Emile Delahaye created the first "Delahaye" automobile in 1895 and unveiled his masterful new design at the Paris Salon. By 1903, in addition to manufacturing commercial and passenger cars, he was producing engines for boats - one of which set a new water speed record. However, that was also the year Emile Delahaye left the company he founded. The name lived on and, by 1908, Delahaye taxis were among the fleet in New York City and the French manufacturer was producing about 1,500 cars annually.

The early Delahaye cars seemed to be targeted to the middle class. But then, after 1935, designer Jean Francois developed a much sportier model, the Type 135. It was so impressive, it was frequently compared to the Bugatti and Delage. Indeed, after the debut of the Type 135, Delahaye merged with Delage, bringing together two great French automotive manufacturers.

The Type 135 was succeeded by the Delahaye Type 145. Using the same chassis as its predecessor, the new model was equipped with a 4.5 litre V-12 engine that delivered an incredible 250 horsepower. As a result, this car became popular among the racing crowd, especially since it excelled in both long distance and Grand Prix events. Like other automakers, Delahaye never built its own bodies but, instead, delegated the assignment to the great coachmakers of the day. Names like Chapron, Le Tourner et Marchand, Sahoutchik and Figoni Falaschi cloaked the Delahaye automobile in some of the most elegant and exotic bodies of the era, ensuring that Delahaye's distinctive appearance would complement its extraordinary performance.

Now a 1946 Delahaye Type 145 is captured in a highly detailed, precision-engineered 1:43 scale model. This replica is a Matchbox Exclusives edition, limited to just 7,500 worldwide. It is produced by - and available only from - Matchbox Collectibles.

(1998)

Scale: 1:43