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Attend Middle School Online at Excel
Bring a Trailer Auction USA, December 23, 2025
Oldtimergalerie Toffen Gstaad Auction, December 29, 2025
Bring a Trailer Auction USA, December 31, 2025
Milleabros auction USA, December 10, 2025
Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction, France, December 15, 2025
The third edition of the Varignana 1705 Concorso d’Eleganza, held on september 27, 2025, celebrated automotive
excellence with 37 vintage cars competing and the introduction of the Classic Car
Talks. The Best of Show title was awarded to a unique masterpiece that marked a
milestone in automotive design history, presented by Corrado Lopresto, while Elad
Shraga’s Ferrari 121 LM captivated both the public and experts.
The class "Vintage Elegance" was won by the 1931 Bugatti Type 49, owned by Silvia Nicolis (Shown at the top of this article). The Type 49 is the final chassis model
designed by Ettore Bugatti himself, combining refined 8-cylinder engineering
with exquisite coachwork, epitomizing pre-war French luxury.
The highest honor of Best of Show was awarded to the Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS
Berlinetta Pinin Farina (1950), owned by celebrated Italian collector Corrado
Lopresto. A one-off masterpiece originally commissioned by Sicilian nobleman
Giovanni San Giorgio Gualtieri, this Berlinetta was the first car in history to feature
dual headlights, a design breakthrough that influenced generations. With its elegant
proportions, 2.4-litre inline-six, and impeccable provenance, the car has earned
global recognition and triumphed once again at Varignana 2025.
The People’s Choice Award was won by
the Ferrari 121 LM (1955), owned by Elad Shraga. Equipped with a rare 4.4-litre inline-six engine delivering 360 hp, it marked a
turning point from Ferrari’s traditional V12s. After debuting at the 1000 km of Buenos
Aires and winning the Giro di Sicilia with Piero Taruffi, it raced in the United States
with legends such as Shelby, Hill, and Miles. This ultra-rare Lampredi-powered
racing car, built in just four examples, received both the People’s Choice Award
and the Special Prize from the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola,
confirming its legendary status in endurance racing.
...with the presentation of a 1937 Bugatti type 57S Atalante
Rétromobile New York kicked off the countdown to its first event dedicated to classic cars, scheduled for November 19-22, 2026, by unveiling a spectacular model on December 4 at Christie’s in Rockefeller Plaza. Displayed in an impressive glass case is a 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, one of only 15 Atalante coupes ever produced. "It is a privilege to officially launch Rétromobile New York and to present our 'showcase' in such an iconic Manhattan location with our partner, Gooding Christie’s, especially during the holiday season," said Gérard Neveu, CEO of Rétromobile New York. “The 1937 Bugatti Atalante is a true masterpiece: original, rare, elegant, and steeped in history." This showcase, along with a remarkable selection of classic cars, will be featured throughout the year at major automotive events across the United States, offering a glimpse of the exceptional vehicles we will bring together in New York this November."
"As we prepare to kick off our activities for the new year, we have launched the Rétromobile New York website and are offering tickets with a 20% discount until December 31, 2025," added Mr. Neveu.
Rétromobile New York will make its debut at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan from November 19 to 22, 2026, bringing the legendary 50-year legacy of the Parisian show to America for the first time. The event will feature curated exhibits, iconic vehicles, and a vibrant community of collectors and enthusiasts.
Retromobile NY is a show organized in partnership between duPont Registry Group and Comexposium.
For more information and early-bird tickets at 20%, visit retromobile.us
By Jean-Pascal Viault
One day at the end of November, grey and rainy, while France was soaking under a colorless sky, my phone rang: it was my son, far away, on the other side of the Atlantic.
— Did you see? Someone wrote to you on Facebook a week ago. He sent you some old photo...
Nothing very surprising for me, the freshly finished author of a book devoted to authentic Baby Bugattis around the world. For years, I have hunted for images, stories, precious anecdotes and traces of these magical toys born in the Bugatti workshops.
I examine the photos and immediately write to the stranger who sent them to me: his name is Christian.
I get in touch with him and ask:
Christian explains that his brother had tried to restore it, but the tires — impossible to find — had stopped the project. Time passed. His brother passed away. The Baby returned to him.
Among the photos is the father — Robert — in front of the big house in the 1930s. Then Christian and his brother Jacky in the 1960s, each at the wheel of the little marvel, repainted green in 1960. "The only available color — my godfather was a painter at the sewing-machine factory in Schiltigheim (FR)."
— I drove miles with it, he says. We crossed Strasbourg to visit our cousins…
Thus, always cherished by the same family since its arrival 96 years ago, delivered on October 1929 to the major Strasbourg store, the Baby Bugatti suddenly came back to life before my eyes, as if emerging from a forgotten treasure box.
And even though the book was finished, two photos of number 398 quickly found their place at the heart of the work, as a reminder that a survivor always deserves to be seen, honored, told, and respected.
Yes.
Merry Christmas,
Jean-Pascal
Porsche's divestment takes shape
In need of cash, the German automaker Porsche is in advanced negotiations with the Croatian Rimac Group to sell its 45% stake in Bugatti. The Croatian group would then own 100% of the Molsheim-based manufacturer.
The deal has been in the works for several months and is now taking shape. Mate Rimac, the founder of the Croatian automotive group specializing in electric hypercars, confirmed on Wednesday at a conference organized by "Automobilwoche" that he is in discussions with Porsche to acquire the remaining 45% stake held by the German group. Porsche held 100% of Bugatti's capital until 2021, when it sold 55% of the shares and created a Rimac-Porsche joint venture. The progress of the negotiations was revealed this Thursday by our colleagues at Les échos, confirming information that had already been circulating in the spring of 2025. "I think it's no secret that Porsche and we are discussing the structure," said Mate Rimac, adding, again according to Les échos, that "for a small brand like Bugatti, which needs to be very flexible and responsive, it's perhaps more difficult within a large group."
Porsche announced a net loss of nearly one billion euros.
Accustomed to exceptional profitability until recent years, Porsche, hit by the cost of the electric revolution and the drop in sales in China, has just announced a net loss of nearly one billion euros in the third quarter. The situation is obviously being closely watched in Molsheim, home to the world's only Bugatti assembly plant. The site employs 140 people.
According to Les Echos, citing the financial news agency Bloomberg, Rimac has reportedly made an offer to Porsche valuing Bugatti at one billion euros. This means the Croatian manufacturer is said to be prepared to pay 450 million euros to acquire the 45% stake in Bugatti held by Porsche.
While Porsche, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, needs cash, Bugatti Rimac, which employs 450 people in total, is not in exceptional financial health. Because while it can count on over €300 million in advance orders, it lost €152 million in 2024 on revenue of €182 million. This loss, while not exceptional in the luxury sector, cannot be repeated often, especially since the 250 Tourbillon models are sold, at a starting price of €3.8 million each, before they have all been manufactured.
The order book at the Molsheim factory, where a new assembly workshop is under construction, is full until 2030, particularly for the delivery of these Tourbillon models which, thanks to a 1,000 hp V16 engine and three electric motors, boast 1,800 horsepower and a top speed of 445 km/h.
Bugatti's family silver cutlery set.
The cutlery set was frequently used by Bugatti when welcoming his guests such as race drivers, clients, co-workers, agents and of course his friends.
Ettore Bugatti ordered this solid silver cutlery set in Paris in 1924. It was bought from the well-known firm Cardeilhac. The Maison Cardeilhac was a renowned French silversmith house that was established in 1804 by Antoine-Vital Cardeilhac. In 1904, Ernest Cardeilhac passed the reins of the company to his two sons, Jacques and Pierre. They continued the legacy of Maison Cardeilhac, upholding the reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs.
It was then privately bought by somebody from the same village.
An expertise was done by expert Christian Huet in 1993, the total Provenance is known from 1924 until now.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, to be able to purchase Ettore Bugatti's personal and historical piece of Patrimony.
Only serious offers will be considered, please contact Jaap Horst, at: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com.
RM / Sotheby's London Auction, November 1, 2025
Christie's Art Moderne auction, October 24, 2025
All Rembrandt Bugatti sculptures, naturally. All come from the Collection André Antolini
Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction, October 10, 2025
Today I received the following message from the Bugatti Trust:
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share the news that Hugh R. G. Conway passed away on Saturday October 18th, 2025 at the age of 85. He led The Bugatti Trust as Chairman for two decades from 2002 until 2023 and his vision, dedication, and outstanding commitment to championing the marque’s history through The Bugatti Trust’s work have left an exceptional legacy. Hugh was an active member of the Bugatti Owners’ Club and frequently competed at Prescott in his GP Bugatti. He also sat on the Council and the Bugatti Affairs Committee for a number of years and co-organized the International Bugatti Meeting in Scotland in 2013. For over 60 years Hugh was a familiar face at Prescott and at international Bugatti and historic motor sport events. Known by many he will be dearly missed.
We would like to invite you to join us in offering our deepest condolences to his family.
