What will be the future at Bugatti, will be the hybrid and electric automobiles, according to Rimac, and not even of the extraordinary kind. Bugatti will end up producing cars which will be more approachable, less powerful and at a higher production volume, he declared. This is an extraordinary decision for a brand which has made a name as an extreme elite, selling the fastest, the most expensive, and the most beautiful in the world. "For us, it is a matter of surviving as a company on the long term", declared Rimac during the visioconference. "We want to make the company financially independent, profitable and with a return on investment. We want to do so by putting the emphasis on efficiency." Rimac called the evolution natural, saying he would not "artificially separate" Bugatti and Rimac as individual brands within the new company if they merged beyond recognition over the next several years. "They might need to converge," he said.

Over the past week we heard nothing about poor old Stephan Winkelmann, who of course already had moved to Lamborghini, so VW could keep him within the Volkswagen group. Mr. Winkelmann's departure from Bugatti has now been officially declared.

Thus, we will see smaller Bugatti's, less expensive, and less exclusive. The current Chiron orders will be fulfilled, which will probably be the end of the large VR16 engine with 1600HP. I really doubt if Bugatti, out of the VW group, will be able to develop an all new smaller engine of it's own. A downsized 8-liter 16-cylinder to a 4-liter 8-cylinder may be the most logical choice. That will at least be far better than mating the hybrid system with an engine bought somewhere else.... Editor

A question: Can an electric car reach 300 MPH before the battery's are dead?

Road and Track had the following plea in an article titled "Mate Rimac Has to Figure Out the Future of Bugatti":
"So a note to Mate Rimac: You now control a company that has actually produced vehicles and delivered them to actual customers. It won’t be enough to merely do development or build speculative prototypes. You control something that carries forward a glorious heritage and outrageous ambition. Please don’t screw it up."

As expected, Volkswagen will not continue it's ownership of Bugatti SAS. It will be owned jointly by Rimac and Porsche, with Rimac owning the larger share, though Porsche actually owns about 25% of Rimac, thus in the end has the largest share of Bugatti. Bugatti will be part of the new joint venture Bugatti Rimac.

Thus; what will change? As we know, Bugattis were only assembled in the Atelier in Molsheim, none of the parts were actually made there, most of those were made in VW-factories in Germany, or other suppliers, mostly in Germany also. Development was done in the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, hence the German WOB-license plates of many of the prototype Bugattis.

Of course; most production contracts will continue, probably the first to be moved is the development center. if this will go to Porsche, to Rimac in Croatia or somewhere else (Molsheim? They do not have the engineers in Molsheim I guess) remains to be seen.

Engineering in Croatia focusses on electrically driven Vehicles, Mate Rimac states that even in this decennium there will be an all electric Bugatti. However, Bugatti will continue to produce automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine, which will be some sort of Hybrid though.

That Rimac, though still a very little-known company, is seriously investing can be seen in the Rimac campus which is currently under construction at a price tag of 200 million euro. This will house both Rimac Technology and Bugatti Rimac — Croatia, and may just become a new automotive epicenter.

There are also rumours that Bugatti will expand it's range of automobiles from just hypercars. Thus: let's see what happens, all predictions are difficult, especially when they concern the future...

Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, July 9, 2021

• 1930 Bugatti Type 49 open tourer, Chassis no. BC149, Estimate: £200,000 - 250,000 (€230,000 - 290,000): Not sold
• 1928 Bugatti Type 40 Torpedo sports, Chassis no. 40557 Engine no. 495, Estimate: £200,000 - 250,000 (€230,000 - 290,000): Not sold
• Original Bugatti Type 49 gearbox, Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (€4,700 - 7,000): Sold for £6,900 (€8,045) inc. premium
• 1977 Bugatti Type 35 Child's car by Tula engineering Chassis Number 25: Sold for £ 10,200 (€ 11,893) inc. premium

PORSCHE AND RIMAC AUTOMOBILI HAVE AGREED TO SET UP THE JOINT VENTURE BUGATTI RIMAC.

Today, Porsche and Rimac Automobili have finalized the plans to establish a new joint venture including Bugatti, named Bugatti Rimac. The two companies‘ CEOs Oliver Blume and Mate Rimac signed the relevant contracts, establishing the share split in Bugatti Rimac with 55 percent being held by Rimac Automobili and 45 percent by Porsche (which holds 24% in Rimac). The formation of the joint company is due to take place in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of antitrust authorities in several countries. Bugatti will be brought into the joint company by current owner Volkswagen and the shares will then be transferred to Porsche. The new company Bugatti Rimac combines the genes of both strong brands. Together they form an attractive automotive company, for customers as well as for employees.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. will remain at its historic headquarters in Molsheim, France, where it was founded in 1909 Not the same company as it is now, though.. The real descendant of Bugatti is making aircraft undercarriages a km or so down the road, ED.. Bugatti has always stood at the pinnacle of the automotive industry, exceeding the dreams of its customers and enthusiasts around the globe. With its long tradition and experience, Bugatti is a strong contributor to Bugatti Rimac, bringing in all of its know-how in manufacture and craftsmanship, carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, small series production, as well as a unique and experienced network of worldwide dealership partners.

Porsche and Rimac Automobili are the perfect partners to accompany Bugatti into the future. Porsche entered into a fruitful partnership with Rimac Automobili as early as 2018, subsequently increasing its shares in the young, agile and fast-paced Croatian automotive and technology company. Today, Porsche holds a 24 percent share in Rimac Automobili. Porsche itself is known as a leading sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart, Germany, having been the most profitable company within the Volkswagen Group. Rimac Automobili on the other hand has established itself as an industry pioneer in electric technologies, both as a technology supplier as well as an electric hypercar manufacturer with recent the launch of the new Rimac Nevera.

Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG: “We are combining Bugatti's strong expertise in the hyper sports car business with Rimac's tremendous innovative strength in the highly promising field of electric mobility. Bugatti is contributing a tradition-rich brand, iconic products, unique quality standards and craftsmanship, a loyal customer base and a global dealer network to the joint venture. In addition to technology, Rimac is contributing new development and organizational approaches.”

Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili: “This is a truly exciting moment in the short, yet rapidly expanding history of Rimac Automobili and this new venture takes things to a completely new level. I have always loved cars and can see at Bugatti where passion for cars can take you to. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am by the potential of these two brands combining knowledge, technologies and values to create some truly special projects in the future.”

Molsheim 23 06 2021

After extensive reviews of the most elite automobiles in the world, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport was selected as Robb Report's “Best Hypercar for 2021.”

