Regular French registration papers

Unique one-off Delahaye 235 cabriolet built by Antem
1952 Paris Motor Show car
Sophisticated, elegant styling
One of the last cars to bear witness to to French luxury car-making

The manufacturer Delahaye wished to offer its customers a successor to the legendary type 135 which it built from 1935 until the factory closed in 1954. At the Paris Motor Show in 1951, it therefore unveiled the type 235, which was still powered by a 6-cylinder 3.5-litre engine, fed by three carburettors, but which now developed 152 bhp and offered superior performance. The front suspension was now fitted with Messier-type dual-action shock absorbers. This new GT model – destined to be the last – had a claimed top speed of 180 kph (112 mph).

The new model had new styling and it was the gifted designer Philippe Charbonneaux who carried out a general study for the body of the type 235; the prototype was built very quickly under his direction by the coachbuilder Motto in Turin on the first chassis, number 818000. From a purely mechanical standpoint, improvements were made by the leading specialist Fernand Lacour, a Delahaye and Delage concessionaire and owner of the Wilson garage in Levallois-Perret. Although it was listed by the works as early as the Paris Motor Show in 1951, production of the new model unfortunately remained very limited; the particularly high list price and stiff competition from foreign manufacturers restricted sales of this final model to leave the rue du Banquier to just 85 cars.

Several coachbuilders offered different versions: a ‘coach’, coupé, roadster or cabriolet. Among these coachbuilders, the most prolific was Chapron, followed by Antem and then Letourneur & Marchand, Figoni & Falaschi, Faget-Varnet, Saoutchik and Motto; one car was bodied by the Swiss firm Beutler, while another started out at Chapron and was then re-bodied by Barou in the Ardèche. If we refer to Charbonneaux’s initial proposal, executed first by Motto in Turin, the coachbuilders Letourneur & Marchand and Antem would stay closest to the stylist’s original design over the course of their work on the type 235. Of the 85 type 235 models built, Antem – whose coachworks were based in Courbevoie – produced just 14 cars, comprising 13 ‘coach’ models and above all a single, one-off cabriolet on chassis number 818022, the car which is offered for sale today.

This unique cabriolet was presented at the same time as a ‘coach’ model on Antem’s stand at the Paris Motor Show in October 1952, held under the glass canopy of the Grand Palais. Finished in white, with a blue leather interior, the side panels, wheel arches and rear styling of the cabriolet were specific to this model, with the taillights in particular extending the ridge running along the wings. After the Show, the car was photographed outdoors in front of the entrance to the Parc de Bagatelle; additional reflectors can be seen below the taillights, and the car already had the Paris registration 6772 BN 75.

The remarkable, modern styling of this cabriolet soon won over its first owner, as the car was registered on 6 November 1952 in the name of Ulmer & Cie at 67 boulevard de Bessières in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. Initially set up in 1934 and then formally established in 1938, the company still exists today as Ulmer Aéronautique at Villetaneuse, just outside Paris. Historically, it produced equipment specifically for use in aviation and notably lighting and signalling equipment for airports and aircraft; nowadays, it is the worldwide leader in oxygen masks for fighter pilots.

On 21 March 1957, still with the same Paris registration number, the car was sold on to Victor Francen at 5 avenue Foch in the 16th arrondissement of the city. A Belgian actor, whose real name was Victor Franssen (1888–1977), he was a Belgian actor who enjoyed a career on stage and then in the cinema in France and the USA, appearing in numerous films which brought him a certain fame in the 1930s and ‘40s.
On 21 June 1963, and still with the same Paris registration number, the car changed owners once more, this time being acquired by Lucienne Sergent, a lawyer who lived at 3 rue Thimonnier in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Lucienne Digner-Sergent was a former member of the French Resistance, a lawyer for the National Liberation Front in Algeria and an activist in the French Socialist Party (PSU).

Finally, this unique cabriolet found its way back to its illustrious creator, the designer Philippe Charbonneaux, who displayed it in his car museum in Reims alongside two other 235s, the prototype ‘coach’ built by Motto (818000) and a second ‘coach’ with a body by Letourneur & Marchand (818002). At the time, the car was finished in light green and was still well preserved. The original blue leather was badly damaged but the car was complete and still had the whitewall tyres fitted when it was first presented in 1952, the only difference being that the wire wheels were painted rather than chromed as they had been in period. The car was then registered in the name of his son on 23 October 1985, before joining his daughter’s collection in 2012.

Over the past three years, the cabriolet has undergone a complete restoration carried out with no expense spared in a highly renowned workshop, restoring it to its original glory and prestige from 1952. The body was stripped down to bare metal and repainted in its original shade. With a smooth, even finish, it brings out the elegance of the car’s lines, whether the hood is up or down. The panels are perfectly aligned and the chromework in superb condition. The interior is just as good, having been completely reupholstered in navy blue leather to the original specification with matching carpets and a navy blue alpaca hood. All the dashboard instruments are in place and have been meticulously restored, as too has the magnificent steering wheel specially produced for the Paris Motor Show in 1952 and which can be seen in photographs from the time.

It should go without saying that the mechanical components have been thoroughly overhauled. The engine (818022), Cotal type MK 38 gearbox (27666), rear axle, suspension and brakes have been serviced and all necessary parts replaced. The wiring loom has been restored to as-new condition, together with the starter, dynamo, water and oil radiators and, of course, the 6-6.5/17 tyres.

Behind the wheel, the car is extremely easy to drive, despite its imposing size, and is perfectly balanced. The steering is precise, offering good feedback but without excessive play or vibration. The 6-cylinder engine revs keenly and driving at a brisk pace presents no difficulty, since the engine develops so much power and operates over such a wide rev range. The brilliant Cotal electromagnetic gearbox plays a big part in this! All in all, it is a car which is elegant, prestigious, fast and exclusive.

The rarity of the model, the unique character of this Antem cabriolet version and the high standard of its finish make it a particularly attractive example for an enthusiastic collector.

Jean-Paul Tissot for Aguttes