Million Franc Race

Last updated

The Million Franc Race, or Prix du Million, was an effort in 1937 by the French Popular Front to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German Mercedes-Benz and Auto Union racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi government in a (largely successful) attempt to dominate the sport, to "prove the superiority of the Aryan race". The prize money was a million francs, and to ensure that the competition tested each car's ultimate limits, rather than just the driver's skill in passing other drivers, the race was a time trial against the clock at the treacherous Autodrome de Montlhéry track, which had taken the life of the great Antonio Ascari.

Each car had to drive sixteen laps (200 kilometres (120 mi)) at an average speed of at least 146 km/h (91 mph) from a standing start. René Dreyfus was hired by Lucy O'Reilly Schell's Écurie Bleue team to drive a Delahaye 145 in testing and in the competition itself in which he risked death by setting a literally-blistering pace, wearing the special Dunlop tires down to the fabric but handily overwhelming all competitors except the Bugatti team. On the last day of the competition, the Bugatti entry, driven by Jean-Pierre Wimille, arrived. After spending most of the day repairing various mechanical problems, the Bugatti took to the track for its run towards sundown, accompanied by Dreyfus in the Delahaye in an attempt to protect his incipient victory. The two drivers pushed each other to incredible speed until the Bugatti once again broke under the strain, ensuring Delahaye the prize.

The victorious Delahaye 145, known as the "Million Franc Delahaye", was driven by Dreyfus in 1938 at the Pau Grand Prix, a tight circuit running through village streets, where he beat the legendary Rudolf Caracciola and his all-conquering 480 hp (358 kW) Silver Arrow, becoming a national hero in France.

One story tells us that when the Germans seized control of France during World War II, the "Million Franc Delahaye" was disassembled and hidden by sentimental French patriots to prevent it from falling into German hands, and its later whereabouts became unknown.

However, the fact is that Lucy O'Reilly Schell retained ownership of 48771, and her other four V12 engined racecars. She did not allow any "sentimental patriots" permission to dismantle and hide the car. Instead, she consigned it, and the other V12 racers, with The Wilson Garage's proprietor/owner Fernand Lacour, to be liquidated. Despite 48771 being advertised for sale, in mid 1938, not a single "sentimental patriot" expressed interest in buying it. Lacour secured storage for it in the south of France, near Lucy's new family home in neutral Monaco. The car was sold in 1945 to an unknown Nazi sympathizer, who commissioned Franay to design and build a low-slung attractive roadster body on the old Type 145 chassis. He vanished without paying Franay, who managed to have the car seized. Franay bought it at auction. Since then, two different cars have surfaced with credible claims to be the "Million Franc Delahaye", with two different collectors (Peter Mullin in 1987 for the Mullin Automotive Museum and/or Sam Mann) both claiming the privilege of owning this unique piece of automotive history.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugatti</span> 1909–1963 French car manufacturer

Automobiles Ettore Bugatti was a German then French manufacturer of high-performance automobiles. The company was founded in 1909 in the then-German city of Molsheim, Alsace, by the Italian-born industrial designer Ettore Bugatti. The cars were known for their design beauty and numerous race victories. Famous Bugatti automobiles include the Type 35 Grand Prix cars, the Type 41 "Royale", the Type 57 "Atlantic" and the Type 55 sports car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hellé Nice</span> French racing car driver (1900–1984)

Mariette Hélène Delangle (1900–1984), better known by her stage name Hellé Nice, was a French dancer and motor racing driver. She danced in Paris at the Hôtel Ritz, Olympia Hall and Casino de Paris, before her career was ended by a skiing accident. She then became a racing driver, using roadster cars built by companies such as Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, DKW, Ford, Hispano-Suiza, Renault and Rosengart. She competed in various Grand Prix motor racing, hillclimbing and rally events at a time when it was rare for a woman to do so. She won the Grand Prix Féminin and the Actor's Championship in 1929. Already famous in Paris, she became a household name in France in the early 1930s and raced as an exhibition dirt track driver for a season in the United States.

The Grand Prix du Comminges was an automobile race held in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry Schell</span> American racing driver (1921–1960)

Harry Lawrence O'Reilly Schell was an American racing driver. He was the first American driver to start a Formula One Grand Prix.