Designed for agility, the Pur Sport has been widely celebrated for its ability to apply the brute power of the Chiron’s 16-cyclinder, 1500 horsepower engine to unlock a new dimension of dynamic cornering and tangible performance throughout its entire range of speed.

We're only halfway 2021... Maybe one of the competitors will launch an even better hypercar before the end of the year?... Not probable.

RM Sotheby's Milan auction, June 15, 2021

• 1931 Bugatti Type 46 Coupé 'Superprofilée', Chassis No. 46491, Engine No. 345
  Estimate: €500,000 - €700,000, Sold for €545,000

Bonhams' Bonmont Sale - Collector's Motor Car, June 20, 2021

• 1933 Type 49 Roadster, Chassis no. 49562, Engine no. 49116-L19
  Estimate: € 230,000 - 320,000: Withdrawn
• 1939 Type 57C 'Aravis' cabriolet, Chassis no. 57815 Engine no. 85C
  Estimate: € 640,000 - 910,000: Sold for €734,891 inc. premium

Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction, June 21, 2021

• 1926 Bugatti Type 35 A, Chassis no. 4627R
  Estimate: €300,000 - 400,000: Sold for €252,000 inc. premium
• 1926 Bugatti Type 38, Chassis no. 38325
  Estimate: €300,000 - 400,000: Sold for €246,000 inc. premium

Volkswagen-Bugatti already presented a whole range of versions based on the Chiron, this one could be called the "long tail" Chiron. In the drawing above, the difference with the "normal" Chiron is well demonstrated. Bugatti doesn't hesitate to put this Super Sport in a range of Super Sport Bugatti models, beginning with a real one: the Type 55. Then on to the EB110 and Veyron Super Sport models.

The newest version of the Chiron was already officially and publicly presented at the Milano Monza Motor Show the past week, together with the "Bolide".

Below: That what Bugatti themselves state about their newest "baby":

The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport – The Quintessence of Luxury and Speed

Molsheim, 8-6-2021

WITH THE CHIRON SUPER SPORT, BUGATTI PRESENTS A NEW HYPER SPORTS CAR THAT BOASTS A TRULY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF COMFORT AND TOP SPEED.

With a low-slung front, special aerodynamic shape at the sides and an extended rear for peak performance, it is clear at first sight that the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has been designed without compromise for optimal aerodynamic performance. Bugatti engineers developed the new hyper sports car for top speed while fully embracing both luxury and comfort.

“With the Chiron Super Sport, we are following our long-standing tradition of combining top speed with absolute luxury,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “The Chiron Super Sport stands for increased comfort and elegance coupled with even greater performance and higher speeds. With this new creation, we established another distinct personality within the Chiron family. It is the essence of what we learned and developed in recent years – the ultimate grand tourer.” The Chiron Super Sport embodies a part of Bugatti’s broad spectrum of performance – a counterpart to the Chiron Pur Sport, which was made for cornering and lateral agility.

Design – made for speed
Bugatti developed a new vehicle design with optimized aerodynamics for the Chiron Super Sport’s streamlined bodywork. The new Chiron Super Sport is an uncompromising reincarnation of the Bugatti design mantra, ‘form follows performance’. From the front splitter to the rear diffuser, every centimeter of its skin is designed for top speed.

At speeds over 420 km/h, a vehicle must offer sufficient downforce alongside minimal drag. “Our aim was to give the vehicle a neutral setup at its top speed while also giving it as streamlined a shape as possible.” explains Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti. The uplift forces exerted on the bodywork at 440 km/h are immense. The body of the Chiron Super Sport generates massive downforce to counter this uplift and perfectly balance the forces. “The design process was therefore in particular about achieving aerodynamic efficiency,” Heyl continues. The Chiron Super Sport’s extended rear, which is known as a long tail, gives it new proportions and very distinctive aesthetics. An optional, new, horizontal color split visually extends the proportions of the Chiron Super Sport even further, making the hyper sports car appear even lower.

For aerodynamic performance, the rear has grown by approximately 25 centimeters to hold the laminar flow to the bodywork for as long as possible. Bugatti designers also enlarged the diffuser cross-section, pushing the diffuser’s trailing edge higher and thereby reducing the rear’s trailing surface by 44 percent. As a result, the slipstream and wind resistance generated are significantly reduced – factors which otherwise decelerate the vehicle. A welcome benefit of these technical modifications is that the rear is afforded even better proportions and is both wider and lower-slung. The long tail helps to keep the laminar air flow attached to the body for as long as possible.

Even from afar, the Chiron Super Sport is unmistakable due to its repositioned tailpipe configuration. To boost the effect of the diffuser and give it more space, Bugatti has shifted the otherwise central exhaust system to the side, with the pipes aligned vertically. The exhaust system also sounds deeper and richer. “If we can generate downforce with the diffuser, there is no need for us to generate it with the drag inducing wings. This means we can retract the wing as far as possible in Top Speed mode for a drive with minimal drag,” explains Frank Heyl.

The front therefore has to be perfect, too, to achieve seamless airflow over the bodywork. On the Chiron Super Sport, features like side air curtains alongside the air intakes result in improved airflow from the front to the wheel arches, keeping it as close to the side of the vehicle. “This minimizes drag and improves the flow of air over the side radiators,” explains Frank Heyl. The new, focused facial expression with inclined headlamps and the modern design language fit perfectly with the aggressive character of the Chiron Super Sport.

The nine exhaust air holes on each fender are more than just a nod to the Bugatti EB 110 Super Sport – they also serve to release the air pressure from the front wheel wells, thereby generating streamlined downforce at the front axle. Additional outlets behind the front wheel arches likewise help to balance out the aerodynamic loads.

For even greater exclusivity, new aluminum wheels in a five-Y-spoke design are available only for the Chiron Super Sport. These new Super Sport wheels are also available in a diamond-cut option. The Chiron Pur Sport’s iconic magnesium wheels, which further reduce the weight of the unsprung mass, are also available as an option.

The interior is a combination of timeless elegance and comfort beyond compare. It is a blend of natural elements like leather and polished aluminum, together with high-tech carbon fiber applications. This is an interior perfectly suited to high-speed continental trips.

With a strong focus on technical maxims during development, the demands made of the new hyper sports car are exacting. Even at top speeds of up to 440 km/h, it must be effortless and safe to control.

Greater performance and higher revs per minute
Bugatti thoroughly overhauled the 8.0-liter W16 engine for the Chiron Super Sport, boosting its performance by 100 PS to 1,176 kW/1,600 PS. At the same time, the vehicle weight was reduced by a further 23 kilograms. The engineers made modifications to the turbochargers, oil pump, and cylinder head with valve train, as well as to the transmission and clutch. “We increased the revolutions per minute (RPM) for even greater longitudinal acceleration and an even more emotive driving experience,” says Michael Kodra, Head of Drive Development at Bugatti. The engine’s rpm was increased by 300 to up to 7,100 rpm, for noticeably increased agility. 1,600 newton meters of torque is now accessible from between 2,000 and 7,000 rpm, rather than up to 6,000 rpm.

