Set to cross the block at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction on August 13, this extraordinary 1937 Delahaye 145 Cabriolet by Franay is expected to command between $4.5 million and $6 million, reflecting its status as one of the most historically significant French automobiles ever created.
Built on one of only five Delahaye 145 V12 competition chassis, this remarkable automobile is widely believed to be the very car that secured the famed Prix du Million in 1937. The French government established the challenge to encourage domestic manufacturers to surpass the dominant German racing teams of Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union, whose technologically advanced “Silver Arrows” had become symbols of engineering supremacy.
Piloted by legendary driver René Dreyfus, the Delahaye claimed the coveted prize before continuing its success with victories at the 1938 Grand Prix of Pau and Grand Prix of Cork, proving that balanced chassis dynamics and agility could outperform sheer horsepower on demanding street circuits. Following its racing career, the chassis was preserved through World War II before undergoing a dramatic transformation in 1946.
Celebrated French coachbuilder Marius Franay commissioned an extraordinary cabriolet body featuring sweeping fenders, deeply recessed headlamps, and elegant chrome detailing, creating what many regard as his finest automotive design. The completed car debuted at the 1946 Paris Motor Show before embarking on a fascinating ownership history that included museums, renowned collectors, and extensive historical research confirming its exceptional provenance.
During the stewardship of collector Sam Mann, the Delahaye underwent a painstaking restoration that reunited the original Franay coachwork with its racing chassis. Completed between 2013 and 2015, the project incorporated meticulous historical documentation to recreate authentic finishes, mechanical details, and the original Electric Blue exterior paired with pale grey leather upholstery. The restored masterpiece earned First in Class and a Best of Show nomination at the 2015 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance before capturing the Rolex Circle of Champions Best of Show award at The Quail in 2024.
With its unparalleled blend of competition pedigree, wartime significance, concours-winning restoration, and exquisite French craftsmanship, this Delahaye 145 Cabriolet by Franay stands among the most important surviving pre-war automobiles, embodying both a landmark achievement in motorsport history and one of the finest expressions of automotive artistry ever created.
Source: RM Sotheby’s
