional rigidity. (Club Delahaye members' Journal).

Developmental evolution of the new line was adversely impacted by the death of chief design-engineer Jean Francois in April 1944, from a terminal chest disorder. Delahaye had nobody sufficiently qualified to assume his pivotal role. His absence resulted in extended delays (Club Delahaye archive; DELAHAYE Le Grand Livre by Jacque Dorizon and co-authors), causing Delahaye to resort to trial-and-error experimentation, and there reintroduction of its old, outdated, Types 134, 135, 148, and its Delage D6-70, to generate urgently needed revenue. (Club Delahaye members' Journal, and archive).

Of the 51 cars built on the short 2.95-meter wheelbase Type 175 chassis, 12 cars reportedly exist, most being the optional 175S variant with three Solex 40-AiP carburetors, and chrome Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels. Those two were the only factory options offered, and were limited to the 175S; but exceptions were made. Of the 38 Type 178s, on the 3.15-meter wheelbase, six were recorded survivors until recently, when a Vanvooren bodied seventh was registered with Club Delahaye. Of the twenty five Survivors, the first Type 175 (815001) and last (815051) exist. Both are Type 175S examples. Similarly, the first Type 178 (820001), and the last (820038), are recorded Survivors. Of the eighteen Type 180 cars, two were built as armoured limousines for the president and vice-president of the French Communist Party, by Henri Chapron (825007 and 825008). Those two, and four others, are recorded Survivors (Club Delahaye Journal; Club Delahaye archive, and research by Club Delahaye president Jean-Paul Tissot).

Six pre-production chassis became known about by 1946, by involved workers; senior management and directors; and, a few others with inside knowledge. For specific identification during the sequential evolution and testing processes, five of the six were referred to by painted identity numbers: 90001; 91001; 91002; 92001, and 92002. A sixth was the distinctive Paris show-chassis that was unique unto itself, as a glitzy, show-finished, amalgam of approved production elements, and obsolete details. e (auto-historian Jean-Paul Tissot, Club Delahaye's president; photos in 'DELAHAYE Sport et Prestige' by Francois Jolly).

These six sequentially superseded the one-off experimental prototype. That unit was the only one built in absolute compliance with chief design-engineer Jean Francois' preliminary engineering data generated between his mandate in late 1938, and his untimely demise in April 1944. The six were not precisely replicated. Each had alterations made for improved manufacturing ease and enhanced profitability. The unique wartime entity that the directors approved, predated the six initial pre-production variants by two years. That time was consumed by experimentation and limited performance testing during 1945.

Charles Weiffenbach, the managing director of operations, and the individual who ran the company literally single-handedly since his promotion appointment, in 1906, personally devised the intentionally confusing reference number strategy, to obfuscate the identity of the six evolutionary forerunners; and, the original prototype preceding them. These seven early units would be surreptitiously liquidated, in early 1948, to recover some of the investment. 'Monsieur Charles' as he was affectionately known among his workers, never disclosed nor recorded his strategy. He took the secret of which was which; the identity of the prototype; and, the fate of the show-chassis, to his grave, in 1958. He died less than four years after he locked Delahaye's doors for the last time. The numbering strategy was uncovered in about 2012, through research conducted by Club Delahaye's president, Jean-Paul Tissot.

In desperation to salvage the company after the devastating 1953 fire, Weiffenbach tried to amalgamate with various French automakers, to no avail. He eventually orchestrated a Delahaye shareholder approved merger, as the minority partner, with Hotchkiss.

The existence of the prototype was determined through specifically identified, substantiated, and recorded, physical evidence presented by chassis number 820001: the first Type 178. There is no better proof than physical evidence.

The prototype that was long thought by Delahaye experts to be extinct, was unexpectedly discovered in 1975, lacking bodywork, halfway around the globe from Paris where it was built. It is the only one that was constructed without deviation from chief design-engineer Jean Francois' preliminary engineering drawings and specifications. During the creation of the Type 175, 178 and 180, the company's shareholders realized that a 4.5-litre-engined chassis was essential to meet the public's expectation, especially with Talbot-Lago being the prime competitor. The existing Delahaye V12 could not be cost-effectively made in small numbers, and the Type 135 based chassis was outdated.

The engineer responsible for the Type 175's conception and development did not survive World War II.

Types 175, 178, and 180 were under development prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. It had a one-litre larger displacement than the Type 135, four-wheel independent suspension for the first time by Delahaye and was built exclusively in left-hand drive.[1]

The postwar front design was created by in-house industrial designer Philippe Charbonneaux, who developed the distinctive Delahaye "face". His effort provided the design of the entire front with a narrower, elongated, heart-shape grille with horizontal bars, and low horizontal grilles on the sides.

