Formally a retired exotic V-12 racecar built for endurance and speed, the Type 145 was transformed by notable coachbuilder Henri Chapron
OXNARD, CALIF. (May 25, 2023) – The 1938 Delahaye Type 145 Coupé Chassis #48772 from the Mullin Automotive Museum collection received the Best in Class award at the 2023 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Saturday, May 20, 2023.
Held annually on the shores of Lake Como in Northern Italy, Villa d’Este is billed as the world’s most exclusive and tradition-rich festival weekend for historic automobiles. This is the Mullin’s second win at the esteemed concours. The 1938 Delahaye Type 145 Chassis #48773 won the Best in Class award at the 2012 show.
“Villa d’Este is one of the most admired concours in the world, and we are thrilled our Delahaye Type 145 was recognized,” said Mullin Automotive Museum Founder Peter Mullin. “To be amongst the world’s most beautiful automobiles is also one of the biggest honors.”
The Delahaye Type 145 Chassis #48772 experienced much success on the track — racing in international grand prix throughout Europe during the 1937–1939 seasons. With its racing career at an end, Chassis #48772 was bought by coachbuilder Henri Chapron, who transformed it into one of the most beautiful examples of classic French coachwork of the postwar era. Having by necessity been unproductive during World War II, Chapron began to rebody the car as a two-seat coupé in 1947. Peter Mullin acquired the vehicle in 2003 and has shown it at major concours around the world.
For more information about the 1938 Delahaye Type 145 Coupé and other vehicles in the Mullin Automotive Museum collection, please visit www.MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.
About the Mullin Automotive Museum
The Mullin Automotive Museum is located at 1421 Emerson Avenue, Oxnard, California 93033, in the building formerly occupied by the Otis Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife. Tickets must be purchased in advance at MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com. To see photos of the exhibits and the cars on display, please follow the Mullin Automotive Museum’s official channels on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