Allan Rippon,
Chairman, The Bugatti Trust
The most recent memory of Hugh Conway was in 2023, when the photo on the right was taken, together with Angela and myself. I then visited the Trust together with my girlfriend. Hugh had come to the Trust especially to meet with us, in this only 2nd visit to the Trust for me. We had some lively discussions on matters Bugatti, of course, what else.
I vaguely remember one of the first meetings with Hugh, which must have been about 25 years ago, probably at Retromobile or maybe at the Bugatti Festival. Hugh was, as his father Hugh Sr., one of the people who really made the Bugatti community feel more like a family than just a bunch of old car lovers..
Hugh will be much missed, my condolences to the family and to all the team at the Bugatti Trust, as well as the BOC.
Top photo was taken form an article in magzter.com, which in turn took it from Octane magazine
Aguttes AUTOWORLD | Auction & motion Brussels, October 11, 2025
RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction, October 8 - 9, 2025
Bring a Trailer Auction, October 3, 2025
Lanzante Will Create a Road Legal Bugatti Bolide
Bugatti will produce only 40 units of the Bolide, each designed exclusively for track use, but someone has been brave enough to call upon the UK company Lanzante to transform this beast into a road-legal weapon.
Lanzante is responsible for many road-legal conversions in including the latest Porsche 935 and even the highly sought-after Lamborghini Sesto Elemento.
Speaking with CarBuzz at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last month, CEO Dean Lanzante explained what’s next. Alongside showing interest in the upcoming Red Bull RB17, he confirmed the Bolide shares enough DNA with other Bugatti models to make a road conversion viable.
Turning a race-bred car into one that meets road regulations isn’t straightforward. Some machines simply can’t be converted, no matter the expertise. As Lanzante put it, track cars used to begin life as road cars modified for racing, but today many are purpose-built race machines with quirks like preheating requirements, bump-start systems, and batteries that drain after only a few attempts. When a car comes into their workshop, they evaluate whether it’s feasible, and sometimes the answer is no.
Even in cases where a conversion is possible, drivability becomes the challenge. Cars that are fragile or too extreme are not worth putting on the road. Still, Lanzante pointed out that regulations leave plenty of room to manoeuvre. You need to pass emissions and meet pedestrian safety standards, but there’s no law on ride height, suspension stiffness, or cabin heat. These are comforts, not legal requirements, which give them flexibility to create cars that remain usable in daily life.
That’s where the Bolide fits perfectly. Despite being one of the wildest creations ever built by Bugatti, it’s unusually well-suited for a Lanzante project. The W16 engine can pass emissions, the gearbox is intuitive, and the overall build quality is high.
Under the skin, the Bolide carries Bugatti’s 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W16 engine from the Chiron, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. The engine has larger turbo blades, pushing output to 1,578 hp (1,177 kW).
The future road-legal Bolide will most definitely need more appropriate tyres as they currently cost $8,000 each and last only about 60 km, which won’t quite cut it.
Alain Bouissou, master of 1:43 Bugatti miniatures, passed away on August 10, 2025, after a long illness.
What will probably best characterize his incredible talent is the photo of his Atlantic miniature in 1:43, taken at Retromobile 2014, and the comment which I wrote in the Bugatti Revue Retromobile article about this miniature:
Bouissou was active in miniature Bugatti building since 1980, becoming recognized for the high level of detail and accuracy soon. A Bugatti specialist, Bouissou was a benchmark in the industry for his ability to combine historical accuracy with artisanal flair. Bouissou's Bugattis were true marvels, light years away from what is considered a luxury item today. Many will have admired those openings carved from sheet metal or those miniature dashboards with a hammered finish.
He was furthermore a very modest man; I could not find a single photo of the man behind these splendid creations. Therefore, I honour him below with some more images of his work.
We wish his wife Bénédicte, children and family strength to cope with their loss.
Bonhams' the Quail Auction, August 15, 2025
Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction, August 15 - 16, 2025
RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction, August 16, 2025
Pebble Beach is traditionally the time where the highest bids are received on the classic Bugatti's. This year not so, only a few Bugatti's were actually sold, and mostly those without reserve.
So this is it! The new One-off by Bugatti, which is called Brouillard, after Ettore Bugatti's favourite horse. See the picture on the right, of Ettore riding the "real" Brouillard. The French word Brouillard means Fog by the way, thus continuing the weather-inspired names of the most recent Bugatti's, the Mistral and Tourbillon (the latter means "Whirlwind"). So now we have to clarify something, 3 days ago I wrote (from various sources) that the name would be Solitaire, but Solitaire is the name for the new Bugatti one-off programme, of which this Brouillard is the first.
The car indeed, as said 3 days ago, is powered by the last iteration of the VVR16 engine (sometimes called W16 erroneously), delivering an amazing 1600HP from it's quad turbo 8 liter 16 cylinder engine. When looking at Brouillard, the car, especially from the front, it is much like a Mistral fitted with a roof. And, a glass-roof at that, with a V-like shape. Of course, there are plenty of details which are different, mostly purely optical or minor aerodynamic changes.
On the inside however, there are horses everywhere on the green pasture. In the gear lever even, and there is limited use of specially made fabrics which refer to some of the cloths associated with horses and their riders.
Many wonder at what price such a one-off would cost, maybe we will never know for sure... However, the "la Voiture Noire" was €16.7 million, this one, "La Voiture Verte" may even be a bit more....
Below the news release by Bugatti themselves, 7-8-2025
The inaugural creation of Solitaire – an expansion beyond even the highly bespoke world of Bugatti Sur Mesure – is Brouillard, a breathtaking Coupé that pays homage to Ettore Bugatti's beloved horse. Named after the faithful companion who could open his own stable door through a special mechanism designed by Ettore himself, this car celebrates the founder’s great love of horses, and his favorite horse of all. A majestic thoroughbred with a coat as white as the first snowfall, speckled with the subtle shades of a summer morning mist, Brouillard was no ordinary horse; he was the embodiment of everything Ettore admired: speed, beauty, and unparalleled grace.
Hendrik Malinowski,
Managing Director of Bugatti
For the modern-day incarnation of this approach, Brouillard is built upon the pinnacle of Bugatti's W16-powered platform featuring the 1,600 PS iteration of the legendary quad-turbocharged engine. It represents the highest evolution of the W16 program, incorporating nearly two decades of engineering excellence and refinement.
"The bond between Ettore and Brouillard was deeply special. He saw in Brouillard a mirror of his own creations; the curves of the horse's body, the muscular flanks, the perfect proportions – these were all elements he tried to capture in the steel and aluminum of his cars. So here, the aesthetics of this car abstain from sharp lines in favor of more reflection-based surfaces that mimic a kind of athletic muscle, like a trained horse. It's heavily focused on sculptural surfaces and organic shapes, as the vision of a tendon underneath the skin. Enormous power and complexity, hidden by a veil of dignified simplicity."
Frank Heyl,
Bugatti Design Director
“To make something look simple is actually incredibly complex. The design has to integrate all of the technological aspects needed, all of the thermodynamics and aerodynamics of a 1,600hp hyper sports car, while also following a core ethos – established both by us and the client – that the Brouillard was imbued with dignity.
Interior craftsmanship reaches new heights with the Brouillard, featuring an extraordinary combination of materials that celebrate both tradition and innovation. Custom-woven fabrics sourced from Paris incorporate tartan patterns, while green-tinted carbon fiber is paired with an increased number of machined aluminum components. The glass roof creates an airy, cathedral-like experience, while the center spine flows seamlessly from exterior to interior, visible through the transparent panel above.
An absolute dedication to the finest artisan craftsmanship is evident in the Brouillard’s details, including embroidered horse motifs in the door panels and seat back rests. The seats themselves are customized and shaped to the owner’s preference, finished with a unique leather patch layout. The gear shifter is machined from a single block of aluminum and features a glass insert containing a miniature hand-crafted sculpture of Ettore’s favored horse and this car’s namesake. In every respect the Brouillard is a work of automotive haute couture, imbued with the limitless creativity of the entire Bugatti design, engineering and materials craftspeople.
The Bugatti Brouillard will be officially unveiled during Monterey Car Week as the first project of the new Programme Solitaire. Each year, Solitaire will create a maximum of only two masterpieces, ensuring that each receives the complete attention and craftsmanship that it demands. Solitaire commissions will use existing Bugatti powertrains and chassis – just as Brouillard uses the 1,600hp W16 and latest corresponding carbon fiber and aluminum chassis – while focusing on bespoke bodywork and interior details.
Until March 2026 L’Univers Bugatti at Classic Car House Lyngby, Denmark
Bugatti is one of the most legendary car brands and represents the rarest of the rare within classic cars. The
exhibition is therefore a very special opportunity to get close to and behold some of the most iconic and rare
Bugattis ever produced.
The exhibition tells the story of the French brand from its early and humble beginnings in 1909
until the present day – a story of greatness, tragedy and a car brand unlike any other. Bugatti has cemented its
place in history and always pushed boundaries within automotive sport, craftsmanship and design.
