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The Delahaye years
1947-'48: racing with cars over 12 years old

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Who?

Jean Achard

What?

Delahaye 155 V12

Where?

Albi

When?

1947 Albi GP

 Jean Achard, Delahaye 155 V12, 1947 Albi GP
Why?

Gone for ever were the pre-war years when Delahaye could line up almost a dozen cars in an international race… and win! In 1947, 24 races were entered, with three first places, one second place and three third places. In 1948, the calendar had somewhat shrinked, with only 16 races entered, resulting in three wins, one second place and a third place.

Eugène Chaboud, Delahaye 135S, 1947 Nimes GP

Chaboud at the Nimes GP in 1947, with the new bodywork by Chappé Frères on his 47192.

Emile Cornet, Delahaye 135S, 1947 Belgian GP

Cornet driving Pozzi's car at the 1947 Belgian and European GP.

New pilots had arrived: Henri Rigodon, Serge Pozolli, Pierre Meyrat, Jean Braud and his team mate André Marechal, Guy Mairesse, Guy Jason-Henri in England, Pierre Larrue, Roger Loyer…

Marcel Trillaud, Delahaye 135S, 1947 Pau GP

Trillaud driving his 47193 with the new bodywork by Chappé Frères at the 1947 Pau GP.

Eugène Chaboud, Delahaye 135S, 1947 Pau GP

Chaboud at the 1947 Pau GP, the fourth of the newly bodied cars by Chappé Frères.

The 1935/'36 racing Delahayes were now over 12 years old, still going strong if not fast, but a new 'Delahaye' was built early 1948 by Fernand Lacour for Eugène Chaboud, a single-seater no less, carrying chassis number 001. Although Delahaye had nothing to do with the construction of the car, they accepted that it could be called a Delahaye. It was made using an old 135S chassis reinforced by two tubular cross members, a Cotal MK38 gearbox, a type-145 front and rear suspension. IT could accommodate either a 3.5-Litre 135S engine, A 4.5-litre 175S engine or a 4.5-litre 145 V12. Sadly though, the results weren't up to expectations and Chaboud ceased racing it at the end of 1949.

Henri Rigodon, Delahaye 135S, 1947 Challenges AGASI

Henri Rigodon at the start of the Challenges AGASI in June 1947.

Gaston Serraud/Pierre Meyrat, Delahaye 135S, 1948 Paris 12 Hours

Gaston Serraud and Pierre Meyrat take the pose with the latter's 45497 at the 1948 Paris 12 Hours.

For the first event of the year, the four Ecurie France cars arrived too late because of the frozen fjords in Sweden. They all looked alike with their new bodies made by Chappé Frères.

Eùgène Chaboud, Delahaye 001 'Chaboud Special', 1948 Paris 12 Hours
Eùgène Chaboud, Delahaye 001 'Chaboud Special', 1948 Paris 12 Hours

Chaboud refuelling and driving his new 'Chaboud Special 001' at the 1948 Paris GP.

Pierre Achard, Delahaye 155 V12, 1947 Albi GP

A rare colourized photo of Achard's Delahaye 48774V12 monoplace after the 1947 Albi GP.

