Delahaye Le Grand Livre

Delahaye – Le Grand Livre is primarily the story of a company and the people who founded and shaped it, by their personality and their choices. Starting with the formation of Delahaye in 1895-1896 with the type 1, the book continues the journey through the various eras of the firm history, including chapters on the production of commercial vehicles and fire engines. Using new archive material, a fresh look at one of France’s finest manufactures can be viewed. How it managed to sell exclusive luxury cars, racing machines, trucks and fire vehicles, all with the same mechanical base, was a great achievement. It was perhaps the 135 model range which first appeared in 1935, clothed by such coachbuilders as Figoni & Falaschi, Chapron, Letourneur and Marchand, Labourdette, Guillore, and Franay, that helped to radically transform the image of the firm and now these examples are highly prized by collectors. Of course Delahaye in competition does not go without mention, with a full chapter on this topic following the exploits of the 135 special, in events such as the Monte Carlo Rally and Le Mans. The twelve cylinder models 145, 155 and 165 receive good coverage and the final chapter gives a model by model guide, listing specification details and produced numbers. Well illustrated and with a colour section which reproduces the beautiful artwork by Rene Vincent for the 1912 catalogue, along with a selection of advertising artwork, and recent images of a variety of models, this publication offers very good reference to anyone interested in the marque.