Visitors have the opportunity to experience outstanding examples of the Type 35 – the most successful race car
ever, with over 2,000 victories to its name. Just as fascinating, we see the Baby Bugatti – a car which the founder
Ettore Bugatti, initially built for his son.
We also see unique cars such as the Type 57SC Atlantic which, with its characteristic riveted ‘spine’ and
assembly, is indeed one of the most iconic cars in history. Visitors are introduced to the Type 101C, formally
owned by both Nicholas Cage and the founder of Caesars Palace casinos in Las Vegas.
Visitors can also experience two legendary recent supercars, the EB110 Dauer and Veyron, integral to Bugatti’s history.
Where are the cars from?
Bugatti cars in the exhibition:
Until April 12, 2026 Bugatti Sonderausstellung Pantheon, Basel, Switzerland
Bugatti cars in the exhibition:
December 29, 2025 Oldtimergalerie Toffen Gstaad Auction Gstaad, Switzerland
January 27, 2026 Artcurial Auction, The Peninsula Paris Paris, France
According to the history established by the specialist Kees Jansen, from which the information regarding the car has been taken, it was probably damaged in an accident in 1930. It was later to be found in Austria, where it was registered A 15-745 on 25 November 1932 in the name of Heinrich Opitz, a coachbuilder in Vienna. By then, it had been fitted with a new body, no doubt by
It is likely that he died in 1952, as the car was transferred into the name of Magdalena Opitz, no doubt his wife or daughter. She evidently did not wish to keep it, as she consigned it to a scrap merchant, from where it was salvaged in 1954 by Herbert Lackner, a young engineer from Krems, in Austria. He stored it in a shed belonging to a neighbour, but, needing to reclaim the building, the neighbour later dismantled the car, put the mechanical components into storage and disposed of the body in the Danube.
The two brothers were Austrian, but Hans, a classic car restorer, had married a British woman and gone to live in England. He gathered several missing parts (both old and remanufactured), but did not complete the restoration. The project was inspected on several occasions by the specialist David Sewell: on 26 October 2009, 4 July 2017 and 4 May 2018. Sewell mentioned that several
René Winkler ended up selling the car during its restoration to Jaap Braam Ruben, who turned to the Dutch specialist Simon Klopper to complete the work. He had previously asked the Dutch authorities, who were very wary of the proliferation of Bugatti replicas, to inspect the car and confirm its authenticity.
The Bugatti factory asked the Police in Strasbourg to get car licence 4799 NV 1 the first of five types. We can tell, from pictures, comparing 51132 at Spa in july 1931 and 51132 the delivery day to Wimille in december 1931, that it is really car engine 15 which first got car licence 4799 NV 1 for Spa and not any of the two other factory 51 in that race. On 12th july 1931, together with type 51 cars engines 13 and 14, 51132/15 went to Belgium to enter the 3rd Belgian Grand prix in Spa.
The chassis number 51132 is definitely allowed the engine number 15 when it was delivered to French pilot Jean- Pierre Wimille. During the 1931 season of races, J.P. Wimille made progress in driving his friend's Jean Gaupillat type 51 chassis 51130 in some races.
The Bugatti Type 51 chassis 51132 was purchased for only 80.000 ff. The factory price in October 1930 for the newly coming type 51 was 165.000 ff, but very few first owners in 1931 got strictly new cars. Many of the 20 cars built in 1931 were sold as second hand cars as they entered one or two races for the factory before being sold to private pilots.
We were lucky to find a dozen of pictures of brand new 51132, the day it was driven for the first time by M. Mareuse and J.P. Wimille on the Monthlery circuit. The Molsheim temporary plate 1764 WW 5 left no doubt about its identity.
The car is registrated in Paris on 12th january 1932 with number plate 3397 RF 5.
As Wimille was not living in Paris but in Ville d'Avray which is in Seine et Oise department, we suppose the car was registrated in the name of Marguerite Mareuse at her parisian address on 81-83 Boulevard Hausmann.
The Wimille Mareuse racing period 1932-1934.
Wimille drove the type 54 but had to retired because of oil pressure trouble, M. Mareuse finished 14th at the wheel of her 51A chassis 51138, race number 24.
Three weeks later for the Grand Prix of Oran on 24th April, Wimille drove for the very first time in a race, his new 51132, number 8 and won the race.
It is the first victory of the young Bugatti driver in a Grand Prix.
His original silver trophy marked « A.C.O » (Automobile Club d'Oranie) is preserved in the Sport Museum in Nice. M. Mareuse has an accident with 51138.
The last race of the North African trip was the Casablanca Grand Prix on the circuit of Anfa on 22nd May 1932. Wimille is on the first line at the wheel 51132, race number 2, which is the only left running car of the team. He was leading the race during 32 of the 67 laps, breaking the lap record, but had to retire having blown up his engine!
For the Picardie Grand Prix at Peronne on 5th of June, Pierre Leygonie, Wimille’s best friend was supposed to enter the 2300 cc Type 51 but he didn't appear, the 2300cc engine was surely not repaired.
The Dieppe Grand Prix on 24th July 1932.
M. Mareuse owned two Bugatti 51s, 51132 and 51138. On April 24, 1932, M. Mareuse had an accident in Oran with 51138, which damaged the car's chassis. M. Mareuse's mechanics, so she could continue racing, installed the 1,500 cc engine from 51138, which was in good condition, in the chassis 51132 frame 704, which is the car we are interested in.
The original 51138 car was completely overhauled by M. Mareuse's mechanics and fitted with a replacement frame from the factory (No. 732, a 1933 number) and continued to race using the papers of 51132, from which it received the 2.300 cc engine. This car was sold to Robert Brunet in December 1932 and is now in an American collection. When this car, on the replacement frame no. 732 from 51138, with the 2.300 cc engine from 51132, was sold to Robert Brunet, it was given the chassis plate from 51132 and its French title by M. Mareuse, on the grounds that the registration document for 51132, showing 18 hp, was correct for its new 2.300 cc engine. The registration document for 51138, for a 12 hp engine, was no longer suitable.
She drove the car during the four first laps but it began to rain and she preferred to give the car to her copilot Pierre Leygonie.
The pictures of the car on the side of the road, after P. Leygonie caught fire, clearly show some important points:
The body is still 51132 body. It is well possible the car already got the back axle from 51138, number 380, but the swap may have occured later in the life of the car.
After the Dieppe 1932 race, 51132 / 51138 engine (as we will designate it from now on, following the identity assigned by M. Mareuse to the car presented, which retains frame 704 of 51132) went back to M. Mareuse garage.
It was possibly overhauled by Framezelle in Neuilly sur Seine.
In 1933, M. Mareuse planned to enter Le Mans race in June with 51132/eng 51138 with Wimille as co-pilot. They are already in the list of the 1933 Le Mans entries as early as 26 december.
Early in 1933 M. Mareuse and Mlle Lamberjack enter the Monte Carlo rallye with good success. In a newspaper dated 14th February 1933, Mareuse confessed her plan for the year: "I want to enter any Grand Prix with my 1500cc 8 cylinder Bugatti, and my big wish is to enter Le Mans with JP Wimille. "
Actually, 51132/51138 would never enter any Grand Prix in 1933 and Wimille had moved to Alfa Romeo since june 1932... even if M. Mareuse seemed to try and convince him to race again on her 51A Bugatti at Le Mans. That information confirms that in early 1933 the car is still in Grand Prix configuration as M. Mareuse wished to race it.
In l'Auto dated 14 th june 1933, we still have a note telling Mme Mareuse and Wimille are supposed to enter the Le Mans event, but 3 days later they are not in the official entry list!
The Mareuse Paris-Nice Type 51A Torpédo 1934.
We wonder if the car could have been modified as a Torpedo as early as June 1933.
On 24th March 1934 the cars of the Paris Nice left Paris at 6am. M. Mareuse drives a Bugatti 1500 cc with rallye number 27.
On 25th March, M. Mareuse did the best time of the Marseille Boulevard Michelet hill climb in 1500 cc class in 42 sec 1/5 at the average of 84.500 km/h.
On 29th March in La Turbie hill climb, M. Mareuse won the 1500 cc class in 5 min 15 sec at the average of 72 km/h.
A rare photo of the car in la Turbie hill climb shows partially the parisian plate which should read 7398 RF 6 or RF 8, which are plates dated January and March 1932. The car has the large radiator model and is equipped with lamps and sports wings. The race number 27 is painted on the bonnet. When we look carefully, we can see that the body has two small doors and a special undertrail with big louvers, which are quite similar to the ones still on the car the following year when modified by Figoni. The car has rear axle 14x54 as noted in the Paris-Nice results.
But the 1934 Paris-Nice body doesn't seem to be a first Figoni job, as there is no mention of any Bugatti in 1933-1934 which could have been that car in Figoni records.
In Newspaper l'Auto dated 12th February 1935 the car is put for sale by the garage owner who was probably in charge to overhaul the car for M. Mareuse.