With the improved performance created by larger turbochargers with more efficient compressor wheels, the seven-gear dual-clutch transmission at full load and full speed transitions from sixth to seventh gear at 403 km/h. The Chiron Super Sport accelerates from 0 to 200 km/h in 5.8 seconds and to 300 km/h in 12.1 seconds. The Chiron Super Sport accelerates from 0 to 400 km/h seven percent quicker than a Chiron. Seventh gear boasts 3.6 percent longer transmission.

In order to achieve seamless acceleration at full throttle, boost pressure must remain close to maximum while the hyper sports car rapidly builds momentum and reaches its optimal speed. When changing gear, the pressure dips only very briefly for a mere 0.3 seconds, to then return to full boost pressure of 2.8 bar to fill the Chiron Super Sport’s W16 engine. “In spite of the immense power and the enormous longitudinal acceleration, the Chiron Super Sport offers a comfortable, quiet, and balanced drive,” explains Michael Kodra. Even above 6,000 rpm, acceleration doesn’t diminish, giving the Chiron Super Sport a mighty thrust up to 7,100 rpm. “The attributes of this engine are a perfect fit for the fastest Chiron.” says Michael Kodra.

New chassis setup for top speed
Bugatti developed a new chassis specifically for the Chiron Super Sport’s high speeds and new aerodynamics. The steering systems and dampers create a firmer and more rigid connection to the vehicle from the driving feel resulting in tighter steering for smoother steering movements. Harder springs stabilize the entire vehicle at top speed, and the engineers additionally also retuned the electronically controlled chassis. It regulates the settings in real-time in a matter of six milliseconds and adapts to the driving behavior. There is a choice of four driving modes – EB, Handling, Autobahn, and Top Speed.

With the extended rear and modified front, the Chiron Super Sport achieves balanced aerodynamics at top speed. “Even on long bends taken at high speeds, the rear remains calm and neutral, resulting in a very composed drive in the Chiron Super Sport. Our focus at top speed is on absolute driving stability coupled with comfort,” explains Jachin Schwalbe, Head of Chassis Development at Bugatti. This unwavering directional stability together with the quietness and rigidity of the steering and noticeably increased performance make the Chiron Super Sport unique.

Newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires which have been optimized for top speed offer greater rigidity and smoothness than grip-optimized tires fitted to the Chiron Pur Sport. What’s more, these are the only tires that can consistently drive at up to 500 km/h. This is made possible by reinforced belts that can cope with immense forces – verified on the test bench originally built for the Space Shuttle. Every tire is x-rayed following production in order to rule out even the most minuscule of irregularities.

“We tweaked all possible parameters when developing the chassis in order to achieve the best possible setup for immense acceleration as well as the unique Bugatti luxury and comfort experience,” explains Jachin Schwalbe. “In comparison to the Chiron Pur Sport, which, as a free-revving vehicle with transverse dynamics offers a great deal of downforce up to 350 km/h, the Chiron Super Sport remains very neutral and quiet even above this in the uppermost speed ranges. This vastly increases the feeling of safety,” he explains. The result: extremely precise handling that the driver can predict together with confident steering and a quiet bodywork.

The three forefathers of the Super Sport
The new Chiron Super Sport joins the ranks of some famous Bugatti predecessors. Bugatti first unveiled the Type 55 Super Sport at the Paris Motor Show in 1931. The grand tourer combined thoroughbred race car technology with the comfort of a sophisticated two-seater. With the help of a compressor, the 2.3-liter eightcylinder engine delivered up to 160 PS and accelerated the Type 55 Super Sport to over 180 km/h. A number of the bodywork versions were designed by the young and talented Jean Bugatti, and only 38 vehicles were produced up to 1935.

Bugatti didn’t construct the next version of the Super Sport until 1993 to 1995. 39 of the EB 110 Super Sport were produced. The EB 110 was once again all about lightweight construction, performance, luxury, and exclusivity, and became the best super sports car of its age. It was the first super sports car with a carbon fiber bodywork, all-wheel drive, and four turbochargers. The V12 turbocharged engine delivered more than 610 PS and set multiple records in the EB 110 Super Sport, including a record speed of 351 km/h.

Two decades later, Bugatti brought the Super Sport back to life again. The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport boasting 1,200 PS broke the speed record in 2010 with a speed of 431.2 km/h, thereby securing a spot in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s fastest road-legal series sports car – a record which it held for many years. This is the only Veyron model to feature NACA ducts rather than the typical large air intakes and the only model on which the engine is largely covered. Bugatti developed the horizontal color split specifically for the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport.

History then repeated itself in summer 2019 when Bugatti exceeded the threshold of 300 mph with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, with the record-breaking vehicle hitting an incredible speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h). This served as the basis for a few-off model of just 30 units featuring a similar design and color elements.

Bugatti will soon begin with the manufacture of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France. Delivery of the hyper sports cars with a price tag of 3.2 million euros (net) is scheduled to start early 2022.

Read this interesting article from Classic & Sportscar, by Mick Walsh

Bonhams Bond street Sale auction, London, May 19, 2021

• 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis No. BC43, Engine No. 137T Estimate: €350,000 - 580,000, Sold for €388,377 inc. premium
• Bugatti gearbox casting (Brineton Engineering), GP type with lid, Estimate: € 1,200 - 2,300, Sold for €1138 inc. premium
• Bugatti GP-type front axle, Estimate: € 1,700 - 2,300, Sold for €1205 inc. premium
• Bugatti rear axle casing, believed Jarrot Engineering, Estimate: € 580 - 930, Sold for €1138 inc. premium

Bonhams Amelia Island auction, May 20, 2021

• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Franay, Chassis No. 57127, Engine No. 52, Sold for US$ 1,325,000 (€ 1,087,134) inc. premium
• Private Omnibus by Million & Guiet, once owned by Ettore Bugatti, Sold for US$ 106,325 (€ 87,237) inc. premium
• Replica Bugatti Baby, Sold for US$ 6,950 (€ 5,702) inc. premium

Bugatti's Type 57 SC Atlantic (the 4th one) is the automotive world's Holy Grail: disappeared without a trace, often searched for, never found. Until now. At least, that's what the many fans of the French supercar brand hope. The reason is a remarkable action by Bugatti on Instagram: a burst of 15 black and white photographs with teasing messages about a search of 374 days and a big reveal on May 31, 2021.

