Ep 1. Delahaye Fever

In the season 3 premiere of Restoration Garage, the team at the Guild of Automotive Restorers are tasked with bringing new life to a rare 1939 Delahaye Type 165 Cabriolet. This particular Delahaye is not just any car, but a one-of-a-kind creation designed by the legendary coachbuilder Figoni et Falaschi for the Paris Auto Salon.

The car arrives at the garage in a state of disrepair, with rusted metal and a deteriorating chassis. Even worse, much of the hand-crafted bodywork is missing or damaged beyond repair. However, the team is undeterred by the daunting restoration ahead and sets to work immediately, stripping the car down to its frame on the shop floor.

Over the course of the episode, the team tackles a variety of challenges in their quest to restore the Delahaye to its former glory. They scour the globe for replacement parts, including new headlight housings and a custom-made steering wheel to match the original. They also enlist the help of expert metalworkers to recreate the missing body panels using age-old techniques.

Throughout the restoration, tensions rise as the team works to meet the high expectations of the car's owner, who is deeply invested in seeing the Delahaye restored to its former perfection. The team must balance their desire to create a flawless final product with the challenges of working on such a rare and historically significant car.

As the project nears completion, the team faces one final hurdle: the car's elaborate paint job. The original Delahaye was known for its striking blue and yellow color scheme, which was meticulously hand-painted by Figoni et Falaschi back in 1939. Recreating this paintwork requires a true master of the craft, and the team turns to an expert painter to execute the delicate job.

Finally, after months of hard work, the completed Delahaye is unveiled to its delighted owner. The car is a true masterpiece, with every detail carefully restored to its original specifications. As the garage team looks back on the project, they are proud to have played a part in preserving a piece of automotive history and passing it on to future generations.