Bugatti news, 2025 Plus events

Milleabros auction USA, December 10, 2025

• 1926? Bugatti Baby, "Chassis": 142, estimate: $30,000 - $50,000, Sold for $50,000

Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction, France, December 15, 2025

• "57313" Bugatti Type 51 Pur Sang replica, estimate: 200,000 - 250,000 EUR, Sold for 349,160 EUR incl. premium

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.

Thirty-seven rare and significant cars competed across six exclusive classes, evaluated by an international jury chaired by historian and author Stefano Pasini.

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

and here’s the proof!

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...
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.

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 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.

I get in touch with him and ask:
— 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.

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…
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.

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.

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!

Yes.
Dreams do exist.
I’ve met one.

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.
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."

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.

RM / Sotheby's London Auction, November 1, 2025

• 1928 Bugatti Type 44 Profilé 'Aérodynamique' by Gangloff, Chassis: 44784, estimate: £250,000 - £275,000, Sold for £207,000

Christie's Art Moderne auction, October 24, 2025

All Rembrandt Bugatti sculptures, naturally. All come from the Collection André Antolini

• Vache meuglant, signed and dated 'Bugatti 1901', Estimate EUR 30,000 - 40,000, Sold for EUR 101,600

• Biche et ses deux faons, l'un tête sa mère, signed, dated, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'R. Bugatti 904 (2) CIRE PERDUE A.A HéBRARD', Estimate EUR 120,000 - 180,000, Sold for EUR 279,400

• Gazelle, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'R Bugatti (2) CIRE PERDUE A. A. HéBRARD', Estimate EUR 80,000 - 120,000, Sold for EUR 152,400

• Trois pélicans en conversation, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'CIRE PERDUE A.A HéBRARD (1) R Bugatti', Estimate EUR 120,000 - 150,000, Sold for EUR 152,400

• Cerf en marche, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'R Bugatti CIRE PERDUE A.A. HéBRARD (2)', Estimate EUR 180,000 - 220,000, Sold for EUR 279,400

• Les Yacks au repos, signed, numbered and with the foundry mark 'R Bugatti (2) CIRE PERDUE A.A HéBRARD', Estimate EUR 120,000 - 150,000, Sold for EUR 203,200

• Jaguar accroupi, petit modèle, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'R Bugatti (4) CIRE PERDUE A.A HéBRARD', Estimate EUR 90,000 - 120,000, Sold for EUR 114,300

• Petite Panthère, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark 'R. Bugatti (8) CIRE PERDUE A.A. HéBRARD', Estimate EUR 180,000 - 220,000, Sold for EUR 368,300

• Une oie, petit modèle, signed, numbered and with the foundry mark 'R. Bugatti. CIRE PERDUE A.A. HéBRARD (1)', Estimate EUR 25,000 - 35,000, Sold for EUR 50,800

• Flamant en marche, signed, numbered and stamped with the foundry mark '(1) CIRE PERDUE A.A HéBRARD R. Bugatti.', Estimate EUR 70,000 - 90,000, Sold for EUR 114,300

File with images of all sculptures.

Broad Arrow Zoute Concours Auction, October 10, 2025

• 1992 Bugatti EB110GT, Chassis: ZA9AB01G0RCD39053, Estimate 1,500,000 - 1,800,000 euro, Sold for €1.581.250
• 2015 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, Chassis: VF9SV25265M795079, Estimate 1,900,000 - 2,300,000 euro, Sold for €1.862.500

Today I received the following message from 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

• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Graber, Chassis: 57483, Engine: 360, Estimate 520,000 - 580,000 euro, Sold for 466,012 euro
• 1996 Mark Al Harris Bugatti Type 59, Estimate 5,000 - 10,000 euro, Sold for 10,516 euro

RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction, October 8 - 9, 2025

• 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Paul Née, Chassis: 57156, Engine: 48, Estimate $550,000 - $650,000, Sold for US$759,000

Bring a Trailer Auction, October 3, 2025

• 20?? Bugatti - Pur Sang Type 35B, Chassis: 691PS, Sold for US$202,000 inc. premium

More info

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:

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".

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.
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.

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.
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.

We wish his wife Bénédicte, children and family strength to cope with their loss.