Flashback to the Geneva Motor Show, 2019. Bugatti presents La Voiture Noire, a pitch-black concept car of which only one copy - a one-off - will be made. Completely by hand. And with a corresponding price tag: at least 11 million euros plus taxes. "La Voiture Noire," said Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann, is "more than a modern reinterpretation of Jean Bugatti's Type 57 SC Atlantic, this is a true hymn to its beauty."

Mythical coupé
The Type 57 SC Atlantic is an elegant sports coupé, created in 1935 on the drawing board of Jean Bugatti, the son of founder Ettore. With its unprecedented modern line, striking wheel arches and visible seam from nose to boot, it is one of the most mythical Bugattis ever. And fast too: up to 200 kilometers per hour. And that at a time when the community was still moving by horse and cart. Only four were built between 1936 and 1938. It is known where three of them are, because they occasionally participate in a concours d'Elegance. For example, one is in the garage of fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Not three actually; one was hit by a train in the 1950's, and was "Rebuilt", though with many more new parts than original ones....

But where the fourth example has gone - if it still exists - is a mystery. And it just so happens to be the one that belonged to Jean Bugatti. The only one with jet black bodywork, nicknamed La Voiture Noire. Bugatti junior had taken over the management of the factory from his father in 1936, but was killed in a car crash three years later, barely 30 years old.

Gone up in smoke
A year later, the Nazis were on the verge of invading France. It was decided to move all cars - including his son's coupé - and all tools to Bordeaux, to a factory far from the German border, and thus from possible war activity. Everything was loaded onto the train in Molsheim, but La Voiture Noire would never reach Bordeaux. Theories are buzzing. One of the most persistent trails is that Ettore convinced everyone that the final destination was Bordeaux, but that he eventually had the car taken to a secret shelter. An underground wine cellar? Or a barn in a godforsaken French farmhouse, whether or not bricked up in a hidden niche?

Unfortunately, Ettore can no longer tell, the man died in 1947. Or was the train intercepted by the Nazis and the car seized? The American Monuments Man Foundation, which tracks down art objects stolen by Nazis, does not rule out the possibility that the car is still somewhere in Germany. If the car still exists, it would be worth 100 million dollars (more than 82 million euros).

Searched for 374 days
And now suddenly there is that campaign on Instagram. "Day 374. Have you ever wanted to find something so stubbornly that you had no choice but to go after it and start the hunt?" Or: “It was a long way to Bordeaux, so close to the Atlantic Ocean. The lost Type 57 SC Atlantic should have arrived here in 1940 instead of disappearing. I can still feel its overwhelming power throughout the city and its eternal fortresses. ” Although it is mainly that one photo, with in the side mirror of the new Voiture Noire an image of the rear of the mythical predecessor, which makes fans crazy. Would the only real La Voiture Noire have been found after all?

Or is it just a marketing stunt to unveil the final version of the successor, as automotive journalists think? And who knows also the identity of the buyer: in addition to the name of a Saudi prince, that of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is especially talked about. “Appointment on May 31, 2021”, it says at the fifteenth and last photo. So please be patient.

Bring a Trailer online auction, April 30, 2021, USA

1927 Bugatti Type 38A Grand Sport
Chassis number 38470, Engine number 209: Sold for $410,000

Bonhams auction: 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco', April 23, 2021, France

1934 Bugatti T57 Ventoux
Chassis 57119, Engine No. 34 , Estimate: € 350,000 - 450,000: Sold for € 385,250, including premium

Stanislas Machoïr auction, April 17, 2021, France

• Mido for Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti's personal watch, Estimate: € 80,000 - 150,000, sold for € 220,000, Including premium: € 280,700
• Bugatti T49 Cabriolet, Chassis 49481, Estimate on demand: Withdrawn

Following the various questions and debates about the Mido EB watch that will be on sale by Stanislas Machoïr on April 17, 2021, it is possible for us to give the following facts concerning this piece:

• The case N ° 261492 is indeed that of Ettore Bugatti's personal watch.
• The watch originally had a leather strap like all other Mido EB watches. Michel Bugatti, son of Ettore Bugatti replaced it with a gold bracelet.
• We also note that the dial has since been cleaned and that the original straight hands have been replaced by a bluish steel set in the Mido spirit.
• The back of the case has been debossed and polished.
• My father, Michel, sold this watch at auction in Paris in 1986. Photos of the watch before its sale by Michel above.
• It was sold by its purchaser to a Japanese collector in 1989.
• Then it reappears in an auction in New York at Antiquorum on December 11, 2008. Last known trace before it was put on sale by the Stanislas Machoir auction house.

Caroline BUGATTI - Cyril GAUTIER

Thanks to Mrs Daniel LAPP and Jaap HORST www.bugattipage.com for their collaboration.

Original statement in French

---- End of statement -----

Thus, it can be concluded that the casing of this watch belonged to Ettore Bugatti himself; as for the mechanism; in 1986 the number of the mechanism was not recorded. Thus, it can not be proven that the mechanism is the same as in the watch of Ettore Bugatti.

Mido Bugatti watches that have been on offered, including this one:

• 17-4-2021: Watch with case no. 261492, mechanism number: 3733 (probably), Original owner: Ettore Bugatti, Estimate: €80 - 150k, Link to the auction

• 28-10-2020: Watch with case no. 261502 (Silver), mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: unknown, Estimate: €2000 - 3000 (result not known), Link to the auction

• 18-9-2016: Watch with case no. 200740, mechanism number: 4108, Original owner: Unknown, Sold at €12,605, Link to the auction

• 8-2-2013: Watch with case no. 220128, mechanism number: 2784, Original owner: Albert Divo (to commemorate his victory in a Bugatti at the Targa Florio of 1928), Sold at: €35,702 , Link to the auction

• 4-2-2011: Watch with case no. 307218, mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Sold at €24,227, Link

• 8-2-2009: Watch with case no. 307218, mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Estimate €15,000 - 25,000 (no result, not sold?), Link

• 11-12-2008: Watch with case no. 261492, mechanism number: 3733, Original owner: Ettore Bugatti (not known at the time of the auction), Sold at €10,084, Link to the auction

• 15-8-2008: Watch with case no. unknown (Modified case?), mechanism number: 8306, Original owner: unknown, Sold for: $55,575 , Link

• 24-6-2005: Watch with case no. 200782, mechanism number: 4099, Original owner: Elizabeth Junek, Estimate € 30,000 - 32,000 (result not stated), Link to the auction

• 12-2-2002: Watch with case no. 220142, mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: "Close family friend", Sold at: €17,625, Link to the auction

• 12-4-1997: Watch with case no. 261493 (Different watch-face), mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: Ernest Friderich, Sold for: CHF 11,500 , Link

• 15-12-1990: Watch with case no. unknown, mechanism number: unknown, Original owner: Louis Chiron (as a souvenir of winning the Klausen hillclimb, in Switzerland, in 1927, 29 and 30, the case states 1928 in error), Sold for: 8.9 M Yen (approx €65.000) , Link

  Others: We know that 261490 belonged to Dreyfus, and 307215 was that of Jean Bugatti.
  Other watches were given to Mr. Le Prandieres: coach builder for Bugatti in Paris, and Col. W. Sorel, British representative for Bugatti.

