How the Delahaye Coupe des Alpes got its name

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You may know that the Delahaye 135 and also the 138 are often referred to as the Delahaye Coupe des Alpes. And not just one specific model variant or version of these cars by one of the many coachbuilders who clothed them, but all of them. The reason is as simple as why there’s such a thing as the Ferrari Daytona, when in fact it was officially known as the Ferrari 365 GTB/4.

We were rather surprised, however, to learn more about the Delahaye’s chequered past when we looked into it recently – it could have been named after quite a few races or circuits. The new models launched at the Paris Motor Show in 1933 were all rather lavish cars called Superdeluxe. But it didn’t take long before Delahaye’s wealthy clientele began to experiment with sporting variants of this chassis. In February 1934, one came first in the Paris–St Raphaël rally, followed by wins in several more hill climbs, among them Chanteloup, Château-Thierry and Harfleur, as well as in the Paris–Nice rally, the Circuit des Vosges, the Algerian GP and no fewer than four world land speed records at Montlhéry and, yes, the Coupe des Alpes.

Remarkably, perhaps, the Alpine Cup or Coupe des Alpes victory did not come from the works team but from a private entrant: Lucy O’Riley Schell, an American millionaire of Irish origin. Together with her husband Laury, she owned a number of sporting Delahayes and was also a strong (financial) supporter of the manufacturer. That may well have influenced the choice of name.

At the Paris Motor Show in October 1934, two new models were unveiled, and the Superdeluxe name had now disappeared, giving way to sports variants. The 138 Sport carried a single carburettor, whereas the 138 Coupe des Alpes boasted three. The following season brought another string of victories for Delahaye cars, among them the Tour de France – where it incurred zero penalties, taking a gold medal – the Ansaldo Cup, the Coupe de l’Auto and the ACF Cup.

Words: Jeroen Booij
Picture: Wikipedia (Pourtout body)

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