« BUGATTI 1.500 cmc.8 cyl.,2 arb.à cames, équ.pr 24h du Mans ou Gd Px. Vites. Framezelle, special Bugatti,18,r.Perronet, Neuilly sur Seine » « Bugatti 1500.cc 8 cyl twin cam, equiped for 24 hours Le Mans race or Racing Grand Prix. "
It is an incredible advertising which tells us so much on 51132/51138 in February 1935!
It is the proof the car was prepared to race at Le Mans, probably in 1933, and that the Grand Prix body was still with the car, on the car or rather next to and ready to be put back for racing, which is quite logical.
The Pinay Figoni Roadster 1935.
One note gives the clue of the enigma of the new 1935 owner of 51132/51138.
“Bugatti 1500 2 arbres à cames. M PINAY.”
That note is not dated, but two more documents will let us determine it has to be 1935.
In the archives of famous French coachworker Joseph Figoni, there is a mention of a body made by the shop for Mr Pinay.
“May 1935.M.Pinay.Paris.bill N° 49.Roadster 2 places s/chassis Bugatti type 1500 14.000 ff »
Strangely enough, the car seems to have been advertised for M. Pinay by the Bayard garage as soon as 4th july 1935.
The advert reads: "Bugatti roadster double arbre à cames, 1.500 cmc, voit splendide, 22 bis rue Bayard."
During the october 1935 Paris Show at Grand Palais, near by the Champs Elysees, the car was still for sale by the Bayard garage which was located very near by the Show.
Advertising about the "1.500 cc roadster double arbre" were put in L'Auto newspaper on 5th october and 15th novembre 1935.
We don't know exactly when Paul Pinay sold the car.
The next information on the car is its exportation to Great Britain and by Bugatti dealer Jack LEMON- BURTON, surely late in 1937.
GREAT BRITAIN 1937-2022.
The car is described as "Bugatti 1,5 Double cam sold to C.I. Craig of Wimbledon for £ 227 in February
1938."
The rest of the history of the car in M. Morris reports states the following owners after C.I. CRAIG. Gerald M. CROZIER bought it in 1939 from Craig, and raced it in July and August 1939.
The car suffered from a fire in a London Mews garage around september 1940.
In 1947 the Bugatti went to the garage of J. BLAKES & COMPANY LTD of Liverpool and was sold to Geoff RICHARDSON who registered the car with FWP 555 Worcester CC in April 1947. After racing in summer 1947, he sold the car to Blakes, having advertised the car in the November issue of Motor Sport.
It is clear that when Richardson raced the car in 1947, it already had narrow type 35 rad and unblown type 35 bonnet, but was still on type 51 wheels. The rebuild had been done by Vic DERRINGTON and MARSHALLS of Watford had also worked on the car.
During Christmas 1950, the Bugatti was bought by Mrs Avril SCOTT-MONTCRIEFF (1915-2006) in Forfar, Scotland, from Blakes. She entered the car with her husband David as copilot, in the "Paris St Raphael Feminin" rallye in February 1951.
Soon after the Monthlery control on 27th February, they broke the crankshaft in a Speed raliability test, the car was sent to a garage in Levallois to see the damage. It was too expensive to be fixed, so the car went back to UK later and waited for a rebuild which never happend and was sent to a crook called Ted.E. LLOYD in Welshpool, Powys, Wales, who asked to have the car dismantled in his shop to check what was wrong... He disappeared before Scott Montcrieff went to take it back when he realized there was something wrong with the guy.
In the 1954 "Bugatti Book" by C.W.P. Hampton and B. Eaglesfield, Llyod proclaims to be the owner of the car! He sold the 51A engine to Eri Richardson in the USA.
In the mid fifties Alan Kershaw HAWORTH (1920-1988) in Heywood, Lancs, acquired from Ted Lloyd the rolling chassis still with its 51 bulkhead, 51 front axle and other parts attached to the frame.
In December 1988, Alan Haworth passed away and his collection of cars and spares, were sold at auction by Sotheby's on 29 March 1989. The lot 684 in the sale was acquired by Bugatti enthusiast John WILSON, in Stevington, Bedford, a private airplane pilot, whose family owned since the 50s a rare type 46S Coach by Billeter & Cartier on which he used to work.
Soon after his purchase J.Wilson obtained from T.J.Cardy the 55 engine 17 ex 55229 and put it in the car instead of the type 40 unit. In 2014 the car was put on the market and exhibited on Dutton stand at Retromobile in February 2015.
Bought by English architect Mark NEWSON from London,it went to Derek Hitchman’s shop for a complete restoration, including a new body by Chesterton Coachwork and the engine from 51138 was acquired from T. Cardy and put back in the chassis it had left around 1954 when T. Lloyd sold it in the USA. The current owner bought it recently from M. Newson in 2022.
The closed inspection of the frame and parts around let us discover the number 15 on various parts and the number 14 on the front axle. The various parts numbered 15 relating to chassis 51132 on which they were still fixed proved that the car still retains many original components which had never been dismanteled from 51132 original chassis.
Conclusion
The car still has the following parts from 51132: chassis, aluminum body panels, hood and dashboard, extra-long levers, steering arms, steering box mount, seat cross member, aluminum transmission output shaft cover.
Today, at the request of the owner, based on the analysis by P.-Y Laugier, FIVA and the German registration authorities have officially restored the car's original identity, with frame no. 704 corresponding to chassis 51132 of the Bugatti Type 51. The car has just been overhauled, and its engine has been increased to 2,300 cc. It has a superb patina.
Bugatti vice, First series
Among the pillars of this classic car Golden Age in France was Bernard Pigelet. As a leading automotive engineer, he set up his workshop (called "Racing Diffusion") at 52 Rue Carnot in Levallois-Perret in 1984. Just 150 metres from his home was a taxi depot which, in the late 1980s, was about to close its doors to make way for the construction of a new building. It was at this location that Bernard Pigelet spotted "the golden opportunity" and purchased this particular Etau Bugatti.
In need of restoration, the specialist carefully restored it, repainted it, adjusted the bits and preciously stored it in his workshop, where it remained unused. Only the bronze stop between the bench vice and the crank handle was replaced, but the original part is supplied with the bench vice. A test with a folded sheet of paper brilliantly demonstrates the tool's precision and its high-quality design. This is a rare and desirable model from the first series, instantly recognisable by its Bugatti logo, which is less prominent than on later versions. The number 17 is stamped on one of the bits and here's an interesting anecdote: the official Bugatti repair workshop was located at 75 Rue Carnot, only a few steps away from the workshop where it was found!
The example presented here is one of these cars and was imported by a delegate of the FFVE, who kept it for some 15 years and took part in numerous Bugatti rallies. Its second owner kept it for about 10 years, deriving just as much pleasure from his powerful thoroughbred. All these years of rallies and historic races have given the 35B an exceptional patina, built up over time and many miles, whilst erasing some of the defects with which it was born. This example therefore clearly stands out from more recently built Pur Sang cars thanks to its thirty years of use. In 2022, it was given a full service, and the tyres, fluids and some of the hoses were replaced. The engine was also optimised, with changes to the carburettor jets and spark plugs; the ignition system was overhauled and the clutch tension adjusted. Since buying the car in 2022, its current owner has only driven it a few miles, but has enjoyed starting it up each month.
Supplied with its French title as a Bugatti 35T, this racer will give its next owner some true thrills and, above all, let them enjoy the most famous pre-war sports car, for a fraction of the price of a real one, which is virtually impossible to find!
January 28 - February 1, 2026 Retromobile Paris, France
Bugatti Autorail and Unusual Prototypes: Bugatti’s Genius at Rétromobile 2026
Get ready for an extraordinary exhibition! In partnership with the Cité du Train, the Musée National de l’Automobile, and Eiffage Rail, Rétromobile will celebrate Ettore Bugatti’s genius by presenting one of his most monumental creations: the last surviving Bugatti Autorail. But that's not all! This exhibition, illuminated by the Mathieu Lustrerie workshops (certified as "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant"), will also feature some of the artist-engineer’s most unique creations.
A Formula 1 single-seater with a rear transverse engine, a prototype Type 73 sports sedan, and Ettore Bugatti’s personal Type 56 electric-powered vehicle… these are just a few of the mechanical oddities that will be showcased in Pavilion 7.1
January 28, 2026 RM Sotheby's Paris Auction Paris, France
Bugatti Type 35 Children’s Car, handcrafted by Radek Bina
Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Children's Car by the Cyclekart Company
January 29, 2026 Gooding Christie's Retromobile Auction Paris, France
The Bugatti Type 40 model was introduced in mid-1926 to replace the highly successful Type 22 and Type 23 “Brescia” Modifie 16-valve models, which had been in production with several improvements since 1920. Built on a chassis similar to the longer-wheelbase Type 23, the Type 40 was powered by the well-known Type 37 engine. This four-cylinder unit (69 mm × 100 mm) employed a five plain-bearing crankshaft, plain connecting rods, three valves per cylinder, and featured parallel crankcase arms – a contrast to the stepped arms found on the Type 37 sports model. A variety of coachbuilders, including Jarvis and Gangloff, supplied coachwork; however, many examples wore factory-supplied four-seat torpédo bodies. This was the famous Grand Sport, which would be later adapted to the larger Type 43.
