The Mullin Automotive Museum’s 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Figoni et Falaschi Cabriolet was awarded Best in Class at the 72nd Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance held at the Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, August 20. Merle Mullin, director of the Mullin Automotive Museum and wife of museum founder and car collector Peter Mullin, was present to receive the award.
The Delahaye, also named a Best of Show finalist, earned first place in the Figoni Centennial 1938-1948 class among a field of eight beautiful and historic entries. The featured class celebrated the 100th anniversary of Joseph Figoni’s unique coachbuilding enterprise, which produced sporting and lightweight bodies in his unique style. A panel of esteemed judges selected class winners based on originality, authenticity, and proper and excellent preservation or restoration.
“Being asked to bring a car to Pebble Beach is the apex of the car world and an incredible honor in itself. Winning Best in Class is another remarkable recognition for our ultimate objective, which is to restore these significant cars and share them with the world,” said Merle Mullin during the awards proceedings. “We are the custodians of these cars that will live on long beyond us, so we want them to be correct and beautiful. Peter and I love restoring the cars, and we’re so thankful that Pebble Beach appreciates our Delahye Type 165 enough to give it Best in Class. Every single one of the Best in Class winners deserved to be Best of Show.”
After the racing success of the Type 145, the yet-to-be-produced 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet was selected to represent France at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. The vehicle was to include the 145’s retooled V-12 racing engine, complete with Figoni et Falaschi coachwork and a hood with a cutout to view the engine. Due to production delays, it had to be shipped before the engine was installed. The Cabriolet wowed audiences despite its missing engine, but after the vehicle resurfaced in the late-1980s, its original V-12 engine was finally installed.
“With its bold red color and teardrop-style detailing, the Delahaye 165 Cabriolet has been a fan-favorite in our collection since acquiring it over 35 years ago,” said Peter Mullin. “It has stood the test of time and is one of many vehicles that embody Figoni et Falaschi’s coachbuilding legacy to great effect.”
In addition to the Delahaye, the 1934 Voisin C27 Cabriolet and the 1937 Talbot-Lago Type 150-C-S “Teardrop” from the Mullin collection were also on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The Mullins have a long history of success at Pebble Beach, including a 2022 Best in Class win for the Talbot-Lago Grand Sport Line with the 1951 Talbot-Lago Type 26 Grand Sport and the J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car distinction in 2021 for their 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic.
For more information about the 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet and other vehicles in the Mullin Automotive Museum collection, please visit www.MullinAutomotiveMuseum.com.