Mido records confirm that the first of the four series of Bugatti watches they produced, was a batch of 54 pieces with serial numbers 200736-200789 inclusive, produced in 1925-26.
Then three later series, two in gold and one in silver, were produced between 1929 and 1932, and were each of twelve pieces, the 2nd series was 261484-261495 (gold), while the silver series contained the number 261502. the last series (gold) contained the numbers 307215 to 307218.

However, looking at all the watches sold over the last decades, there must have been at least one more series, as 220128 and 220142 also exist. Assuming that these are from the same series, this series consisted of at least 15 watches.

Of the 90 watches produced, fewer than 20 examples are believed to have survived to the present day (10 of which are listed above). These watches were commissioned by Ettore Bugatti from Mido and given as gifts to his racing drivers and later to principal members of his factory staff.

Movement of these watches: Mido 15 jewels, (3) adjustments, Swiss made, manual wind, stem wind, stem set.

By the way, the radiator watch was not Ettore Bugatti's idea, as the Mido advert on the right shows!

Very interesting video made by John Staveley

This is a short biography of William Grover, a works Bugatti driver, illustrated with period photographs from a number of sources including The Bugatti Trust and private collections. The photographs were chosen for their historical content rather than quality.

Throughout his career he was supported by the lovely Yvonne who later presented “The Williams Trophy” to the Bugatti Owners’ Club.

Go here to see the video

Don't forget to switch to full screen!

For just €10,074!

Small detail: It's 1:4 scale ...
However, from the Photographs you would not know it's not the real thing. Not even the engineers at Bugatti would see the difference!

The fastest, most powerful and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history at the time of its launch, the Chiron was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. Master-minded by Achim Anscheidt, every element of the Chiron was designed to be a combination of reminiscence to its history, taking its name from Bugatti racing legend Louis Chiron, and the most innovative technology. The result was a unique creation of enduring value, and breath-taking automotive accomplishment. Its sophisticated design, innovative technology, and iconic, performance-oriented form made it a unique masterpiece of art, shape and technique, pushing boundaries beyond imagination. The Chiron was an attempt to create something very different from contemporary engine manufacturers, such as Ferrari and McLaren with their leanings towards hybrid technology.

At the heart of the Chiron was its quad-turbocharged eight litre W16 engine. This unique masterpiece generated an incredible 1,578 hp and 1,600 Nm of torque, with four high-performing turbochargers worked in a two-stage controlled configuration. A remarkable 60,000 litres of air were pumped through the engine every minute whilst, simultaneously, 800 litres of water per minute circulated through its core, guaranteeing the cooling of the engine to generate the extraordinary power. A new titanium exhaust system with reduced gas back pressure and lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre, maximised power and performance. The intelligent air intake management significantly improved aerodynamics and enhanced the cooling efficiency for engine and brakes., whilst the distinctive quad LED headlights also served as air intakes to the front brakes.

The first engine model Amalgam has made since the early 2000s, this very highly detailed and meticulously finished example of the Chiron’s immense W16 engine echoes the same large 1:4 scale model previously made of the Ferrari 049 engine that powered the F1-2000. Measuring in at 44cm (18in) long and 22cm (9in) high, each individual material in the engine has been carefully and artfully reproduced at scale using special finishes as befits the Bugatti Chiron design. The accurate replication of the actual engine has relied heavily on Amalgam’s close relationship with the Bugatti design team. With some 1,040 individual parts, this 1:4 replica shows every visible detail of the engine right down to the numerous parts labels and barcodes.

The Bugatti Chiron Engine and Gearbox is limited to only 99 pieces.

The "Berline de Voyage" has made the voyage to its new home, back in Europe

The Blackhawk Collection has sold its Bugatti Royale, the famed “The Berline de Voyage” that was hidden from the Nazis during World War II, to a European collector, and at a price that a person involved in the sale says is the most ever paid for a pre-war automobile.
Editor: strangely; this Berline de Voyage was reported sold to Korea, already in 1995... Probably Don Williams was involved in the current sale.

The transaction was reported on Facebook by former collector car auctioneer Rick Cole after the car arrived in Europe from its previous home in the museum collection in northern California. Don Williams of the Blackhawk said Cole “was a teammate” in the sale.

While the price paid for the car has not been shared, Cole indicated it certainly was more than the previous highest amount paid for any pre-war automobile, which was the $22 million spent in 2018 for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ roadster formerly owned by actor Clark Gable at the Gooding & Company auction at Pebble Beach.
Supposedly, the sale of the Bugatti Atlantic to Peter Mullin was more; reports state $32 million

Ettore Bugatti planned a run of 25 of his largest vehicles and dubbed them the Royales with the intention of selling them to kings and princes. But the Great Depression limited sales and only seven cars were constructed, and Bugatti sold only three of them. One was destroyed in a crash. A new chassis was built to replace this, but received the old chassis number 41100. Thus: 7 chassis built, of which one re-build

Chassis 41150 was probably one of the earliest Royales built, though the exact order is unknown. 41150 received it's chassis number not until the time of the sale, after the war, and after Ettore had died.. It stretches about 21 feet in length and weighs around 7,000 pounds. Like the others, it has a huge 12.8-liter straight-8 engine.

The Berline de Voyage was among the cars that did not sell initially and was kept by Bugatti and, with 41100, the “Coupe Napoleon,” was kept at the Bugatti home in Ermenonville, France. After the war, both cars were purchased from Bugatti’s daughter, L’Ebe, by American sportsman and racer Briggs Cunningham.

Cunningham spent several thousand dollars to have the cars restored in France and finally brought them to the US in early 1951. A year later, he sold 41150 to early car collector Cameron Peck, and the car later became part of the famed Bill Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada.

When the Harrah Collection went to auction in 1986, the Royale was purchased by Texas real-estate developer Jerry Moore for a then-record price of $6.5 million. Moore, whose car collection included more than two dozen Duesenbergs, kept the car for more than a year, then sold it for more than $8 million to Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan.