After Bill Harrah’s passing in 1978, the Type 40 was sold at auction the following year to noted collector Darryl Greenamyer. Mr. Greenamyer retained the car for 16 years, until it was sold to Emilio Comelli and exported to Italy in 1995. At that time, it was described as unrestored and retaining its original interior – although a driver’s door had been integrated into the Grand Sport coachwork at some point.
Under Mr. Comelli’s ownership, the Type 40 received a restoration that included changing its exterior color from black to the
With its original coachwork and matching-numbers engine, this Type 40 Grand Sport presents a splendid opportunity to acquire an entry-level, sporting Bugatti with a well-documented ownership history and eligibility for many of the world’s most exclusive driving events.
Introduced in 1934, the Type 57 represented the pinnacle of Jean Bugatti’s creative and engineering vision. Powered by a jewel-like 3.3-liter twin-cam straight-eight and built with the marque’s customary delicacy, the Type 57 embodied everything that defined Molsheim’s artistry: superb mechanical refinement, extraordinary aesthetics, and an unmistakable sense of exclusivity.
As the model evolved throughout its production, Bugatti steadily improved the chassis with strengthened rear-axle components, a cross-braced frame, rubber engine mounts, and upgraded brakes. To complement these refinements, Bugatti unveiled the supercharged Type 57C in 1937. Equipped with a Roots-type blower, four-wheel hydraulic brakes, and additional instrumentation, the 160 hp Type 57C delivered performance far beyond that of most contemporaries, achieving speeds comfortably over 100 mph with excellent braking and on-road composure. Of the approximately 710 Type 57s built, just 96 were factory-supercharged 57Cs.
Chassis 57718, fitted when new with engine 45C and Atalante body no. 30, is among the most desirable Type 57s ever constructed. It is one of only five Atalantes built on the supercharged 57C chassis, and crucially one of only three known to combine this mechanical specification with lightweight alloy construction. Within the canon of Bugatti production, this places 57718 at the pinnacle of road-going Type 57 desirability. In a broader context, few prewar sports cars combine such grace, rarity, and engineering sophistication.
Dr. Kocher’s passion for driving and deep loyalty to Bugatti made him an ideal customer for the most exclusive models. His succession of cars traces the evolution of the marque, culminating in this car, 57718 – his final Bugatti and the ultimate expression of his long association with Molsheim. Delivered to him in July 1938 and kept until 1950, it served as the pinnacle of his two-decade Bugatti ownership journey.
By 1958, chassis 57718 had crossed the Atlantic to the US. Its first recorded American owner was Lennart Erickson of California, followed in 1962 by Dr. Grant White, a respected academic and early member of the American Bugatti Club. A dedicated collector and restorer of prewar thoroughbreds, Dr. White owned 57718 for roughly three decades. Under his fastidious care, the car remained remarkably intact, its originality preserved at a time when many Bugattis were subject to heavy-handed restorations.
Today, chassis 57718 presents with uncommon originality and authenticity. A recent inspection by Bugatti specialist Mark Morris confirmed that the body number (30) is stamped or inscribed on numerous original components – including the wood structures, aluminum panels, and trim elements. Traces of original beige paint were also found in hidden areas, and the original Molsheim data tag survives on the beautifully engine-turned firewall.
Mechanically, 57718 retains its matching-numbers engine, gearbox, and differential (all properly numbered 45C or C45), along with correct Type 57C-specific equipment such as the supercharger and hydraulic braking system. The car’s tasteful aubergine and black livery, mellowed with age, complements the handsome brown leather interior while reflecting its long, continuous preservation.
Among the limited production of Type 57 Atalantes, 57718 stands out for its factory supercharged “C” specification, lightweight aluminum body, matching-numbers driveline, and superb provenance, which dates to its original delivery. Representing Jean Bugatti’s most celebrated road-going design in its purest and rarest form, it is an exceptional example of the model long regarded as the ultimate expression of Le Pur-Sang des Automobiles.
For the connoisseur seeking one of the finest specifications imaginable in a Type 57, this rare alloy-bodied Type 57C Atalante offers a singular opportunity to acquire a masterpiece of prewar automotive design – one that has inspired admiration since the day Dr. Kocher collected it in the summer of 1938.
January 30, 2026 Bonhams the Paris Sale Auction Paris, France
Bugatti Type 57 Galibier chassis no. 57140, corresponding to production number 35, was the 18th example of its kind to leave the Molsheim factory, as confirmed by the number "18" stamped on various wooden and aluminium body components. It is the first of four "C-I" (Conduite Intérieure) bodies built at Molsheim in June 1934, with the coachwork completed on 7 June 1934. Bugatti factory ledgers record that chassis 57140 was invoiced on 1 June 1934 for 61,695 francs to the "Société Marseillaise", run by Gaston Decollas, located at 42 Avenue du Prado in Marseille.
Jean Storione retained his Galibier until 1936, when he sold it—almost certainly through Decollas—to Dr Gustave Cousin, of 27 Boulevard Montricher in Marseille, one of the city's most prominent physicians. Dr Cousin kept the car for many years, registering it under the new registration system on 24 December 1954 as 7983 AQ 13, by then residing at 7 Cours F. Roosevelt (formerly 7 Cours Devilliers). In 1966, Dr Cousin sold chassis 57140 to Jean Brignone, of 47 Rue Monte Cristo, Marseille.
Raffaelli sold the car in the spring of 1967 to Parisian architect Daniel Guidot, then registered as 71 GU 78 and located at 5 Allée du Colombier, Le Pecq. Shortly thereafter, Guidot participated in the Paris–Nice Rally with 57140. Born in 1922, Daniel Guidot had served in the French Resistance during the war as a navigator for the Royal Air Force. A devoted Bugatti enthusiast, he also owned a Type 46 Vanvooren coachbuilt car and a Type 35A.
Later acquired by Feierabend Klassic Technik, the Bugatti was offered for sale at the 40th Essen Classic Show in 2007. It was subsequently sold to Roland d'Ieteren and intended as the basis for a Type 57S project for Jean-Jacques Strubb. Sadly, Strubb's fatal accident at the wheel of his Type 51 in April 2010 brought the project to an end, and chassis 57140 was not sold again until 2013, when it was acquired by noted marque enthusiast José Piger. The car remained untouched until its sale in 2019 to a Danish owner, at which time it largely retained its 1960s condition.
The car retains its original crankcase stamped "35 – 57140" and still features its Jaeger black-faced instruments on the dashboard. Several body components retain the stamped number "18", confirming its position as the 18th Galibier produced by Bugatti's coachbuilding department. The original identification plate remains affixed to the bulkhead. The chassis frame is stamped 33 which seems consistent with the factory numbering sequence.
March 5 - 6, 2026 Gooding Christie's Amelia Island Auctions Amelia Island, USA
We invite owners of prewar Bugatti cars to join us for an eventful week, where the keywords will be fine hotels, hills, heathland, seaside, lakes, forests, castles, museums, ships, craft & production, churches, gastronomy, entertainment and surprises.
For the 2026 International Bugatti Meeting Bugatti Club Denmark has spared no effort in creating a truly enjoyable and memorable event for the participants and their classic Bugatti cars.
By holding the meeting in late June, we hope to take advantage of a lovely Danish summer, with weather, landscapes and cities at their most beautiful.
Over six days of driving, we will cover approximately 1,000 km along scenic country roads, passing through varied landscapes and charming villages.
Along the way, participants will experience some of Jutland’s most notable highlights, enjoy exquisite meals and drinks, all in good company—and with relaxed driving, since Denmark’s highest point reaches only 170 metres above sea level.
During the event we will be based in two cities: Kolding and Silkeborg.
Near Kolding, from Sunday to Thursday, participants will stay at the elegant Hotel Koldingfjord, beautifully situated on the shores of the Kolding Fjord.
On Thursday, a transfer drive will take us to the historic Hotel Gl. Skovridergaard, where we will spend the last three nights.
Hotel Gl. Skovridergaard is surrounded by picturesque grounds with magnificent old trees close to the river Gudenåen, the woods and Silkeborg city centre.
Please follow this link to sign up (Until September 30, 2025!)
More information about the IBM 2026
And, of course, we will visit our birthplace, the Nürburgring. The get-together in the historic paddock
and the laps on the ‘Historic Nordschleife’ exclusively for Bugatti enthusiasts will be a special
experience. Bugatti-Club Deutschland is already looking forward to welcome many Bugatti enthusiasts
to its anniversary meeting.
The registration starts at the beginning of November. We will inform the clubs in good time.
Further Information:
info@bugatti-club-deutschland.de
Participants will experience scenic rally routes through the Czech countryside, the historic Zbraslav-Jílovište hillclimb, and exclusive access to Prague Castle.
