It will be among 70 other extraordinary cars at the prestigious event.
The world's finest automobiles are en route to the UK's Concourse of Elegance. Inaugurated in 2012, this year's show will be headlined by the 1938 Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupe as part of a fleet of 70 extraordinary cars. Regarded as one of the masterpieces of French engineering from the late 1930s, the Type 145 is extremely rare, with only four examples produced. Last month it won the Class B category for Grand Vitesse: Pre-war Weekend Racers at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy.
If the Delahaye Type 145 looks familiar, that's because it's akin to the design of the Type 57SC Atlantic, the holy grail of Bugattis and the inspiration behind the Chiron-based, $18-million La Voiture Noire.
The Type 145 is under the care of Mullin Motor Museum which has been displaying the rare coupe at major concours events globally, winning the “Best in Class” award in the European Classic Closed car category at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance back in 2019.
Beyond its historical value, the Type 145 V12 was actually built for speed and endurance – an integral part of Lucy Schell's Ecurie Bleue racing team.
Schell ordered four units from Delahaye in 1937 to be used as her team's racecar in the French government's automotive engineering challenge, the Million Franc Prize. The Ecurie Bleue racing team won the challenge after the Type 145 bested its rivals in a 124-mile time trial race.
The Ecurie Bleue racing team also joined in international racing competitions throughout Europe from 1937 to 1939, emerging victorious in the Pau Grand Prix. The Delahaye Type 145 was built to challenge Mercedes-Benz, the team that dominated racing events at the time.
The Type 145 was added to the internationally revered collection of Peter Mullin in 2003, after being passed on to different owners or collectors. The Delahaye Type 145 was then restored to its original condition.
The Delahaye Type 145 is powered by a 4.5-liter V12 engine that puts out 185 horsepower. It comes with a four-speed all-alloy racing manual gearbox that sends power to the rear wheels.
The 2023 Concours of Elegance will run from September 1-3 at the Hampton Court Palace grounds in the UK.
Keyword: 1938 Delahaye Type 145 V12 Coupe Is A French Masterpiece Heading To The UK's Concours Of Elegance