Charles Pozzi was a French racing driver who participated in one World Championship Formula One race in 1950, the year of its inception.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">René Dreyfus</span> French racing driver (1905–1993)

René Albert Dreyfus was a French racing driver active during the 1930s and 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delahaye</span> Defunct French manufacturing company

Delahaye was a family-owned automobile manufacturing company, founded by Émile Delahaye in 1894 in Tours, France. Manufacturing was moved to Paris following incorporation in 1898 with two marriage-related brothers-in-law, George Morane and Leon Desmarais, as Emile Delahaye's equal partners. The company built a low volume line of limited production luxury cars with coachbuilt bodies; trucks; utility and commercial vehicles; buses; and fire-trucks. Delahaye made a number of technical innovations, particular in its early years. After establishing a racing department in 1932, the company came to prominence in France in the mid-to-late 1930s, first with the International record-breaking Type 138; then, the Type 135 that famously evolved into the special short-wheelbase sports-racing Type 135CS; followed by the V12 types 145 and 155 racecars. Many races were won, and records set. The company faced setbacks due to the Second World War, and was taken over by amalgamation with arch competitor Hotchkiss in 1954. Both were absorbed by the large Brandt manufacturing organization, within months, with automotive products ended. Delahaye closed forever at the end of 1954, taking Delage along with it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1949 24 Hours of Le Mans</span> 17th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race

The 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 17th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 25 and 26 June 1949. Luigi Chinetti won the race for a third time in the first Ferrari barchetta by driving 22.5 hours. This race also saw the death of British driver Pierre Maréchal when his Aston Martin DB2 was involved in an accident between Arnage and Maison Blanche around 1:00 a.m. Marechal had attempted to pass another car there and he hit an embankment and the hapless Briton was crushed by the overturning car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1937 24 Hours of Le Mans</span> 14th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race

The 1937 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 14th Grand Prix of Endurance. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe on 19 and 20 June 1937. The race was won by Jean-Pierre Wimille and Robert Benoist in Roger Labric's works-supported Bugatti team, in one of the streamlined new Type 57G cars, at a record pace and exceeding 2000 miles in the race for the first time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1935 24 Hours of Le Mans</span> 13th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race

The 1935 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 13th Grand Prix of Endurance. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe on 15 and 16 June 1935. The race was won by Johnny Hindmarsh and Luis Fontés in a British Lagonda, breaking the run of four consecutive Alfa Romeo victories. A record number of 58 starters included a record number of British cars, at 37, dominating the smaller classes. Another notable point of the entry was four all-female cars, and a Le Mans record of ten women competing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formula Libre</span> Former motor racing class

Formula Libre, also known as Formule Libre, is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery. The name translates to "Free Formula" – in Formula Libre races the only regulations typically govern basics such as safety equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">René Le Bègue</span> French racing driver (1914–1946)

René Louis Paul Le Bègue was a French racing driver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1931 Grand Prix season</span> First year of the AIACR European Championship

The 1931 Grand Prix season was a watershed year, with the advent of the AIACR European Championship. After several years of Grand Prix racing in the doldrums with little technical development, 1931 saw new models come from all three main manufacturers: Bugatti, Maserati and Alfa Romeo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delahaye 175</span> Motor vehicle

The Delahaye Type 175 is a coachbuilt luxury automobile manufactured by French automaker Delahaye. Production build numbers were formally recorded from early 1948 to mid 1951, validating that 107 cars were built in the mechanically cloned three wheelbase series comprising the Types 175/175S, 178 and 180.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tunis Grand Prix</span> Grand Prix motor racing

The Tunis Grand Prix or Grand Prix de Tunis was a motor race held in the 1920s and 30s in Tunis, the capital of the African colony of the French protectorate of Tunisia.

The Algerian Grand Prix or Grand Prix d'Alger was a motor race held in the 1920s and 1930s at several coastal road courses in the department of French Algeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy O'Reilly Schell</span> American racing driver, team owner, and businesswoman

Lucy O'Reilly Schell was an American racing driver, team owner, and businesswoman. Her racing endeavours focused mainly on Grand Prix and rallying. She was the first American woman to compete in an international Grand Prix race and the first woman to establish her own Grand Prix team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delahaye 145</span> Motor vehicle

The Delahaye 145 is a luxury car, derived from a racecar design, manufactured by French automaker Delahaye. Based on a sporting tourer, it was designed to be capable for racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bugatti Type 51 Dubos</span> Motor vehicle

The Bugatti Type 51 Dubos Coupe is a one-off automobile originally built by Bugatti in 1931 as an open-top Bugatti Type 51 race car that was driven by legendary racer Louis Chiron, and then modified by Louis Dubos to be a luxury road coupe. It is one of the most valuable cars in the world, estimated at around $20 million dollars as of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Germaine Rouault</span>

Germaine Rouault was a French racing driver.

References

See also