The American Bugatti Club is hosting the 2026 International Bugatti Meet (IBM) in Oregon in September, 2026. This point-to-point tour will take a circular route around western Oregon, beginning and ending at the Allison Inn and Spa, our headquarter hotel. In addition, the 12th US Bugatti Grand Prix will take place at Pacific Raceway, Kent, Washington, following the tour. You will not want to miss these 13 days of Bugatti activities! If you think you might be able to participate, please complete the attached ‘Intent of Interest’ form and return it to Paul Simms via email or mail as soon as possible. This will help the organizing committee plan the event.
International Bugatti Meet: September 8 – 14
'Volcano Tour': September 15 - 17
12th US Bugatti Grand Prix Weekend: September 17 - 20
Both of these exciting events will provide fantastic opportunities to exercise your Bugatti as Ettore intended, along beautiful roads and with wonderful friends.
There are a limited number of entries available, so please react using the below Intent of Interest form as soon as possible.
2026 Organizing Committee:
Vive la Marque!!!
The entry form can be found at:
2026-IBM-Intent-of-Interest.pdf
Online homeschool programs at Northgate Academy
Bugatti News
January 10, 2026 Auctions results
December 16, 2025 Auctions results
December 16, 2025 Bugatti Type 49 wins in class at Varignana 1705 - Concorso d’Eleganza
Thirty-seven rare and significant cars competed across six exclusive classes,
evaluated by an international jury chaired by historian and author Stefano Pasini.
December 14, 2025 Rétromobile New York opens its ticket office...
December 3, 2025 Christmas tales do exist…
and here’s the proof!
I search, I open, and I discover five black-and-white images, memories from the 1930s and 1950s: children at the wheel of a Baby Bugatti, their smiles as wide as a promise.
I thank him, sincerely and enthusiastically, then share my sadness that I cannot include his photos in the book — it is already at the printer’s. They would have been perfect to further illustrate the joy of children driving this little racing car.
— Do you know anything about this Baby?
The reply comes, gentle and unbelievable:
— Yes. It was my father’s. He won it at Christmas 1929 in a lottery at “Wery”, a large toy store in Strasbourg.
— And do you know what became of it?
— Yes, of course, sir. I still have it. It has been sleeping in my basement for eleven years, since we sold the big family home.
I can’t believe my ears. I ask for photos, number, condition. He sends everything immediately. In the images: the wheels, the bodywork, proudly bearing the same number, 398.
We had to recharge the battery to get back!
Then came the question that took my breath away:
— And today, Christian… what do you want to do with this Baby?
— Nothing. I will probably part with it. If you’re interested… I would sell it to you.
The car has joined my collection, and my son from America is arriving for Christmas with my granddaughter. Together we will spend hours examining it, cleaning it, bringing it back to life — but one thing is certain: it will keep that “sewing-machine green” that marks its history, its memories, its traces of life…
Now its memory is preserved… elsewhere!
Dreams do exist.
I’ve met one.
November 30, 2025 Bugatti under 100% Croatian ownership
Rimac's boss estimated the chances of acquiring Porsche's 45% stake at 3.5 out of 5. This statement was not confirmed by the German manufacturer, with one of its spokespeople indicating that "Porsche is constantly evaluating the potential for optimizing its holdings."
Unique offer of Ettore Bugatti's family personal items!
Each of the 73 pieces, forks and spoons, as well as a large serving spoon, is engraved "EB" on the rear. The set consists of 12 small spoons and 12 small forks, and 24 each of large forks and spoons.
In 1951, the Maison Cardeilhac brand was acquired by Christofle, a prominent name in the luxury silverware industry. The acquisition ensured the continuation of Maison Cardeilhac's legacy and its integration into a wider network of renowned silversmiths.
The set followed Ettore from Molsheim to Paris (Rue Boissière), then to Bordeaux shortly before World War II, and then to the Chateau d'Ermenonville. After Ettore passed away, the set went to Roland Bugatti in 1947 (again to the Rue Boissière), later to the south of France (Aix-en Provence) and remained in his possession until he passed away in 1977.
November 11, 2025 Auctions results
October 26, 2025 Auction result
October 21, 2025 Obituary: Hugh R.G. Conway, 1940-2025
Dear Members and Friends, 
October 19, 2025 Auction results
October 12, 2025 Auction result
October 4, 2025 Auction result
August 25, 2025 A Bugatti Bolide for the road!
August 23, 2025 Obituary: Alain Bouissou, 1962–2025
"Very nice, this Bugatti T57SC Atlantic, is this not the dr. Williamson car, now owned by Peter Mullin?"
"Are you mad! This is not the real car, this is one of those fancy models in 1:8 scale!"
"I think it is one of those CMC models in 1:18 scale!"
Of course, you and I know that this is the new Alain Bouissou model in 1:43! Incredible detail, especially in this tiny scale! The model is a good 100mm long! Impressive!
I always paid him a visit when at Retromobile, where he had his own display at the Miniature Artisan's corner. We would chat a while, and he would show me the progress of his latest project. I believe the Atlantic was one of his most leaborate miniatures. I also asked him how, how did he put this tremendous detail in these 1:43 scale miniatures? His answer was straightforward and simple: "Just glue".
I now came to know that in 2017 Bénédicte Bouissou made a book about Alain and his miniature models: "Alain Bouissou - Sublimes Bugatti Miniatures". The drawing at the right is featured on the cover of this book, artist unknown.
Unfortunately, his health problems which started in 2017 prevented him from further pursuing his plans for new miniatures, it must have been at Retromobile 2018 that I last met him. At the Artisan's corner, this time without miniatures. Here he told me about his health problems, a very sad encounter that day.
August 18, 2025 Auctions results
August 7, 2025 New One-off Bugatti presented: The Brouillard
This one-off was ordered by the famous Dutch entrepreneur and Bugatti collector, Michel Perridon. He already has in his stables six of the "VW" Bugattis, one EB110 SS and a few dozen of the original Molsheim products from the time that Ettore Bugatti himself held the reins there. Added to those is the largest (worldwide) collection of Carlo Bugatti furniture, and many beautiful Rembrandt Bugatti sculptures, as well as a load of other stuff and automobilia.
Apart from the wheels, with five horseshoes each, there are no references to horses on the outside. There even is an image of the balancing elephant on the sides, reference to the radiator mascot delivered with the Bugatti Royale, and made after a sculpture by Ettore's brother Rembrandt. I guess that a prancing horse would have been quite a sight there, upsetting maybe some guys in Maranello...
The art of coachbuilding has flowed through Bugatti's DNA for over a century. From the timeless automotive designs of Jean Bugatti to the masterful sculptures of Rembrandt Bugatti, the pursuit of singular automotive artistry has defined the marque since its inception. Today, Bugatti unveils the Programme Solitaire, an exclusive new offering dedicated to creating truly bespoke, one-of-one vehicles that celebrate the brand's rich heritage while pushing the boundaries of personalization and craftsmanship.
"The Programme Solitaire allows us to authentically explore the unique visions of our clients, giving us more flexibility to explore different interpretations of long-established Bugatti design elements. On a one-of-one, we have much more freedom in the reinterpretation of what a Bugatti is, while maintaining the same absolute dedication to perfection in every detail; there will be no compromise to performance, quality or design. Each precious Solitaire will be unique and peerless, offering a level of attention to detail not found in even the most exclusive automotive creations.” 
The Programme Solitaire is inspired by Bugatti's coachbuilding roots, a tradition that flourished in the early 20th century when the most beautiful automotive bodies were created through collaboration between car companies and specialist coachbuilders. Jean Bugatti revolutionized this approach by bringing the craft in-house, enabling the creation of icons like the Type 57 SC Atlantic. Although that car may be most famous, the Type 57 chassis was adorned with numerous in-house bodies, including Galibier, Stelvio, Ventoux and Atalante, offering options from four-door saloon to two-door convertible and coupé.
The proportional mastery of Brouillard follows principles akin to classical art, where the relationship between elements creates immediate visual appeal. Through careful consideration of volume distribution, the lower third of the vehicle is rendered in dark tones that visually connect to the car's shadow. Much of the perception of a car comes from its upper two-thirds, helping in this case to create the perception of a lighter, more dynamic silhouette – appearing both lower and longer – while making the wheels appear proportionally larger. 
The aerodynamic philosophy seamlessly integrates functional elements into the sculpted bodywork. Air intakes feed through radiators creating a pressure drop for more air flow through the radiators to optimize cooling efficiency, while the fixed ducktail wing provides aerodynamic balance and enhances the car's elegant silhouette. The rear diffuser maximizes the functional surface area through innovative exhaust packaging, representing the culmination of W16 platform development.
The commissioning owner of Brouillard is an enormously passionate Bugatti collector, not just of cars – both old and new – but also of the eclectic furniture of Carlo Bugatti and the beautiful bronze sculptures of Rembrandt Bugatti. The owner wanted to bring together all of the craft and artistry of the Bugatti family in a masterpiece that celebrated a core inspiration of Ettore Bugatti’s approach to automotive design: his love of his horses. In these many bespoke details, the owner’s broad and detailed appreciation for Bugatti's rich automotive history, the Bugatti family and Ettore’s unique bond with his favorite horse is celebrated.