Bonhams' the Quail Auction, August 15, 2025

• "1924" Bugatti - Diatto Avio 8C, Chassis: B1919, Engine: 136. Sold for US$285,500 inc. premium
• 2020 Bugatti Divo, VIN. VF9SD3V34LM795015, Estimate: US$7,000,000 - US$9,000,000, Sold for US$8,557,500 inc. premium
• 2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, VIN. VF9SC3V31MM795008, Estimate: US$3,750,000 - US$4,250,000, Sold for US$3,965,000 inc. premium
• 2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, VIN. VF9SW3V31PM795053, Estimate: US$3,500,000 - US$4,500,000 (no reserve) Sold for US$4,460,000 inc. premium

Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction, August 15 - 16, 2025

• 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Supercharged Grand Prix, Chassis: BC035, Engine: 194T (EX-4939), Estimate $625,000 - $850,000, not sold, Asking Price $675,000
• 1926 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix, Chassis: 37103, Engine: 7, Estimate $750,000 - $950,000, not sold, Asking Price $800,000
• 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis: 4817, Engine: 126T, Estimate $2,500,000 - $3,000,000, not sold, Asking Price $2,500,000
• 1927 Bugatti Type 43 Grand Sport, Chassis: 43172, Engine: 12, Estimate $1,500,000 - $2,250,000, not sold, Asking Price $1,600,000
• 1928 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport, Chassis: 40661, Engine: 565, Estimate $375,000 - $450,000, sold for $401,000
• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux, Chassis: 57297, Engine: 151, Estimate $250,000 - $325,000 / Without Reserve, sold for $224,000
• 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Drophead Coupe James Young, Chassis: 57236, Engine: 136, Estimate $400,000 - $550,000, sold for $434,000
• 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Chassis: ZA9BB02E0RCD39012, Engine: 086, Estimate $3,000,000 - $3,500,000, sold for: $2,755,000
• 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport, Chassis: VF9SP3V3XKM795168, Estimate $3,250,000 - $3,750,000, not sold, Asking Price $3,450,000
• 2024 Bugatti Bolide, Chassis: 001, Estimate $4,500,000 - $6,000,000, Withdrawn

RM Sotheby's Monterey Auction, August 16, 2025

• 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff, Chassis: 57597, Engine: 82C (ex 57809), Estimate $700,000 - $800,000, not sold, Asking price $700,000

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.

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.

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.

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...

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 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 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.

"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.”

Hendrik Malinowski, Managing Director of Bugatti

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.

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

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.

“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.

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.

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 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.

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.

• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Sports Coach by Graber, Chassis: 57443

Further info to follow

• 1926? Bugatti Baby, "Chassis": 142

1930?, France, enameled aluminum shell, rubber tires, leather seat and straps, electric motor, the dashboard featuring a pressure gauge and inverter, with a shift to the right of the seat, enameled "Bugatti" plaque to front, Chassis number 142, incl. transport frame, 22"h x 25.5"w x 77"d (car), 26"h x 80.25"w x 31.25"d (frame)

Condition
Good/Fair, leak to tires, tarnish to metal, chips to enamel, minor loss to plaque, wear to leather straps, lacking battery, brake line and lever intact.

Provenance
Christie's, New York, 15 June 2025, lot 167A; Christie's, New York, 8 June 2016, lot 24;
Private Collection, France, 1926, Thence by descent

More info and bidding

• "57313" Bugatti Type 51 Pur Sang replica

Made famous by their mechanical purity, lightness and performance excellence, Bugatti Type 51s occupy a special place in the history of motorsport in the 1930s. A true evolution of the legendary Type 35, the Type 51 brought a major innovation: a double-camshaft engine, offering an even sportier character and highly sophisticated mechanics.

Given the extreme rarity of original examples, the Argentinian company Pur Sang has established itself over the decades as the world benchmark for vintage Bugatti recreations. Produced with exceptional craftsmanship, often using original plans and methods, their cars are remarkably faithful to the aesthetics, dynamics and spirit of the models of yesteryear. Metalwork, assembly quality and respect for historical specifications make these vehicles prized both for collecting and for participation in historic events.

The example presented here, a recreation of a Bugatti Type 51, offers a rare opportunity to experience the sensations and mechanical beauty of one of Ettore Bugatti's greatest masterpieces, with the precision and reliability of a thoroughbred. Equipped with the famous in-line eight-cylinder compressor engine, it offers an authentic, lively and demanding driving experience, as experienced by the Grand Prix drivers of the time.

This Type 51 Pur Sang is an exceptional opportunity for any Bugatti enthusiast or pre-war racing car aficionado to add to their collection an automobile of timeless prestige and unrivalled character.

With the "Carte Grise" of Chassis n° 57313

More info

Anders Ditlev Clausager passed away on July 27, 2025, after a long fight against cancer, with which he was diagnosed in July 2023. He remained active until the last, and amongst others completed an article on the first known car produced in Denmark, the Hammel, which appeared in the June 2025 issue of The Automobile.

From the Bugattistes, not many will know Anders, who was an important factor in the classic car world, not just through his knowledge in the field of especially English automotive history and the books he wrote on that subject. I came to know him through the European Conference for Automotive History, which he organised together with Thomas Ulrich from Germany. I attended at the first event, which was held at the Schlumpf museum in Mulhouse, France in May 2017. Two years later the event came closer, to the Louwman museum in the Hague, the Netherlands, in March 2019. I missed the one which was held in Turin, Italy (2022), but I was present at the last one, now in cooperation with FIVA, held at Autostadt in Wolfsburg in October 2024. At that conference co-organizer Thomas Ulrich was much missed, as he was having serious health problems at the moment.