date event car no. chassis no. driver result
2/2/47 Swedish GP, Rommehed 5 47192 Chaboud DNA
6 46084 Pozzi DNA
7 47193 Trillaud DNA
8 46094 Giraud-Cabantous DNA
16/2/47 Reopening Monthléry ? 45513 Rigodon 3rd cat. Sport
? 60116 Larrue 4th cat. Course
? 48774V12 Achard ?
16 45497 Grignard ?
23/2/47 Swedish GP, Vallentura 5 47192 Chaboud 3rd.
8 46094 Giraud-Cabantous 4th.
? 46084 Pozzi 5th.
6 47193 Trillaud ?
7/4/47 Pau GP 6 46094 Cabantous/Chaboud 6th
24 46084 Pozzi DNF
4 47193 Trillaud DNF
27/4/47 Roussillon GP 6 46094 Giraud-Cabantous 3rd
20 45497 Grignard 5th
4 47193 Trillaud 7th
18 46084 Loyer DNF
6/5/47 Jersey GP 29 46835 Pozolli 10th
11/5/47 Bellevue hillclimb ? 45497 Meyrat 1st
? 45513 Rigodon 2nd
18/5/47 Marseille GP 24 46094 Giraud-Cabantous 7th
26 46084 Pozzi DNF
28 47192 Loyer DNF
26/5/47 Frontieres GP, Chimay 36 46094 Giraud-Cabantous DNF
30 46835 Pozolli DNS
1/6/47 Nimes GP 46 46084 Pozzi 5th
44 47193 Trillaud 9th
42 45497 Meyrat 12th
54 48774V12 “Levegh” DNF
40 47192 Chaboud DNF
8/6/47 Swiss GP 4 47192 Chaboud 16th
6 ? Giraud-Cabantous DNA
8/6/47 AGASI Challenges 48 45513 Rigodon 3rd.
29/6/47 Belgian/European GP 47192 Chaboud 34 DNF
36 46084 Cornet DNF
6/7/47 Reims GP 48 47192 Chaboud 4th
46 46084 Pozzi 7th
44 46094 Giraud-Cabantous DNF
13/7/47 Albi GP 46 46084 Pozzi 3rd
48 47192 Chaboud DNF
20 48774V12 Achard DNF
20/7/47 Paris/Evian rally 48 45513 Rigodon 1st.
20/7/47 Nice GP 22 46084 Pozzi 5th
? 47192 Chaboud 8th
3/8/47 Strasbourg GP 3 47192 Chaboud 6th
26 45497 Meyrat 8th
36 46835 Braud DNF
10/8/47 Comminges GP 42 46835 Braud 6th
68 46094 Serraud 10th
40 45497 Meyrat 15th
10 48774V12 Achard DNA
30 46084 Pozzi DNF
38 60116 Larrue DNF
7/9/47 Italian GP 22 46084 Pozzi 7th
12 47192 Chaboud 8th
21/9/47 ACF GP Lyon 32 46084 Pozzi 5th
40 45497 Meyrat/Varet 8th
12/10/47 Torino GP 2 47192 Chaboud 2nd
16/10/47 Coupe du Salon 12 46084 Pozzi 3rd
14 45497 Meyrat 9th
26/10/47 Coupe Congres Technique ? 46835 Braud 1st
? 45513 Rigodon 3rd
29/3/48 Pau GP 10 47192 Chaboud DNF
18/4/48 Course Nationale Sport ACIF/USA 15 45497 Meyrat 1st
? 46835 Braud 3rd
16 46094 Mairesse 4th
2/5/48 Nations GP Genève 26 47192 Chaboud 4th.
16/5/48 Monaco GP 10 001 Chaboud 7th.
16/5/48 Frontières GP, Chimay 52 46094 Mairesse 1st
? 45497 Meyrat DNF
25/5/48 British Empire Trophy 52 47188 Jason-Henry 7th
30/5/48 Paris GP 14 001 Chaboud 3rd
30 46094 Mairesse 4th
22 45497 Meyrat 9th
18 46084 Flahaut 11th
24 46835 Braud/Serraud ?
20 47193 Trillaud DNF
27/6/48 San Remo GP 42 001 Chaboud 9th
4/7/48 Swiss GP 6 001 Chaboud DNQ
11/7/48 Spa 24 Hours ? 46835 Braud/Marechal 2nd
? 46094 Mairesse/Mouche 4th
18/7/48 ACF GP 12 001 Chaboud 8th
1/8/48 Comminges GP 28 45497 Meyrat 5th
24 48774V12 Simon 7th
22 46094 Mairesse DNF
29/8/48 Albi GP 40 001 Chaboud 5th
46 45497 Meyrat 8th
5/9/48 Italian GP 50 001 Chaboud 10th
12/9/48 Paris 12 hours ? 46835 Braud/Marechal 1st
5 45497 Meyrat/Serraud 2nd
8 46084 Pozzi/Chaboud DNF
10/10/48 Coupe du Salon, Coupe Robert Mazaud 25 46094 Mairesse 5th
25 46094 Mairesse 6th