Delahaye required its coachbuilders to use the new front, although the more well known coachbuilders, such as Figoni et Falaschi, Henri Chapron, Jacques Saoutchik, and Marcel Pourtout, were given artistic license, subject to the managing director's approval of their proposed designs.

Although production officially started in early 1948, there were six pre-production units in existence by 1946, that were known about to a select few factory-workers and those with inside knowledge of the company, one of those being Fernand Lacour, the owner of The Wilson Garage, who was a regular engine consultant, even before chief design-engineer Jean Francois' death in April 1944. The earliest six were referred to at the factory, for their continued development, as: 90001; 91001, 91002, 92001, 92002; and, the un-numbered 1946-1949 Paris Auto Salon show-chassis: exhibited in optional Type 175S guise.

One of the six was the Type 175/178/180 series prototype. It was eventually identified through research jointly conducted by Club Delahaye president Jean-Paul Tissot, in conjunction with auto-historians Brian Arthur Johnston, Andre Vaucourt, and Philippe Bavouzet, in 2014, as being 92002. Weiffenbach personally devised the intentionally convoluted and confusing reference numbering strategy to obscure the prototype's identity. It took over half a century of research to determine his strategy and arrive at conclusions about what happened to the early pre-production chassis. All six were sold off after having been formally stamped with production build numbers in early 1948, to be homologation tested, certified, registered, and licensed as coach-built motorcars.

After World War II, Delahaye created a new chassis with four-wheel independent suspension, hydraulic brakes; a semi-automatic transmission; and, left-hand-drive for the first time by the company. The second-generation large displacement chassis series was evidently destined for the export market, ostensibly in North America. But Delahaye had not established a real presence in the United States and/or Canada, with its francophone province of Quebec. Montreal could have been a more likely prospect than New York.

Austrian-born Max Hoffman, of half-Jewish parentage, abandoned Europe and sailed to America in 1939 to avoid potential Nazi persecution in France. After establishing himself as a producer of affordable costume jewelry in America, Hoffman opened his downtown New York City imported luxury auto emporium in 1947.

Delahaye's new 4.5-litre engine was an overhead-valve, inline, six-cylinder, similar to the preceding Type 135, but a litre larger in displacement, and internally improved, with seven main bearings, versus four, and the cylinder-head had six intakes, and six exhaust ports, twelve in all, versus nine in the Type 135 (there were two Type 135S factory racing-engines with special twelve port heads). Unlike the cast-iron block and head of previous models, the 4.5-liter engine had a cast aluminum block under its cast-iron head, separated by an asbestos and copper head-gasket. The compression ratio was 6.5:1, but was subtly increased in the Type 175S that had three Solex 40AiP carburetors, and chrome Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels on splined hubs, instead of five-bolt, stamped steel wheels. Those standard wheels were seen on most Delahayes, as well as Citroën, Peugeot, Talbot, and others as there were few wheel manufacturers at the time.

Rudge invented the wire-spoked wheel and splined hub. Borrani, in Italy, licensed Rudge's patent and produced clones in steel, as well as sports-oriented versions with polished aluminum rims and chromed steel hubs, as seen on prewar Maseratis and postwar Ferraris.

By 1946, those familiar with the workings of Delahaye knew of the six pre-production chassis-units, which included the developmental experiment that was presented to the shareholding directors in March 1944 personally by Weiffenbach, in the unavoidable absence of chief design-engineer Jean Francois, for production approval. The prototypical chassis remained unidentified until late 1945, when it was referred to as 92002, as was necessary when the second and third pre-production units (reference numbers 90001 and 91001) were being sequentially fabricated in late 1945, to be assembled in early 1946. The 1946–49 Paris Auto Salon Type 175S show-chassis was the fourth unit built. The show-chassis was not an operational example, as it was not fully completed prior to being shown; there was no fuel-line, nor a battery and cables, as evidenced by published period photographs when it was on display.

Five of the initial six units were reference numbered, and not stamped. Factory-workers needed identification to differentiate one from another for continuing modifications, production-oriented change orders, and testing. There were reference numbers hand-painted on the left front frame-rails (Club Delahaye president Jean-Paul Tissot) these being: 90001; 91001; 91002; 92001 and 92002. The glitzy finished show-chassis had no need of a reference number. It was the fourth of the six, and was a strange amalgamation of approved production changes, blended with Jean Francois' unproven original details. The numerical sequence was Weiffenbach's strategy to thoroughly obfuscate the prototype's identity so that it could be surreptitiously liquidated; his objective was to recover the new chassis-series' development costs.

