Delahaye 135s build
Discussion
Following from this thread
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I've finally found the time to post the pictures of the Delahaye 135s body I built.
The car arrived complete with a radiator, steel shroud with grill and an ash frame.
[pic]
Delahaye101 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]
It seems that 135s' had three different body styles- I believe this was due to various regulations at Le Mans. Two with boat tails, a shorter and longer version.
and also a 'chisel' shaped rear
[pichttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Paris_-_RM_Auctions_-_5_f%C3%A9vrier_2014_-Delahaye_135_S_-_1936_-_001.jpg[/pic]
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
I've finally found the time to post the pictures of the Delahaye 135s body I built.
The car arrived complete with a radiator, steel shroud with grill and an ash frame.
[pic]
Delahaye101 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]It seems that 135s' had three different body styles- I believe this was due to various regulations at Le Mans. Two with boat tails, a shorter and longer version.
and also a 'chisel' shaped rear
[pichttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/Paris_-_RM_Auctions_-_5_f%C3%A9vrier_2014_-Delahaye_135_S_-_1936_-_001.jpg[/pic]
It was the 'chisel' shaped rear that my customer wanted for his car. We had hoped it would be possible to modify just the rear of the ash frame but it soon became clear that it would be quicker and make a far better job if I started again.
[pic]
Delahaye102 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]
[pic]
Delahaye103 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]
As I'd already made a start on a wire buck for the body when checking if we could use the first ash frame I was able to use this to build the new frame. You can also see in this picture my cardboard fuel tank and spare wheel are already in place. Its the spare that defines the rear shape of the car.
[pic]
Delahaye104 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]
The ash frame is coming together here and the doors have been made
[pic]
Delahaye109 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]
[pic]
Delahaye102 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic][pic]
Delahaye103 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]As I'd already made a start on a wire buck for the body when checking if we could use the first ash frame I was able to use this to build the new frame. You can also see in this picture my cardboard fuel tank and spare wheel are already in place. Its the spare that defines the rear shape of the car.
[pic]
Delahaye104 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]The ash frame is coming together here and the doors have been made
[pic]
Delahaye109 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr[/pic]3.8 MOD said:
The finished body looks gorgeous!
Will the brasswork be nickel plated?
(That would be my preference)
Bravo!
Nickell was the plan, the plated parts I fitted were in that finish. The radiator shell came to me with the brasswork already soldered to the steel shell, it was a really nice job. There was no way to plate this other than plate the whole thing and then paint the panels. Some cars seem to have completely painted rad shells.Will the brasswork be nickel plated?
(That would be my preference)
Bravo!
In the end, Tony, the owner, has decided to leave it bare brass which I think will work well with the blue. I had the windscreen pillars cast in bronze/gun metal which will also be left in the same finish.
B-stard child- thanks again for the advice.
With the ash frame together I was able to start in the body panels.
Delahaye106 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Each wing was made in four sections, the rear halves were made of three pieces
Delahaye105 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye107 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The four wings are almost complete here, waiting to be wired.
Delahaye36 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye106 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrEach wing was made in four sections, the rear halves were made of three pieces
Delahaye105 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye107 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe four wings are almost complete here, waiting to be wired.
Delahaye36 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrTooMany2cvs said:
That's bloody glorious, Dan.
Not for this topic - this one's just for that luscious Delahaye - but I'd be really interested to see some in-process pics and description of how you're doing the metalshaping. The only times I've tried taking a hammer to metal, it's ended up worse.
The panels on this car were all wheeled, gas welded and hand finished. I do have a Pullmax which I have various tooling for including shrinking dies and doming tools- I used these on the interior floor.Not for this topic - this one's just for that luscious Delahaye - but I'd be really interested to see some in-process pics and description of how you're doing the metalshaping. The only times I've tried taking a hammer to metal, it's ended up worse.
Is there anything in particular you are interested in?
The main body panels coming together. I used the wire buck I had made again
Delahaye10 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye12 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye11 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Rear body coming together- The ash frame doesn't extend this far back so positioning this section took some careful measurement.
Delahaye14 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The rear body is on and I'm wrapping the front body here
Delahaye15 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
I made wire bucks up headlight/ under bonnet panels
Delahaye16 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye20 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Folding up the bonnet
Delahaye18 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Beaulieu Autojumble September 2017 Now with doors and the middle chassis cover section fitted
Delahaye22 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye10 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye12 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye11 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrRear body coming together- The ash frame doesn't extend this far back so positioning this section took some careful measurement.
Delahaye14 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe rear body is on and I'm wrapping the front body here
Delahaye15 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrI made wire bucks up headlight/ under bonnet panels
Delahaye16 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye20 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrFolding up the bonnet
Delahaye18 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrBeaulieu Autojumble September 2017 Now with doors and the middle chassis cover section fitted
Delahaye22 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrTooMany2cvs said:
...all of it...
The process from starting with a sheet of flat metal through. I understand the basic processes, but it's how they all link together to go from that flat sheet to something as multi-planed curvaceous as THAT...
I am almost ready to make a set of stone guard for my current job, these should cover all the skills you want to see. I'll experiment with a video....The process from starting with a sheet of flat metal through. I understand the basic processes, but it's how they all link together to go from that flat sheet to something as multi-planed curvaceous as THAT...
