The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia: A Rare French Luxury Icon of the 1950s

Elegant Finale - In the early 1950s, Europe’s automotive scene stood at a crossroads, caught between pre-war craftsmanship and the pressure to modernize fast. Many luxury marques struggled to stay relevant as mass production and new technologies reshaped expectations. It was within this fragile transition that Delahaye introduced one of its most intriguing final creations: the Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia, a car that quietly embodied both the ambition and the vulnerability of a fading grand marque. 

The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon designed by Mario Felice Boano of Ghia, featured featured flowing, streamlined lines, dramatic proportions, and distinctive hinged wheelhouse fairings. (Picture from: RMW.lv)

The Delahaye 235 was born out of necessity. By 1951, sales of earlier models like the Type 135 and 175 had collapsed to just 77 units, forcing Delahaye to rethink its direction. Working under chief designer Philippe Charbonneaux, and with mechanical development led by Fernand Lacour, the company created the Type 235 as a more modern evolution of its earlier luxury cars. The most visible change was its wide, full-width ponton-style front end, including a new grille that subtly referenced Delahaye’s distributor, Générale Française Automobile. Although it still relied on proven engineering, the car was meant to signal renewal rather than nostalgia. 

The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia, a car that quietly embodied both the ambition and the vulnerability of a fading grand marque. (Picture from: RouteVehcchie.org)

Under the long hood sat a familiar but thoroughly refined 3.6-liter inline-six engine, derived from the 135MS. Equipped with three downdraught Solex carburetors, higher compression, and a revised camshaft, it produced around 152 horsepower and pushed the 235 to roughly 170 km/h, with some early prototypes exceeding that mark. Buyers could choose between a synchronized four-speed manual gearbox or the advanced Cotal pre-selector unit, reflecting Delahaye’s attempt to blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary driving comfort. On paper, the performance matched its elite positioning, even if rivals offered similar speed at lower cost. 

The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia features a cabin that reflects refined yet understated luxury, prioritizing craftsmanship over excess. (Picture from: RMW.lv)

What truly defined the Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon, however, was its bodywork. Delahaye sold the car primarily as a rolling chassis, leaving styling to Europe’s most respected coachbuilders. While many examples wore bodies by Chapron, Antem, or Letourneur et Marchand, the Ghia-built pillarless saloon stood apart. Designed by Mario Felice Boano, it featured flowing, streamlined lines, dramatic proportions, and distinctive hinged wheelhouse fairings. The absence of a central door pillar gave the car an open, elegant profile, emphasizing lightness and motion even at rest. Inside, the cabin echoed this philosophy with a refined yet understated luxury, favoring craftsmanship over excess. 

The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia is powered by a refined 3.6-liter inline-six engine derived from the 135MS, equipped with triple Solex carburetors and delivering around 152 horsepower with a top speed of approximately 170 km/h. (Picture from: RMW.lv)

Despite technical competence and visual flair, the 235 arrived too late. Critics at the time noted its resemblance to earlier Delahayes and questioned its weight, price, and reliance on aging mechanical concepts. Even Delahaye’s bold promotional efforts—such as driving an aluminum-bodied prototype from Cape Town to Algiers in just over ten days—failed to revive demand. Between 1951 and 1954, only about 85 examples were built, including prototypes. By the summer of 1954, Delahaye was absorbed by Hotchkiss, and the brand quietly disappeared from the automotive world. 

The Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia was produced in limited numbers between 1951 and 1954, with only about 85 examples built, including prototypes. (Picture from: RMW.lv)

Today, the Delahaye 235M Pillarless Saloon by Ghia feels less like a commercial failure and more like a closing statement written in metal and glass. It captures a moment when elegance still mattered more than efficiency, and when individuality came from artisans rather than assembly lines. As modern collectors and enthusiasts revisit this car, it stands not as a relic, but as a reminder of how bold design and quiet confidence once defined luxury—even at the very end of an era. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | RMW.LV | SUPERCARS.NET | RUOTEVECCHIE.ORG | CLASSICDRIVER | RMSOTHEBYS | CRAIG'S CAR CORNER IN FACEBOOK ]

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