Don Williams and business partner Ritchie Clyne, who together owned the car collection showcased at the Imperial Palace hotel in Las Vegas, bought the car from Monaghan in the early 1990s.

Williams noted that people might consider themselves to be the owners of cherished collector cars, but they really are just temporary caretakers.

“There’s a time in our lives when we get to take care and have fun with the cars we like,” he told the ClassicCars.com Journal of the sale of the famed Bugatti. “We’re all just caretakers.” But, he added, “The legacy of the cars is the good friends we make along the way.”

Source: Larry Edsall, journal.classiccars.com, Top photo: Rick Cole

Volkswagen in talks with Rimac over Bugatti joint venture

Volkswagen Group boss Herbert Diess has confirmed plans to spin off Bugatti into a joint venture between Porsche and EV specialist Rimac – but has denied reports it could sell the brand outright.

• VW is currently transferring the responsibility for Bugatti to Porsche
• Porsche has increased its stake in Rimac from 15.5 percent to 24 percent
• It is yet unclear whether Porsche and Rimac would take an equal share in the proposed Rimac-Porsche joint venture to control Bugatti

As we reported earlier, Volkswagen would consider selling a controlling interest in the French hypercar maker to Rimac as part of a financial deal that involved Porsche increasing its investment in the Croatian firm. Porsche recently increased its stake in Rimac from 15.5 percent to 24 percent in a deal worth £60.4 million.

During the Volkswagen Group's annual media conference, Diess said that responsibility for Bugatti is currently being transferred to Porsche, which would then discuss a possible joint venture with Rimac. "Transferring Bugatti to Rimac isn't true," said Diess. "Porsche is currently preparing a partnership that's going to be under discussion with Rimac, and Porsche will be taking care of that.”

"The whole thing isn't yet finalised. What we want to do is transition responsibility of Bugatti to Porsche, and Porsche in all probability will establish a joint venture with Rimac, with a minority share of Porsche." It's not clear whether any potential Bugatti joint venture would involve Porsche and Rimac taking an equal share.

Diess added that the decision to move responsibility for Bugatti within the Volkswagen Group to Porsche is because "we believe that Bugatti will get an environment that's stronger than being here in Wolfsburg in the volume segment." He elaborated,: "We have more synergies between Bugatti and Porsche over there, such as carbonfibre bodies and high-performance batteries."

Diess' comments come just weeks after Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said Bugatti and Rimac were a good fit. Blume also said that various scenarios were being discussed for Bugatti and that he believed a solution would be reached within the first half of 2021.

Sadly, any tie-up between Bugatti and Rimac will likely mean the 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 Bugatti currently uses to power its cars will be phased out at the end of the Chiron's product cycle, currently estimated to be around 2024.

Although VW Group has not yet committed to a fixed date for the end of the internal-combustion engine, the automaker aims to be the global leader for electric vehicles by 2025 at the latest. With Bugatti being a halo for the company, it makes sense the hypercar brand will also be electric by this date.

Bring a Trailer online auction, March 4, 2021, USA

• Bugatti Type 55 Gangloff replica project
  Known as 55209R, chassis number 49531, engine: C & G replica
  Highest bid: $120,000, reserve not met

Bonhams' Legends of the Road auction London, UK, February 19, 2021

• 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Corsica Roadster, chassis 57503, Estimate: € 5,700,000 - 8,000,000: Sold for € 4,676,000 (£4,047,000) inc. premium

• Bugatti T57/57S Rear tower, Sold for £ 3,187 (€ 3,684) inc. premium
• Bugatti Brescia 16 Valve Engine Block, Sold for £ 1,020 (€ 1,179) inc. premium
• Bugatti T57/57S Engine Block, Sold for £ 2,550 (€ 2,947)
• Bugatti T57/57S Gearbox with component parts, Sold for £ 24,000 (€ 27,743)

All results

Artcurial “Parisienne 2021” Auction, February 5, 2021

• 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster by Vanvooren, Chassis 55204, Engine n°5. Estimate 4,000,000 - 6,000,000 €: Not sold

Five automotive masterpieces from Molsheim were the five most valuable vehicles sold at auction internationally in 2020. Despite the pandemic, historic Bugattis broke records at the auction houses Bonhams and Gooding & Company: never before have the five most expensive cars sold at auction been produced by one single manufacturer.

Bugatti automobiles have always been exclusive. But as their age increases, so does their value – as shown by an analysis carried out by Classic Analytics, a company specialising in international market analysis and valuation of classic cars worldwide. “Bugattis from the Ettore and Jean Bugatti era, especially in their original condition and with a history of racing, have always been among the most expensive classic cars on the market. This trend has held steady and in fact even increased despite the general decline in interest in pre-war vehicles,” says Frank Wilke, Managing Director of Classic Analytics. Classic Analytics belongs to the Hagerty Group, the largest classic car service provider in the USA. The top ten ranking is based on an internal auction database in which all international classic car auctions over the course of a year are observed and evaluated.

“This year certainly presented challenges, but it opened the door for Gooding & Company to create new opportunities to maintain our connection with our automotive community and enthusiasts around the world,” says David Gooding, Gooding & Company President and Founder. We held our first-ever UK sale which set many new records that include selling the most expensive Bugatti at public auction and selling the top two most valuable lots of 2020; the 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports and the 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante.”

“We were honoured and extremely proud to have been entrusted with these exceptional and historic Molsheim masterpieces,” said James Knight, Chairman of Bonhams Group. “Both represented superb Type 55's – one a special coachbuilt convertible by Figoni, the other the iconic artistry of the Jean Bugatti Super Sport roadster. As one would expect, both cars attracted multiple bidders. Not surprisingly, the Bugattis won the accolade as the most valuable motorcars sold at their respective auctions. and both also achieved the highest results at auction during Paris Rétromobile 2020 and the 2020 Amelia Car Week respectively.”

1st: Bugatti Type 59 Sports (Chassis 57248)
A 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports with the chassis number 57248 was auctioned for USD 12,681 million at Gooding & Company in London in September 2020. This makes it one of the most expensive Bugattis ever to come under the hammer at a public auction. The Bugatti Type 59 Sports was created as a racing car for the Bugatti Grand Prix factory team and won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, later finishing third in the Monaco Grand Prix. Some of the most famous and successful Bugatti racing drivers were at the wheel of this car – including Robert Benoist, Louis Chiron, René Dreyfus, Achille Varzi and Jean-Pierre Wimille. After the successful racing season, Bugatti converted the Type 59 into a sports car. King Leopold of Belgium purchased it in 1937. The vehicle remains in its original, unrestored condition to this day. It is powered by an 8-cylinder in-line engine with a capacity of 3.3 litres and a supercharger. The power output was around 250 PS; other engine variants reached up to 380 PS in the Type 59, which was built until 1936.

