1937 Delahaye 135 Torpedo Roadster to headline RM Auctions sale

A 1937 Delahaye 135 Competition Court Torpedo Roadster by Figoni et Falaschi is the star of RM Auctions' Amelia Island sale in Florida on March 8.

There is currently no estimate for the model, but comparable examples from the marque regularly achieve seven figure sums.

1937 Delahaye Roadster Torpedo
The 1937 Delahaye 135 features custom coachwork from Figoni et Falaschi

The car is one of a number in the sale drawn from the collection of car dealer and philanthropist Malcolm Pray, with the proceeds from the auction to benefit the Pray Achievement Center in New York.   

Built in France in 1936, the rare 135 is one of around 30 competition court chassis produced that year, and one of only two short wheelbase examples.

The stunning coachwork was provided by French coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi, a company renowned for its uniquely flamboyant designs. The vehicle was commissioned with the intention of becoming a show car.

It was exhibited widely, including at the Saint Cloud Gardenia Concours d'Elegance in Paris, and in 1939 it was shipped to the US where it became the centrepiece of the Pray collection in 1964.

A 1961 Ferrari 250 GT Series II Cabriolet with coachwork by Pininfarina, also from the Pray collection, is valued at $1.5m-1.8m.

Gord Duff, a spokesperson for RM Auctions, commented: "RM's sale held at the Amelia Island Concours, two events that Malcolm has attended since their inception, is the perfect setting to offer such important cars that he enjoyed for so long.

"We're thrilled to see that the sale of his collection will continue to support Malcolm's dedicated philanthropy, just as he would've wanted."

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