Page 5 - Sample pages "Figoni on Delahaye" by Richard Adatto

Top left: Laury Schell at his desk at their house in France.
RICHARD ADATTO ARCHIVE
Above: Lucy Schell in her 1934 Delahaye Type 135 cabriolet. She
is preparing for the 1935 Monte Carlo Rally. RICHARDADATTOARCHIVE
Above: View from above of Lucy Schell’s Delahaye, license plate 1821-RJ1, with Lucy at the wheel. RICHARD ADATTO ARCHIVE
Left: The Schell children with their pet bulldog. RICHARD ADATTO ARCHIVE
The Delahaye Type 135 body was built with winter weather in mind. The road to Monte Carlo wound through mountainous terrain, and the 1935 rally was treacherous due to snowstorms that created icy and muddy conditions. The Écurie Bleue’s Delahaye—original French registration 1821-RJ1 and Monte Carlo Rally plate 136—was well equipped to meet this challenge, with a light- weight body and fenders that swept high over the front and rear wheels, leaving room above the tires to clear mud and snow with little effort and, if necessary, dig the car out of a snowbank. Lucy and Laury Schell took turns driving through rain, sleet, and snow for four days and nights, rarely sleeping and only stopping for fuel and check points. It was a close, hard-fought race: In the end, the Schells came in third, losing a second-place finish by a small margin.
The Schells were disappointed, but the Delahaye factory was pleased. To be in the Winner’s Circle, regardless of placement, was a powerful sales tool.
FIGONI ON DELAHAYE
22
LTON WATSON FINE BOO © DALTON WATSON FINE BOOKS © DALTON WATSON FINE BOOKS © DALTON WATSON FINE BOOKS ALTON WATSON F