Bugatti news, former issues
Classic Car House is proud to present L’Univers Bugatti, the largest and most exclusive Bugatti exhibition ever
held in Denmark. From October 2025 to March 2026 visitors can experience no less than 14 unique Bugatti
models at Classic Car House in Lyngby, situated just north of Copenhagen. 
On display is a Type 37 buried during World War II, with its parts later dug up and assembled in less than three
months, and the only Type 39 Bugatti remaining in Monza specification, and is the only fully original Type 39 in
the world, retaining all original, Bugatti made mechanical and body panel parts as raced at Monza in 1925.
The exhibited cars are partly owned by Classic Car House and partly on loan from private collectors in Sweden,
Denmark and England.
Type 13, Type 30, Baby Bugatti, Type 35, Type 37, Type 39, Type 51, Type 40, Type 43A, Type 57, Atlantic, Type
101C, Veyron, EB110 Dauer
Type 13 Roadster, Type 13 Brescia 1925, Type 23 Boat-tail 1925, Type 35, Type 35B, Type 37, Type 40 Jean Bugatti Roadster 1929, Type 44 Roadster by Gangloff, Type 44 rolling chassis 1931, Type 46 Limousine 1930, Type 55 Sport 1933 (55223), Type 57 Galibier 1934, Type 57 Ventoux 1936, Type 57 Stelvio 1939, Type 57 Atalante 1939, Veyron, Chiron.
1926 Bugatti Type 37, Chassis no 37201, Engine no 92
This Bugatti Type 37, chassis no. 37201 and engine no. 92, left the factory in August 1926 as a ‘Touriste’ model (a cabriolet which was better equipped than the racing version, with lights, wings and a passenger door), before being delivered on 10 September that year to the Bugatti dealer René Ring, in Strasbourg. Ring had ordered the same model three days earlier, for
43,000 francs, and therefore took advantage of the availability of this example, which had just been built. Its first owner, 
Pierre Larrige, lived nearby in Sélestat and wasted no time before collecting the car, which he used with the temporary registration number 1641 WW5, valid from 10–15 September 1926.
Opitz, a cabriolet with a scuttle with twin curves, substantial cycle wings, and doors, and all the control levers inside the car. In 1946, it was given the registration number A 13-363, still in the name of Heinrich Opitz.
Nothing happened until Walter Ledl, the owner of a Bugatti Grand Sport (chassis no. 40721), who lived in Vienna, needed a water pump for his car and acquired all the parts from the Bugatti 37 in 1958. This purchase was mentioned to Hugh Conway in 1962, who recorded it in his Bugatti Register, and again in 1973. After retrieving the water pump for his Grand Sport, Ledl kept all the mechanical components from the Type 37 for more than 40 years, until selling them in 2003 to René and Hans Winkler.
jobs had been carried out, including: realignment of the chassis by the Bugatti specialist Malcolm Gentry; restoration of the radiator by Star Engineering; fitment of the correct ‘Molsheim-Alsace’ chassis plate, riveted to the base of the scuttle; fabrication of a 50-litre fuel tank by Frank Underwood; production of a new body by Ivan Dutton Ltd; fitment of two gearbox casings, both numbered 214, with and without the drive for the starter; installation of a higher-quality Hardy Spicer drive shaft; restoration of the Bosch headlamps to the original specification; fitment of a combination of new and old instruments ...
Today, the car is presented as a lighter Type 37 ‘Grand Prix’ model, which enthusiasts prefer to the ‘Touring’ version it started out as. Attractively finished in dark blue with Bugatti aluminium wheels, it looks very similar to the bigger-engined Type 35. Its interior is typical of the racing Bugattis, with which it shares all the characteristics: a machine-turned aluminium dashboard, the engine exposed to view, external controls for the gearbox and brakes, and a huge wooden steering wheel with four aluminium spokes. This Bugatti Type 37, which has been restored to its original technical specification, comes with numerous documents and photographs, including a ‘Provenance Report’ by the specialist Kees Jansen. It has the advantage of a continuous history since leaving the factory, with the exception of five years between 1926 and 1932. With several original elements, including its chassis and engine, it is among the few genuine Type 37 models still on the road, making it especially desirable.
1931 Bugatti Type 51 Ex-Works, Chassis N° 51132, Engine N°189 ex-51138
This car is exceptional in more ways than one, having been one of the cars entered by the factory for the 1931 season and then one of the Bugattis used by driver Jean-Pierre Wimille before he switched to Alfa Romeo. This car, originally chassis 51132 with frame number 704, still has many original parts and has the advantage of having been fully appraised by Pierre-Yves Laugier, whose historical analysis is summarized here. We advise buyers to consult the full version of the lot description and his formidable research in the online catalog.
FACTORY DAYS July to December 1931.
This particular chassis has been assembled in the early days of July 1931 by the Bugatti Factory to get type 51 engine 2300 cc N° 15. It is the first of five Type 51's assembled in july 1931. 
The car bearing the race number 6 was driven by Albert Divo and Guy Bouriat. It had to go back to the pits on the 51th lap after mechanical troubles. There are very few chances for 51132/15 to have been checked or repaired to race at Nurburgring the following weekend. And for the last race of the season on 27 September 1931, the Grand Prix of Brno, we can tell from pictures that 51132 is not one of the 3 cars driven by Bouriat, Chiron or Varzi. 
WIMILLE-MAREUSE ownership 1932-1934.
The delivery and Monthlery test drive, December 1931.
Between 19th and 21th December 1931, the Bugatti 51132, with temporary plates 1764 WW 5 left Molsheim for Ville d'Avray.
The car arrived from Molsheim to Ville d'Avray and soon went for practice at Monthlery around 21th December 1931.
The Spring 1932 trip to North Africa.
A few days after the first victory of Wimille in the hill climb, the three Bugattis and their pilots, Marguerite Mareuse and Jean-Pierre Wimille took a boat to Tunisia on the way to their first rendez-vous, the Tunisian Grand Prix on 3 April 1932.
That date is important in the life of 51132. It is the exact day M. Mareuse arrived on the starting line of a Grand Prix with a 1500 cc Type 51, race number 5, which is 51132 having received 51138 engine.
The car is from an outside point of view exactly as 51132 when new. It retains 51132 registration number 3397 RF 5 on the back of the tail.
During the 1933 season M. Mareuse was already competing only in rallyes and not anymore in Grand prix as she was dreaming to. But in March 1934, she had modified 51132/51138 in a 4-seater torpedo to enter the Paris Nice.
In the archives of the late Bugatti collector Robert Corniere were some of the repair notes from Framezelle garage.
The car is road registered between Feb-March 1938 GPE 230 with Surey CC.
He rebuilt the car as a type 37 using type 40 engine ex 40424 and got BOC plate No "BOC 11" from Conway in 1984 after twenty years of work. The car was put on the road in 1987 with license plates DS 7548. 
We remember the rediscovery in 2006 of frame 704 at John Wilson's farm and the proof it was 51132 original frame became obvious when we looked at it carefully. The car was from Allan Haworth estate and was supposed to be 51138 ex Scott Montcrieff.
The new light focused on type 51 frame 704 incline us to state that the car as it was modified by the mechanic of the Mareuse-Wimille team for the Dieppe july 1932 race was still 51132 in every detail apart from the engine swap from 51138. The car was not built up on 704 frame as it has been suggested. 
This is a real journey through time, to an era when the sound of hammers striking wheel hubs echoed and the scent of castor oil filled the air in the streets of Levallois Perret, once the proud stronghold of what was known as the Golden Triangle of the Automobile. 
ca. 1990 Bugatti 35B replica Pur Sang
“Results from 24 January 1926 to 19 September 1926: 503 victories - More than 2 victories a day - 351 First Prizes - 47 Records”, the Bugatti catalogue in 1926 proudly stated! This inspiring tally of results, which would grow still further in the years to come, was due in large part to what many consider to be the masterpiece produced by Ettore Bugatti: the Type 35. The 35B version, which appeared the following year, was noteworthy for its supercharged 2.3-litre engine: it was the most powerful 35 and dominated a huge number of competitive events.
Lacking the means to buy a real one, Jorge Anadon, an Argentinian enthusiast, created his own replica by making each part himself, as in period. Given the enthusiasm it met with, he decided to build more cars and sell them under the ‘Pur Sang’ name.
In celebration of its 50th anniversary and as a nod to its origins, Rétromobile pays tribute to the genius of Ettore Bugatti by showcasing one of the Italian inventor's lesser-known creations: the Presidential Railcar. Alongside it, 7 other mechanical oddities will highlight the craftsmanship and avant-garde vision of the artist-engineer.
