Car Collector International
Classic · 1938–1939

Delahaye 165

The V12 flagship — France's answer to the pre-war grand routière, clothed by Figoni et Falaschi.

Car Collector International Editorial
Deep maroon Delahaye 165 Figoni et Falaschi cabriolet with cream folding roof raised, front three-quarter studio view on a plain grey backdrop showing pontoon-fendered streamlined bodywork, chromed speedlines, teardrop wing sweeps and whitewall tyres.
OverviewVariants & SpecsBuyer's GuideWhat to PayOwnershipCommon ProblemsValuationAuction ResultsInvestment OutlookRecommended Network
Overview

Why this car matters

The Delahaye 165 was the roadgoing V12 flagship developed from the Type 145 Grand Prix car. The engine was a triple-overhead-cam aluminium 4,496cc 60-degree V12 fed by three downdraft Solex carburettors, coupled to a four-speed Cotal electromagnetic pre-selector gearbox. Power is variously cited between 175 and 245 bhp, with roughly 184 bhp / 186 PS the most widely accepted figure. The car is generally accepted as two completed chassis — 60743 shown at the 1938 Paris Salon and 60744 sent to the 1939 New York World's Fair — though a minority source claims as many as six were built. Both known cars were bodied as pontoon-fendered cabriolets by Figoni et Falaschi.

Two cars exist. Both are among the most theatrical objects of the pre-war French coachbuilding era, and chassis 60744 carries one of the most remarkable provenance stories of any surviving pre-war car.

Variants

Range and production

VariantYearsProductionNotes
165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet1938–19392Chassis 60743 shown at 1938 Paris Salon; chassis 60744 shipped to 1939 NY World's Fair without its V12 (unfinished in time) and displayed with a hollow engine shell. War broke out, chassis 60744 was impounded by US Customs for roughly eight years, later fitted with a second-hand Cadillac V8, passed through several owners and ended up abandoned in Honolulu. Peter Mullin acquired it in the mid-1980s and reunited it with its original never-fitted V12, tracked down in France after the factory had sold the engine separately. Both cars long-term Mullin Automotive Museum residents; chassis 60744 Best in Class, 72nd Pebble Beach Concours.
Buyer's Guide

What to look for

Provenance and originality

For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Delahaye 165, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. The chassis themselves are the value; each is individually documented, publicly exhibited and effectively unique. Engine originality — a genuine issue for chassis 60744, which spent decades fitted with a Cadillac V8 before being reunited with its original V12 — is central.

Mechanical inspection priorities

The triple-cam aluminium V12 is a road-adapted racing engine; specialist knowledge is confined to a handful of pre-war Delahaye and Figoni-restoration ateliers. The Cotal electromagnetic pre-selector gearbox requires specialist familiarity, and any 165 should be verified as running its original, matching V12 rather than a period substitute. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.

Body, chassis and originality of coachwork

Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.

Specification and event eligibility

Only two chassis exist — this is a museum-class object rather than a market car. Provenance research, engine originality and public exhibition history are what matter. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.

Pricing

What to pay

Delahaye 165 (either chassis)
USD$8,000,000 – $15,000,000+
GBP£6,000,000 – £11,300,000+
EUR€6,700,000 – €12,600,000+
Notional range; both chassis are museum-held and neither has traded publicly. Any private transaction would be individually negotiated.

Regional ranges authored independently — each reflects its local market, not an FX conversion

Ownership

Living with it

Typical mileage
300–2,000 miles typical for vintage use; rally cars higher
Service interval
Annual full service; pre-event check before any rally or tour
Annual running cost
$8,000 – $35,000 depending on use, storage and event programme
Fuel economy
10–18 mpg typical; heavy carburetted engines run rich
Insurance
Use a specialist agreed-value vintage policy with declared value reviewed annually. Premiums reflect declared value, storage, event use and driver experience with pre-war machinery.

Maintenance planning

Vintage cars require disciplined preventive maintenance: lubrication regimes, magneto service, carburettor synchronisation, brake adjustment, and timber and trim conservation. A car used regularly and serviced annually by a specialist will outlast a stored example neglected for decades.

Specialist access and parts

Restoration and mechanical support is the same small French and US Delahaye specialist community that supports the Type 135, augmented by pre-war V12 engineering expertise. Confirm the availability of marque specialists, period-correct fasteners, coachwork trim, instruments and tyres before committing. A car requiring fabricated one-off parts will absorb time and cost that a similar example with active specialist support will not.

Common Problems

Known issues by system

Engine

Worn bearings / low oil pressure

Major$15,000 – $45,000+ (full rebuild)
Symptoms — Low hot oil pressure, knocking on overrun.
Inspection — Hot oil pressure test; compression and leak-down; sump inspection.
Body / Chassis

Ash frame rot / timber decay

Major$20,000 – $80,000+ (full re-frame)
Symptoms — Door sag, panel misalignment, soft timber at sills and door pillars.
Inspection — Probe timber framing; lift trim where possible; specialist coachwork survey.
Brakes

Mechanical brake imbalance / hydraulic seal failure (later cars)

Moderate$3,000 – $12,000
Symptoms — Pull under braking, soft pedal, fluid leaks.
Inspection — Static and dynamic brake test; inspect linkages, drums and master cylinder.
Electrical

Period wiring degradation / dynamo failure

Moderate$2,500 – $8,000 (rewire)
Symptoms — Intermittent lights, charging issues, smell of hot insulation.
Inspection — Inspect loom for cracked insulation; test dynamo output and regulator.
Valuation

Current value bands by region

Concours
USD
$10,000,000
GBP
£7,500,000
EUR
€8,400,000
▬ 0% 12-mo

Each region quoted in its local currency — independent market readings, not FX conversions

Two chassis, both long-term museum residents, neither publicly traded. This is a museum-class object rather than a market car; any sale would be a once-in-a-generation private transaction rather than an auction event.

Auctions

Recent results

DateAuctionCarMileageResult
Investment

Long-term outlook

Blue ChipHorizon: 10+ years

Effectively unique — two cars in existence, both concours-honoured, both institutionally held. Liquidity is nil; significance is permanent.

Recommended

The trusted network

Specialists

  • Delahaye marque specialist
    View →
    UK / Europe
    Delahaye 165 restoration, mechanical service and originality reviews.
  • Pre-war coachwork specialist
    View →
    International
    Timber framing, ash conservation, panel beating and period-correct paint for pre-war coachwork.
  • Concours preparation studio
    View →
    International
    Concours preparation, detailing and event support for pre-war and vintage cars.
  • Hagerty
    View →
    USA / UK / EU
    Agreed-value collector insurance specialising in pre-war and vintage cars.
  • Lockton Performance
    View →
    UK / EU
    Specialist agreed-value cover for significant pre-war and competition cars.

Storage

  • Windrush Car Storage
    View →
    Cotswolds, UK
    Climate-controlled storage and collection management for pre-war and classic cars.
  • Autovault
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    Bicester, UK
    Secure climate-controlled storage at Bicester Heritage with inspection programmes.
  • Classic Car Club Manhattan
    View →
    New York, NY
    Secure urban storage for collector and pre-war cars.

Transport

  • CARS UK
    View →
    UK & Europe
    Enclosed concours and event transport for pre-war and vintage machinery.
  • Reliable Carriers
    View →
    USA (national)
    Enclosed coast-to-coast transport for pre-war American and European cars.
  • FERRLOG
    View →
    Italy / Europe
    Air-ride enclosed transport for Italian and European collector cars.

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The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.