The new chassis-series introduced the semi-monocoque concept for the first time. The chassis was completely different from the foregoing Type 135 in dimensions, proportions, and structural design. The sole commonality was the stressed-steel floor-pan, which, in the new chassis, was dramatically larger, with parallel sides instead of the Type 135'frame rails that tapered progressively narrower from the aft cockpit crossmember forward.

The Type 135 had an independent front suspension, but it was a proprietary system that was shared with Delage and Talbot-Lago. The new 4.5-liter chassis had a previously untried, independent front suspension system, that was totally unfamiliar to Delahaye. This was the recently invented Dubonnet system, licensed to Delahaye. It replaced the proprietary system Delahaye employed in the Types 135, 145, 148L, 155, and 165, as well as the Delage D6 and D8 models that were also built by Delahaye at that time (Delahaye acquired the assets of the bankrupt Delage in 1935). The Dubonnet system had seen previous use prior to the 135, having been licensed by General Motors in 1933, as well as by Alfa-Romeo, Simca, and Vauxhall. After WW2, only Vauxhall and Delahaye retained the Dubonnet system. Others had moved on to the unequal-length A-arm approach, pioneered by Cadillac's senior engineer, Maurice Olly, and licensed to Rolls Royce for use in their models in 1935

The Dubonnet independent front suspension system proved to be problematic, unless fastidiously serviced and rigorously maintained. Oil-seal leaks caused component seizures leading to internal parts failures. Front suspension collapses occurred and accident damage resulted. It was this latter that doomed the new chassis series to abject failure, damaging Delahaye's revered reputation for its cars respected as being "Solide comme un Delahaye".

The weight of the custom coachwork on these already heavy chassis adversely affected the acceleration and speed of these cars. It was evident that coachbuilders employing antiquated traditional building methods and materials were oblivious to excess weight. In France, all but Henri Chapron and Olivier Lecanu-Deschamp, who were familiar with working in aluminum, were building their custom bodies with hand-hammered steel panels mechanically fastened over hardwood body support structures. They were inordinately heavy, and contributed to the mechanical failures experienced by an estimated dozen or so, early purchasers. Broken suspension components resulted in Delahaye being obliged to buy back the offending coachbuilt luxury cars, at a dramatic cost to the company, as was required to avoid litigation.

The Type 175S racing-engines Delahaye developed for Charles Pozzi, and French champion driver Eugene Chabaud reportedly had a 9.1:1 compression ratio, and with the three Stromberg dual-choke carburetors, delivered slightly in excess of 220 bhp, parallel that of three of the four Type 145 cars (48772, 48773, and 48775). Only the more highly tuned 48771 had a recorded 244.8 BHP.

The Type 175S had just two factory options: Rudge wire-spoked wheels; and three Solex 40AiP down-draft carburetors. The coachbuilders addressed everything else a customer desired and specified.

The new 4.5-litre engine carried the "183" casting-code and was made in two visually distinct forms. The initial engines were stamped: Type 1AL-183, as found in all six pre-production units known about by 1946; and, the two Type 175S racing-engines that Delahaye loaned to Charles Pozzi and his Ecurie Lutetia co-owning team-mate, Eugene Chabaud. Three Type 175S racing-engined competition coupes were built for Jean Trevou (815042, 815050 and 815051).

Most production motors were stamped Type 2AL-183 (Auto-historians Andre Vaucourt, and jean-Paul Tissot). These came out of the same, but revised, casting-mold number "183". Modifications had been made for production efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and alleged internal reinforcement made to the crankcase. The latter allegation has not been substantiated and may be an assumption. Cost-effectiveness was the more probable rationale, especially since a number of examples of the "early-series" Type 1AL-183 engines are found throughout the production run, from beginning to end.

After having spent much of World War II building railroad rolling stock parts (for freight-train cars) for the German occupiers, Delahaye was included in deputy director General Paul-Marie Pons' 1945 plan Pons for French industry and engineering, which was a five-year program to rebuild the French industry, and a source for needed incoming capital for French companies. The plan gave Delahaye the position of building sports and luxury cars for the export market to generate foreign currency for France's struggling postwar economy. Over 80 percent of the company's automobile chassis were exported to France's colonies, including those in Africa and Asia. In consideration of the expense of continuing the limited production of the complicated and expensive V-12, with its exotic alloys, as was used in the Type 145 sports-racers, the solitary Type 155 monoposto (all five racecars were made exclusively for Lucy O'Reilly Schell for her team Écurie Bleue), as well as in the four Type 165 grand-touring cars, V12 production ended in 1938, with twelve sets of engine parts having been made.