2024 Bugatti Bolide, Chassis no. VF9SX0V08RM795037
1928 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport, Chassis 40662, Engine 586
This Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport, chassis 40662 with engine no. 586, was delivered via Belgian Bugatti agent René de Buck to Joseph Reinartz of Liège on September 21, 1928, according to copies of factory records on file. While the next 27 years of the car’s provenance remains unknown, in 1955, the Type 40 belonged to Mr. Gillard, who traded it against a Type 49 to Brussels-based Bugatti dealer Jean De Dobbeleer. M. De Dobbeleer immediately sold the car to a priest named l’Abbe Dubois de Servey, who gave him a Type 57 in part exchange. De Dobbeleer later reacquired the car and sold it to an American in 1957, and by 1962, it 
was a part of the distinguished Harrah’s Automobile Collection in Reno, Nevada.
medium blue seen today, as well as returning the Grand Sport coachwork to its correct original configuration without a driver’s door. Following the restoration, this Bugatti was campaigned in numerous rallies, including the 1000 Miglia in 2003, 2004, and 2007, the International Bugatti Meeting in Tuscany in 2009, and the International Bugatti Meeting in Sardinia in 2017.
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante, Chassis, 57718, Engine 45C
Alongside the bare chassis offered to outside coachbuilders, Bugatti produced several in-house body styles, each styled under the direction of Jean Bugatti and Joseph Walter. Among these, the Atalante – named for the heroine of Greek mythology, famed for her swiftness – stood as the most dramatic. Just 33 Atalante bodies were built for the Type 57 chassis, and approximately 10 of these were formed in lightweight aluminum alloy, the remainder in heavier steel.
Factory records show that 57718 was completed on July 15, 1938, finished in Beige over Havana leather, and dispatched to Bugatti’s Lyon agent, Monestier. Its first owner, Dr. Jacques Kocher, was a highly accomplished surgeon whose professional achievements earned him the French Legion of Honor. Dr. Kocher was not merely a Bugatti customer – he was one of the marque’s most valued clients, owning 14 examples between 1925 and 1938, including Types 35, 37, 43, 44, 50, 55, and no fewer than five Type 57s, many acquired new through Monestier.
In 1950, Dr. Kocher sold 57718 to Monsieur De Fenoyl, who recalled collecting it from the doctor’s home in Valence. At that time the car wore metallic gray paint with a dark green accent; M. De Fenoyl later refinished it in gray and black. Maintenance was entrusted to Marcel Piottin, who had been the foreman of the Lyon Bugatti agency. In 1951, while M. De Fenoyl was away on his honeymoon, his father unexpectedly sold the car, beginning its transition into collector ownership.
In the early 1990s, the car returned to Europe, joining The Oldtimer Garage in Switzerland before entering one of the world’s premier private Bugatti collections – a stable that included the finest examples of the Type 35, 51, 55, 59, and 57S. Rarely shown, 57718 appeared at the celebrated Bugatti Family exhibition at Vence in 1995 and later, in 2019, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s Cartier Style et Luxe Concours. After returning to the US in 2023, the car received specialist mechanical attention from Ivan Dutton Ltd., including fresh upholstery in proper Havana leather, installed under the supervision of renowned trimmer Robert Smith.
The Bugatti Type 57 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 1933 as a pillarless four-door saloon named "Galibier". Following the construction of three prototypes built for the presentation, 38 production cars were released in 1934 before Bugatti's own coachbuilding department ceased manufacture of this model. A second, very limited production run of just four bodies in 1935, followed by nine more in 1936, constitutes the second series of Bugatti-built Galibiers, of which only three of the thirteen are known to survive today. Production of the Galibier body by the Molsheim factory then ceased until 1938, when 
the second series entered production with a more aerodynamic design.
The completed car was dispatched by rail on 8 June 1934 and delivered to its first owner, Monsieur Jean-Michel Storione, at 11 Rue Saint-Jacques in Marseille, registered as 1034 CA 7. The Storione family, originally from Italy, had enjoyed considerable success in Marseille since the late 19th century in the bakery business and were also the founders of the famous Francine brand. Jean-Michel Storione, also known as Jean Storione, was a true connoisseur of mechanical engineering, with a passion for aviation as well as automobiles. Prior to becoming a valued client of the Molsheim marque, he owned several Delage cars. While his Bugattis were purchased through Gaston Decollas, they were maintained twice monthly by Mr Meronni. His Bugatti ownership included a Brescia in 1921, a Type 44 Torpedo in 1929, a Type 55 Roadster in 1933, a Type 49 in 1933, this Type 57 Galibier in 1934, an Atalante in 1938 and finally a Type 57C Stelvio in 1939.
Chassis 57140 also appears in the Bugatti factory mechanical repair archives. On 20 October 1934, when the car was just four months old, its engine was returned to the factory under warranty due to malfunctions. The repair record states: "Overhaul of engine No. 35: the crankcase, cylinder block and one connecting rod were damaged. Piston No. 1 was seized. Rectification required for connecting rods Nos. 4 and 8."
In 1967, the car was acquired by renowned Bugatti hunter Antoine Raffaelli, who recalled his first encounter with 57140: "I went to see the car at the Paragalo garage, 268 Boulevard Baille in Marseille, around 1960. The car was in for servicing for Cousin, and the mechanic was fitting special brake linings for improved braking. He had also cut the cam boxes to make the engine resemble that of an Alfa Romeo 8C! The car was black with blue sides...".
In 1974, chassis 57140 was sold to Jean Vilette, a member of the Club Bugatti France. Although based in Paris, Vilette worked near the German border, and by the mid-1980s the car was listed by the German Bugatti Club in 1989 as belonging to Walter Metz of Moosbrunn.
Acquired by the current owner in 2024, chassis 57140 has since undergone a comprehensive restoration carried out largely by the owner's own specialist workshops. The body was restored with particular attention to the wooden frame and metal panels before being repainted in its original colour scheme, as evidenced by a photograph dating from 1966. At the same time, the interior was restored to its original patterns, trimmed in an elegant red hue that harmonises beautifully with the woodwork and beige carpets.
Offered with its Laugier report, Danish registration document and a comprehensive history file containing period photographs and documentation of the recent restoration, this Bugatti Type 57 Galibier is regarded as "one of the most authentic surviving examples of this first design by Joseph Walter, created in 1932 for the new Type 57 chassis."
In the summer of 2026, 49 years after the last international Bugatti gathering in Denmark, our club will once again host this magnificent event.
1956 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. On 4 August, Bugatti-Club Deutschland was founded in
the paddock by former Bugatti racing drivers and Bugatti owners. This is, of course, an occasion for us
to celebrate an anniversary meeting, to which the club would like to cordially invite its members and
friends from the international community of Bugatti enthusiasts. The centre of our meeting is Bad
Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. For a long time, the town was a popular location for our club meetings and also
the place where the ‘International Bugatti Meeting 1983’ was held. From there, we will start our four
day trips, exploring spectacular, varied landscapes such as the Ahr valley flanked by vineyards, the
unique Vulkaneifel, called "Land of volcanoes" and the Moselle region. Picturesque medieval villages,
castles and other attractions line the roads along the routes.
The BUGATTI RALLY GP 2026 brings together Bugatti Grand Prix enthusiasts and their historic cars to the Czech Republic for an unforgettable week of rallying. Building on the success of the 2023 Bugatti Brescia Rally, which attracted 40 vehicles from 17 nationalities and earned the prestigious Pennant Award from the Bugatti Owners Club, this event celebrates the legendary Grand Prix racing heritage.
Dear Bugatti Enthusiasts:
The tour will include six days of driving through wine country, glaciated mountains, pristine alpine lakes, ponderosa pine forests, volcanic lava fields and the high desert of Oregon. You will be staying at beautiful inns and resorts. This unforgettable tour of the disappearing American west will include a private rodeo, a tour of Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose at the Aviation and Space Museum, and a Recreation Day to experience Central Oregon, with a Crater Lake option. This is a unique opportunity, being the first time that an International Bugatti Meet has been held in the Pacific Northwest.
This is a three-day transition tour from the Allison Hotel to Pacific Raceway, Kent, WA. While you can drive directly to the track in 3-4 hours (185 miles), the ‘Volcano Tour’ takes you through some of the prettiest parts of lower Washington state. The tour begins along the Columbia Gorge with stops at wineries and the Mary Hill Museum, which features works by Rodin and Loie Fuller. The route provides stunning vistas, including three glaciated volcanoes in the “Pacific Ring of Fire” in the Cascade Mountain range. Our final stop is the host hotel near Pacific Raceways.
Whether racing or spectating, the ABC has arranged for this to be an exciting few days for all Bugatti enthusiasts. Approximately 30 Bugattis will race for 3 days at the 2.25 mile Pacific Raceway “European Style” track in Kent, Washington. Three-day passes will be available for those with Bugatti touring cars to park in the paddocks, attend a welcome dinner on Thursday evening, join tours of famous Seattle car collections and participate in parade laps on Friday, Saturday, and before the Bugatti Grand Prix on Sunday. The weekend will end with a Gala Awards Dinner on Sunday evening.
September 10 - 13, 2026 Bugatti Festival
Molsheim, France
More info to follow
Bugatti events from the past
Please let me know if you know the dates of any Bugatti events in the future.
I can be reached by email at J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com.
