Page 12 - Sample pages "Figoni on Delahaye" by Richard Adatto

DRAWING NUMBER 9405
Louis Jeantet, the car’s first owner, changed his mind frequently and the following drawings will show how the customer’s wishes changed the design and construction of the car. Joseph Figoni often drew over his drawings as the design evolved. FIGONI ARCHIVE
Delahaye promised delivery of the chassis to Figoni in a letter dated December 28, 1938, but 1939 arrived and still the car did not come. In a plaintive letter sent by Joseph Figoni to Delahaye on February 23, 1939, he complained about the delay:
We wish to add that the delay of the 135-M Special for Mr. Jeantet will end up by causing us serious issues with the client, and the two 135-M Specials we have ordered from you are indispensable if we don’t want
our customers to entirely lose patience and end up by buying cars from other marques. We know very well that we are bothering you and beg you not to hold it against us. On the other hand, we also hope that you will put yourself somewhat in our shoes and as far as possible avoid entirely ruining our season.
Shortly after this letter was sent, the chassis finally arrived and work began. The car was to be a true roadster without roll-up windows—just plastic side cur- tains that could be removed and stored in a small compartment at the back. One of the earlier drawings suggested a rear seat, but that idea was later rejected
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