Delahaye Type 145 History

In 1936 the French government offered a prize of one million francs to the first car to break a standing speed record held by an Italian machine, with the stipulation that the car conform to the upcoming 1938 Grand Prix regulations. Delahaye accepted the challenge and built the Type 145, powered by a complex 4.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 producing over 220 hp via three Stromberg carburettors. The chassis was a tubular ladder frame developed from the Type 135, with independent front suspension and a live rear axle.

René Dreyfus drove the Type 145 at Montlhéry in 1937, covering 200 km at an average of 146.56 km/h (91.07 mph) — enough to claim the government prize. The cars raced under the Écurie Bleue banner of American socialite Lucy O'Reilly Schell. Dreyfus scored the Type 145's most celebrated victory at the 1938 Pau Grand Prix, where Delahaye's superior fuel economy allowed it to run without a pit stop and beat the all-conquering Mercedes-Benz W154 — a rare defeat for the German state-backed teams of the era.

Only four 4.5-litre V12 Type 145 racecars were constructed (chassis numbers 48771, 48772, 48773, and 48775). A fifth chassis received a bespoke closed coupe body by Figoni & Falaschi to create a road-legal car for display. Racing ceased with the outbreak of war in 1939 and the cars never competed again.