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For the collector without a multi-million-dollar income, owning a full pre-war classic from France can seem like an impossible dream. But there are still some out there that can be bought for reasonable money.
Sure, they would be more sedate than a flashy Saoutchik or Figoni coachbuilt masterpiece, and they are not likely to be in concours condition. If you settle for a lower-rung, driver-quality French classic, they can be affordable.
The Pick of the Day is a 1933 Delahaye 122A, a rare survivor from a storied French marque with low mileage and offered at an affordable price.
The ad on ClassicCars.com, posted by the sedan’s private owner in Montreal, has decent pictures of the car but just a short description with not much information and apparently translated from French, with interesting results.
The ad does say that this Delahaye is one of just six known to exist of the 300 versions of this model originally built. It is powered by a 4-cylinder, 1,800 cc engine with a single Solex carburetor. The coachwork was done by Société Industrielle Sical Carosserie Levallois Perret, the ad says.
The car has covered just 3,692 kilometers (2,294 miles) since new, the seller adds, though providing no information about the sedan’s history or its essentially undriven condition. Also, there is no confirmation in the ad that the mileage is original.
The Delahaye runs perfectly, the owner says, although it would benefit from some bodywork and a good repaint.
The pictures show a car that appears quite original, and while the paint has lots of lacquer checking, it has a nice patina. Although you could repaint it, we would work to first discover if the paint is original.
The pictures show that the car seems to have all of its original trim as well as what could be an all-original interior, which appears to be in good, usable condition.
The pictures of the undercarriage show what looks like surface rust only, and overall, the car looks like a solid-driver level car.
Coachbuilt Delahayes usually have prices that start in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This car, with an asking price of only $37,500 Canadian ($28,599 US), looks like an extraordinary opportunity.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day