Back from Beaulieu Autojumble and it was time to start on the underside. These cars are completely enclosed, with only the sump visible from below and this is flush with the undertrays. I added 'inside out' louvres to the rear panel to help reduce pressure here.
Delahaye24 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
I also completed the headlight area. Some of the original cars had a separate valance-lower headlight panel. After speaking with Tony, the owner, this is the design we came up with.
Delahaye27 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
And with the headlamps fitted- I turned up mounting bosses to accept these.
Delahaye28 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The boot lid frame in place with the hinges tacked on. The weight of the spare wheel is carried on a bracket bolted to the chassis.
Delahaye26 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye24 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrI also completed the headlight area. Some of the original cars had a separate valance-lower headlight panel. After speaking with Tony, the owner, this is the design we came up with.
Delahaye27 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrAnd with the headlamps fitted- I turned up mounting bosses to accept these.
Delahaye28 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe boot lid frame in place with the hinges tacked on. The weight of the spare wheel is carried on a bracket bolted to the chassis.
Delahaye26 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrAyahuasca said:
Beautiful work!
How much to build one of those?
Given that I've mentioned the owners name I don't think it's fair to discuss the price. There was over 1000 in the build though, to produce a car to the owners specification. A truly bespoke item. How much to build one of those?
Even the off the shelf items such as the aero filler caps and the windscreen are unique to this car.
Given the price the price of the car in the H&H auction mentioned above I think there is plenty of money left in the build.
Plus to my eyes that car has the incorrect, narrow saloon axle fitted.
Some final details here. We made wooden formers for the windscreen supports which were then cast in bronze/gun metal. I was really pleased with how these turned out
These were then machined as required and hand finished. I made up lower channels for the screen out of h section brass channel heated and bent to the shape of the scuttle. The glass was cut to my templates with a polished edge.
Delahaye23 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye32 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye35 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
I made the floor sections up and finished them with red scotch bright and wire wool to give matt finish. These were shaped on my Pullmax reciprocating hammer and then smoothed out on an English wheel
Delahaye30 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Delahaye31 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
The small trays to rear will provide storage in front of the seats
These were then machined as required and hand finished. I made up lower channels for the screen out of h section brass channel heated and bent to the shape of the scuttle. The glass was cut to my templates with a polished edge.
Delahaye23 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye32 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye35 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrI made the floor sections up and finished them with red scotch bright and wire wool to give matt finish. These were shaped on my Pullmax reciprocating hammer and then smoothed out on an English wheel
Delahaye30 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrDelahaye31 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrThe small trays to rear will provide storage in front of the seats
Final pictures of the car together, I'm looking forward to my ride in it!
delahaye5 (2) by Dan Clazey, on Flickr#=
delahaye4 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
delahaye7 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
delahaye by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
If anyone is interested my company and my work is also featured in the Specialist section of this months Classic and Sports car
delahaye5 (2) by Dan Clazey, on Flickr#=delahaye4 by Dan Clazey, on Flickrdelahaye7 by Dan Clazey, on Flickrdelahaye by Dan Clazey, on FlickrIf anyone is interested my company and my work is also featured in the Specialist section of this months Classic and Sports car
Ambleton said:
Sorry to lower the tone of this truly awesome and high class thread but I've just made a right mess of my underwear...
Great work and I bow down to your amazing metal working skills, its great to see this kind if work being done and I only wish I had 5% of the skills you posses!
Great work
Haha, lower away! Great work and I bow down to your amazing metal working skills, its great to see this kind if work being done and I only wish I had 5% of the skills you posses!
Great work
Thanks for the kind words
Riley Blue said:
Very impressive and beautiful work Dan. I like the subtle differences between your car and No. 64 above.
The car was built to my customers specifications. He had visited Rob Walkers car and liked the over all dimensionsseen here in the ridiculous, but no less entertaining you tube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0REAVbooPkU0
I was also able to gain access to this car and based the my design on this. Tony was quite specific in what he wanted, he wanted a relatively clean simple car- so all the wings matched-they don't on the car below, and didn't have the swage line running down the centre as on 'Blue Buzz' or car No. 64. Also for ease of access the spare was to be accessed through the tail, as shown below. This left a large luggage area behind the seats. Important as Tony intend to use this car, really use the car! His first big outing was intended to be a rally in the Alps with him and his wife driving the car from Northumberland! Sadly a problem with the engine build delayed the first rally in the car.
Custard400 said:
That is one gorgeous looking vehicle! Properly hand crafted panels excite me very much I applaud your skill Dan.
What is the car actually registered as? Will it get a period registration or a current one?
The car is a Delahaye and is registered as such. I was built with a similar body around 40 years ago so we were just rebuilding what was there.What is the car actually registered as? Will it get a period registration or a current one?
Don't you love a thread with a happy ending....
IMG-20181204-WA0008 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Considering this car left me in February in bare metal with the a partially built engine in it someone has been busy! Impressive work Tony
IMG-20181204-WA0006 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
IMG-20181204-WA0005 by Dan Clazey, on Flickr
Virtual beer tokens if you can guess its stablemate...
IMG-20181204-WA0008 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrConsidering this car left me in February in bare metal with the a partially built engine in it someone has been busy! Impressive work Tony
IMG-20181204-WA0006 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrIMG-20181204-WA0005 by Dan Clazey, on FlickrVirtual beer tokens if you can guess its stablemate...
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