2nd: Bugatti Type 57S Atalante (Chassis 57502)
A sum of EUR 10.44 million was paid by the buyer of a rare and highly desirable 1937 Type 57S Atalante with the chassis number 57502 at the Gooding & Company auction in London. It is a genuinely distinctive model that was purchased by British racing driver and Bugatti enthusiast Earl Howe in 1937. The Bugatti Type 57S Atalante is one of only 17 cars that Jean Bugatti fitted with his sensational Atalante body. The power unit is a turbocharged 3.3-litre eight-cylinder engine that delivers an output of up to 175 PS in the Type 57S.

3rd: Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster (Chassis 55220)
A 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport Roadster with a factory body designed by Jean Bugatti fetched USD 7.1 million at Bonhams’ Amelia Island auction in March 2020. Bugatti produced a total of just 38 Type 55 Super Sport chassis up until 1935. Eleven of the 14 roadster-bodied vehicles built by Jean Bugatti are still in existence today. Victor Rothschild, later the third Baron Rothschild, purchased the Type 55 as a new car and kept it in his collection for many decades. In 1985, Boston professor Dean S. Edmonds Jr. acquired this Bugatti with the chassis number 55220 for GBP 440,000. This made it the most expensive car ever sold in Britain at the time. In Edmonds’ ownership, the Bugatti was restored and won first place in its class at Pebble Beach in 1993.

4th: Bugatti Type 35C (Chassis 4871)
A Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix dating from 1928 fetched USD 5.23 million at a Gooding & Company auction in London – a record for the Type 35. This car with the chassis number 4871 was originally built for the Targa Florio 1928. The first private owner was Jannine Jennky, a French racing driver who drove it to overall victory in the first ever Coupe de Bourgogne in Dijon. Now more than 90 years old, the vehicle had only four owners after 1932. It remains in its original, unrestored condition. Up until 1930, Bugatti produced the Type 35C with an 8cylinder in-line engine and a capacity of two litres. With the help of a Roots-type supercharger, the power unit delivers an output of 125 PS, enabling a top speed of over 200 km/h more than 90 years ago.

5th: Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport (Chassis 55221)
A Bugatti enthusiast paid USD 5.07 million for a 1931 Type 55 in Paris last February. This made the vehicle with the chassis number 55221 the most expensive car to be sold at one of the Rétromobile 2020 auctions. This is an outstanding vehicle: Louis Chiron and Count Guy Bouriat-Quintart co-drove it as a factory racing car in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1932. The later owner had a unique Figoni body put on the chassis. With this body, the Type 55 remained in the family for over 60 years. Its 2.3-litre 8-cylinder supercharged engine produces an output of some 160 PS.

And, what were the next?
6: 1955 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 9D – $4,946,666
7: 1954 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 7 – $4,946,666
8: 1953 Alfa Romeo B.A.T. 5 – $4,946,666 (- Collectively, the fantastic three totaled an auction high of 14 million)
9: 2001 Ferrari 550 GT1 Prodrive – $4,290,000
10: 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Speciale – $4,257,007

With the presentation of the Bugatti Bolide last autumn, the French luxury brand Bugatti unveiled its most extreme car to date. Now the Bolide has been officially voted the most beautiful and aesthetic hyper sports car in the world. The Bugatti Bolide won the "Hypercars" category at the prestigious Festival Automobile International in Paris. An expert jury voted the experimental vehicle from Molsheim the most beautiful hyper sports car of 2020 by a substantial margin from a total of four finalists.

In its 36th year, the Festival Automobile International gave awards to cars from a range of categories according to their beauty, aesthetics, form and design. The expert judging panel was made up of 14 judges, chaired by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Anne Asensio, Vice President of Design Experience at Dassault Systèmes.

The jury selected a winner in each of a total of 15 categories.
Since 1985, the Festival Automobile International has celebrated the automobile in its most beautiful, creative and exciting forms. The industry itself as well as the changes taking place within it are examined, and the trends analysed. The Festival is also committed to shining a spotlight on those men and women who make the car what it is each and every day, who transform it and adapt it to meet changes in society, environmental requirements, economic upheavals and geopolitical challenges. Each year, the Festival judges reward not only major innovations but also the bold ideas and talent of those involved in the automotive field.

“We are extraordinarily proud that the Festival Automobile International judges were as enthusiastic about the design of the Bugatti Bolide as Bugatti fans all around the world. The experiment to demonstrate the brute force of our W16 engine in a lightweight and high-performance car has resulted in a driving experience akin to riding on a cannonball. My thanks goes to the entire Bugatti team, who have once again demonstrated with this incredible car the full extent of their creativity and technological expertise,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “Our focus has always been on innovation and aesthetics from the very beginning. Receiving this award is an affirmation of our work.”

With the presentation of the Bolide in October 2020, Bugatti introduced the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest vehicle concept in the company’s recent history. The French luxury car manufacturer designed an ultra-lightweight shell around the iconic 8.0-litre W16 engine with up to 1,850 PS. Weighing just 1,240 kilograms, the Bolide achieves a phenomenal weight-to-power ratio of just 0.67 kilograms per PS. The top speed has been calculated at well over 500 km/h – without sacrificing maximum handling and agility.

“The Bugatti Bolide has been both the greatest joy and the greatest challenge of my 17-year career in Bugatti Design,” says Achim Anscheidt, Design Director at Bugatti. “Combining the extreme aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements into a complete and integral expression of Bugatti's unique DNA is the clearest demonstration of our motto ‘Form follows performance’. The fact that this sequential iteration between technical development and design has been recognised by the jury on a stylistic level is a source of enormous pride for the Bugatti design team, and we are extremely grateful for that.”

Also read the article in the Volume 26, Issue 1 of the Bugatti Revue on the design of the Bugatti Bolide.

This one is chassis 57512, and there are some differences of course: This car is fitted with a supercharger, thus it is a T57SC; experts differ in opinion about if the car was fitted with one at the factory in 1939, or at some later date.
Obviously there's a difference in the body, notably the different wings.
And there's a difference in condition, where 57503 is largely unrestored, has not been driven for half a century and was also recently re-discovered, and now for the first time since ages on the open market. 57512 seems to be perfectly restored, and has been on offer for a while now, for example on PreWarCar.com, but also in a RM Sotheby's Auction at Amelia Island on March 8-9, 2019 (Estimate: $6,000,000 - $7,500,000) and at the Mecum Auctions Monterey, on August 17, 2019, but failed to sell so far.