The V-12 was replaced by a new, much less complex, inline, overhead-valve, six-cylinder engine of the same 4.5-liter displacement displacement.[2] The Type 175 debuted as a show-chassis with partial front coachwork, submitted by prominent coachbuilders Letourneur and Marchand to demonstrate Delahaye's new postwar "face". It was one of a few new machines to debut at the first postwar Paris Auto Salon of October 1946. It garnered considerable attention, particularly from the coachbuilders, and was Delahaye's first model produced exclusively in left-hand drive.[3]

The chassis was not fully developed by October 1946, nor was it adequately tested before being put into production in late November 1947. Problems with the Dubonnet front suspension became apparent. The same unchanged show-chassis reappeared on Delahaye's stand in 1947,1948, and 1949, with progressively more but still limited front coachwork. The extended delay into early 1948, instead of an early 1946 start-up, was due to Francois' unanticipated death in April 1944, and there was nobody qualified at Delahaye to take his place.[4]

Delahaye 178 Drophead Coupé (1949), once owned by Elton John.

1947 Delahaye 175S competition version

The company's production build number list verified that 51 Type 175 chassis were built (815001 to 815051 inclusive). That most probably included the Paris Type 175S Show-chassis, that was believed to have been cycled back into production, after the October 1949 autoshow. It likely went into the tail-end of Type 175S production. Nobody knows with certainty, and the show-chassis never appeared again, in recognizable form, in whole or in part.[1][5] with no differentiation explaining which of these were Type 175 or optional 175S chassis. While not a large success in the marketplace, a Type 175S won the 1951 Monte Carlo Rally,[6] the same car (815042) finished twelfth in the Carrera Panamericana, while a second Motto-bodied 175S coupe (815051) was disqualified on a technicality.(DELAHAYE Sport et Prestige by Francois Jolly)[7] The optional 175S came with three carburettors and like the 175, had a short 2.95-metre wheelbase; two longer wheelbased versions, Types 178 and 180, with single carburetors and 140 HP were also built: The Production Build List confirms there were 38 of the 3.15-metre wheelbase Type 178 chassis built; and, 18 of the 3.35-meter wheelbase Type 180 chassis [2] and 180 (333.5 cm) were produced, mainly for heads of state, dignitaries, and the like. Two Henri Chapron-bodied, fully armoured Type 180 limousines were built for the leaders of the French Communist Party in 1948.[1] A prototype "Delage D180" was also developed on this basis, but never entered production, as Delahaye focused its Delage production on the D6-70 model.[7] Production of three-chassis series, including the prototype, and the show-chassis, was 107 total units. (substantiated by Club Delahaye president Jean-Paul Tissot, from archived company records) [7]

Diana Dors' flamboyant 175S Roadster

1948 Delahaye 180 (long wheelbase)

The rear-wheel drive Type 175, 178 and 180 chassis is considerably more sophisticated than its Type 135 predecessor, the front suspension being independent with pivoting horizontal cylinders that contained a powerful coil-spring and hydraulic shock absorber in an oil-bath Dubonnet. The rear was by de Dion, with semi-elliptical springs. Brakes were hydraulic type made by Lockheed. The brake-drums were of deeply finned cast-iron, actuated by dual master cylinders with a balance-bar.[7]

Delahaye's reputation took a hit in consequence. The custom bodies of these cars were often much too heavy for what the chassis had originally been engineered for. In dry conditions, they were fast cars, but wet-weather handling was unpredictable.[2] Another culprit was inferior quality of high-tensile-strength steel in the early postwar era. The engineer's specified grade was depleted by the war, and what little could be acquired afterward came through the French government, which had not prioritized luxury carmakers. The Types 175, 178 and 180 ceased production in 1951. Although Delahaye managed to introduce the Type 235 in 1951, it was only an updated variation of the Type 135. The company closed down on December 31, 1954.[8] Delahaye was absorbed by Hotchkiss in 1953, which was in turn bought by Brandt.[2]

• Hull, Peter. Delahaye: Famous on Road and Race Track, in Ward, Ian. World of Automobiles, Volume 5, pp. 521–524. London: Orbis, 1974.