1949 DELAHAYE 175 S
Saoutchik Roadster
When its comes to beauty and design there are really no competitors for the Delahaye 175 S. Designed by the Ukranian Jacquer Saoutchik in1949. Jacquer brought his masterpiece to the Paris Salon Auto Show to attract a more eclectic customer and he did just that. The Art Deco Coach work was magnificent and the attention to detail was mind blowing.
Originally Jacquer was commissioned by an English collector Sir John Gaul to design a car based on the 1st Post War Delahaye chassis from the 175 S Roadster. The design quickly evolved to what you see here.
The engine was larger than the original bringing it to a 4455 cc naturally aspirated overhead valve inline 6 cylinder with a 4 speed electro mechanically actuated Cotal Preselector gear box that produced 165 BHP.
A Dubonnet coil spring front suspension and a De Dion rear axle with semi-elliptic springs were installed. The brakes were fitted with a four wheel hydraulic finned alloy drums. The vehicle was an astonishing 116 inches long and a grand total of only 51 chassis were ever built.
Exhibited at every major Concours event around the world the Delahaye 175 S went from Paris to Monte Carlo to San Remo and then finally to the Pebble Beach where it took best in class. The piece of art also entered the Amelia Island Concours d' Elegance Show and took the Peoples Choice Award.
The English actress and cabaret dancer Diana Dors had purchased the car when she was 17. The actresses film career span from 1947 to 1984. The bombshell starred in movies like Diamond City, Lady Godiva Rides Again, Yield To The Night and The UnHoly Wife. The English actress rivaled beauty's like Marilyn Monroe and Jayne Mansfield. Diana Dors passed away in 1984 from Ovarian Cancer.
Diana Dors with the Delahaye 175 S Saoutchik Roaster.
The car was brought to the US in the 1970's and fully restored back to the original specs and standards. The car was auctioned in 2010 for a wonderful price of $3.3 Million Dollars.