Thus: Take your pick of a low-slung Bugatti Corsica Roadster! Or, this is you chance to acquire both, and put them in the same stable!

More about this car and the auction in the Events section

• Exceptional, exquisitely detailed restyled coachwork
• Mechanically upgraded, including hydraulic brakes, in-period
• Beautifully presented, concours-winning Alan Taylor restoration
• Documented by marque historians Pierre Yves-Laugier and Kees Jansen; accompanied by history file

The records of French Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier note that chassis number 57156 was assembled in June 1934 for Belgian customer, mill owner, and sportsman Frederic Deflandre, with engine number 48. This rolling chassis was bodied by Bugatti as their Galibier, a four-door sedan, on 29 June 1934, and delivered through Parisian agents Bucar the same day.

In 1936 the car was rebuilt for Mr. Deflandre by the factory, with a new, updated second-series frame of the same number, 57156, still paired with an engine bearing number 48. This car remained with Mr. Deflandre until April 1938, at which point it is believed to have been traded to the Belgian coachbuilders d’Ieteren toward a new body for his new Bugatti.

A local Belgian coachbuilder then produced a new two-passenger cabriolet body for 57156. The identity of the shop has never been conclusively established; Dutch Bugatti historian Kees Jansen attributes the work to Paul Nee, although no documentary proof has been found. It may well have been d’Ieteren themselves, and indeed, the work bears some resemblance to a drophead body d’Ieteren constructed on chassis 57589. It is important to note that at this time the car was also upgraded to the latest and best specifications, including the installation of hydraulic brakes.

The car remained in Antwerp for many years, then was acquired by the famous Bugatti dealer Jean de Dobbeleer, still on a 1930–40 Belgian registration 154486. Mr. de Dobbeleer claimed that the car had been traded in by a priest, Abbé Dubois de Sévry, to whom it had been donated by a Mr. Cadans. Inspection of the car’s numbers by Mr. Laugier indicates that the rear axle and gearbox are both original and authentic replacements from other Type 57s, likely dating to de Dobbeleer’s ownership.

The Bugatti was subsequently exported to the United States in 1955 by Gene Cesari for Porsche dealer Jack Fritsche, passing next to Al Wall and, in 1958, to Joseph Fine of Silver Spring, Maryland. Mr. Fine began restoring the Bugatti but in the 1960s was distracted from the work, and the dismantled car was stored on his property until his death in 2003. It was then sold by his widow; its next owner elected to have it fully restored by Alan Taylor Company of Escondido, California.

As part of its total restoration, the car was reimagined with new fenders, door skins, hood, and trim, beautifully hewn in aluminum by Mr. Taylor’s employee Edouard de Vaucorbeil; these subtly reworked elements were inspired by the most alluring of in-period Continental design, artfully incorporating elements that instantly recall the likes of Gangloff. The finish of the leather, woodwork, and paint is all spectacular and a tribute to its restorers’ craftsmanship. Exquisite details, such as the addition of a wine basket and beautifully crafted fitted luggage (which stow vertically behind the seats), as well as a Type 57C-style dashboard—to say nothing of the intricately turned firewall and engine beneath the hood—are found wherever one looks.

In its present form the cabriolet has been proudly exhibited at several concours d’elegance, including several times at Amelia Island; the annual La Jolla Concours, where it was judged Best of Show Pre-war in 2013; and Keels and Wheels, where it received the People’s Choice award in 2014. Further, it has been a First Prize winner (number 3176) in Classic Car Club of America National judging.

With its stunning restyled coachwork, which has been maintained in excellent, restored condition, this well-documented Type 57 embodies the engineering excellence and high style for which vintage Bugattis are rightly known.

More info

• 1929 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis 4938, Engine 192T
• 1928 Bugatti Baby, "chassis" 358 A
• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier, Chassis 57224

1929 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix

Chassis 4938, Engine 192T

Estimate: not available

Considered by many to be among the finest racing cars of its period, and no doubt one of the most enduring automotive designs of all time, the Type 35 Grand Prix is the definitive Bugatti. Initially unveiled at the 1924 Grand Prix of Lyon, the Type 35 came equipped with an overhead-cam eight-cylinder engine and produced an impressive 95 hp. Its extremely lightweight chassis was emblematic of Bugatti’s revolutionary engineering, including a hollow front axle and cast aluminum wheels with integrated brake drums, beneath a lightweight, two-place aluminum body. With 340 built, the Type 35 dominated racing in the late 1920s and early 1930s, resulting in a total of over 1,000 wins.

This particular example, a 1929 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, features the powerful 2.3-liter, eight-cylinder engine fitted with a Roots-type supercharger. As documented in historian Hugh Conway’s Grand Prix Bugatti, this example, chassis 4938, was originally equipped with engine no. 192T, which it retains today. 4938 experienced a brief but brilliant racing career, winning the 1929 Grand Prix de l’ACF and Spanish Grand Prix, raced by the legendary Monegasque driver Louis Chiron and the notable English driver William Grover-Williams. This example continued to achieve praise for its incomparable excellence, and in 1951, it appeared on the cover of Road & Track magazine.

From 1952 to 2000, 4938 remained in the ownership of a single family, during which time it underwent a restoration carried out to the gleaming concours standards in the late 1980s. It was proudly exhibited at Pebble Beach and the Meadow Brook Concours d’Elegance in 1989. After transferring into the hands of English collector Chris Drake, 4938 underwent yet another comprehensive, well-documented restoration that was completed by Bugatti specialist Tim Dutton in 2006. Chassis 4938 was returned to a more period-appropriate appearance while its mechanical elements were fully restored. Since being acquired by the current owner in 2006, this Type 35B has been a fixture in a museum of historic racing cars.

In preparation for this extremely remarkable sale, Bugatti historian Mark Morris was commissioned to produce a comprehensive report on 4938, included in the car’s file together with an earlier report by David Sewell. The report verifies that this example retains its original chassis frame, engine, supercharger, gearbox, rear axle, front axle, data tag, and much of its Molsheim Grand Prix bodywork. Unlike many Bugatti competition cars from the prewar era, chassis 4938 remains in fundamentally original order, surviving for over 90 years –– making it truly one of the most desirable automobiles of all time.

1928 Bugatti Baby, "chassis" 358 A
1934 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier, Chassis 57224 (from the Malmerspach collection)
No further info available yet, only photographs! the Galibier requires some restoration, and a radiator. The current radiator is only a mock-up, as the radiator was stolen while in storage in Malmerspach.

More info