This Figoni Delahaye perfectly captures the style and elegance of Art Deco coachbuilding

Before partnering with Falaschi in late 1935, Figoni built four Delahayes and this stunning example is the last remaining car and now up for auction with Worldwide Auctioneers in Arizona this January.

The coachbuilding masterpieces created under the Figoni et Falaschi name are well documented, some of the most highly desirable cars to grace our planet. Figoni’s vision pared with Falaschi’s business acumen was to be the perfect partnership. The business was established in 1935 and at their public auto show premiere in Paris this important Delahaye was one of the cars to demonstrate the new partnership. This January 26th the car will be auctioned by Worldwide Auctioneers at their Scottsdale sale.

#566 was one of only four built by Figoni in 1935 and is the only known survivor from that year. This is the last known Delahaye to be built solely by Figoni before partnering with Falaschi and therefore represents a very important piece of motoring history as well as being effortlessly beautiful.

This car is the result of a five-year research and restoration effort by Sally Perkins that included many of the greatest French authorities on the Delahaye marque. The car is now certified by Club Delahaye of France; As depicted in the Delahaye Figoni book by Jean-Paul Tissot.

Mrs. Perkins acquired ‘Dela’ over 20 years ago. Determined to learn anything and everything about this car, over the course of five years, Mrs. Perkins’ passion project attracted those who represent the deepest knowledge of this splendid, French marque. It would be collector, Roger Tainguy, who would inevitably introduce Sally to the car's future restoration specialist, Jean-Luc Bonnefoy.

It wasn’t until Monsieur Bonnefoy began disassembling the car for its nut-and-bolt restoration that a remarkable discovery was revealed. Long hidden inside the driver’s door panel was the original trunk key, which was stamped with, “566 - Figoni - 14 Rue le Moine.” The key fitted into the trunk and the identity of the missing body 566 was confirmed with Claude Figoni’s meticulously kept records. Once completed the car was presented at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours where judges commended the car for its accuracy and perfection.

Any pre-war Delahaye is a remarkable survivor considering the history that was soon to follow their production. France was a country where the world’s greatest winemakers were building false walls, swapping Grand Cru labels with Village, and luxury automobiles were taken apart and hidden piece by piece. This car is a miracle survivor in one of the world’s toughest periods.