During the conference I talked with Anders, always a friendly and amiable man, on various occasions, and he told me about the health problems which he himself was having. At that time I did not expect that he would pass away so soon. He will be much missed, and we wish his family and close friends strength with this loss.

Anders Ditlev Clausager was a Danish-born automotive designer, archivist, and one of the most respected historians in the field of motoring heritage. Educated at the Aarhus School of Architecture and the Royal College of Art in London, he began his career as a designer at Volkswagen and Austin-Morris before transitioning to archival work. From 1979 to 2014, he was archivist first at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and later at the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust, where he developed landmark vehicle record databases and introduced the influential “Heritage Certificate” service.

A prolific author, Anders wrote over 20 books, mostly on British automotive history, including Wolseley: A Very British Car, which won multiple prestigious awards. He also edited numerous automotive titles and contributed to leading journals and magazines. His scholarly articles ranged from early estate cars to coachbuilding, and he regularly presented at international conferences and forums. A central figure in the historic vehicle community, Anders co-founded the European Conference for Automotive History and served on numerous advisory panels, including for the National Motor Museum and the Society of Automotive Historians.

His volunteer work included cataloguing early Wolseley and Austin-Healey records and supporting motoring clubs across Europe. Deeply committed to preserving automotive heritage, Anders left an indelible legacy both through his meticulous archival work and his warm, collegial presence in the motoring world.

In the 1920's and 30's one-off coachbuilt models were something that every (wealthy) customer could buy, some even by their own design. Many of these were, and not just in the case of Bugatti, by specialized coachbuilding companies. In the late 1920's, Bugatti started coachbuilding in-house, where many artistic designs by Jean Bugatti were made, some of them in just one example, like the Coupé Napoleon and Esders Roadster on the extravagant Type 41 "Royale" chassis.

On August 7th Bugatti will unveil the latest chapter in a long lineage of bespoke masterpieces, revealing both a new ultra-exclusive program of one-of-one cars, as well as its first example.

It will be a celebration of grace and elegance, rooted in the unique artistry and heritage of the Bugatti story, the "Solitaire". A teaser of this car is at the top of this article.

The Dutch magazine Autoblog reveals that this latest Bugatti will join the stables of Dutchman Michel Perridon, who already owns a series of the modern Bugattis:

• Bugatti EB110 Super Sport Coupé 1994
• Bugatti Veyron
• Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport 16.4
• Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse 16.4
• Bugatti Chiron
• Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+
• Bugatti Bolide

What will be the basis of the Solitaire, the colour of which has been descibed as "greenish", has not been released yet, but it is most logical that it will be based on the Chiron or the Mistral chassis. Especially based on the Chiron there have been loads of specials, like the (also one-off) Voiture Noire, the Divo and the Cientodieci. Thus, the Solitaire will be equipped with the 8-litre quad-turbo VVR16 engine.

RM Sotheby's Cliveden House Auction, UK, July 8, 2025

• 1929 Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet by Lavocat et Marsaud, Chassis No. 44942, Engine No. 696, Estimate: £150,000 - £200,000 GBP, Sold for £314,375 GBP incl. premium

I heard some rumours that Bugatti would gradually slow down it's activity in the Molsheim headquarters, moving some of it's activity to the RIMAC site in Sveta Nedelja, Croatia. However, this recent news surely belies this:

The next chapter of a storied site: introducing Bugatti’s new world-class atelier

The Château Saint Jean in Molsheim has represented the home of Bugatti since the 1920s. Purchased by the marque's founder, Ettore Bugatti, in 1928, it has hosted honored guests, customers and racing drivers from around the world (Well, not really, those were usually hosted at the hostellerie du Pur Sang, ed.). Yet the site, and all that has been built upon it, has remained elegantly natural in character – qualities that have been borne proudly by each car that has left the doors of the brand’s Atelier.

Now, entering the new era of Bugatti with the Tourbillon hypercar, a new world-class production facility in the Château grounds is set to take up the mantle, as the next generation of the brand's Atelier starts to move from concept to reality.

Remaining true to the natural charm of its surrounding environment, the new Bugatti Atelier is a structure that takes a contemporary twist on the elegance that first drew Ettore to the site. Walking towards the meadowland at the forefront of the Château site, the low and expansive design appears to gradually rise from it, with the design going above and beyond mandated requirements for integration into the surrounding environment. Its foremost sloping side brings the wild grass with it, going on to cover 30% of the structure’s roof.

The building is defined by an elegant contrast between discretely dark walls and bright glass. A marvel of modern architecture 132 meters long and 25 meters wide, it belies its own scale with the intelligent approach to design synonymous with Bugatti vehicles. Expansive windows come together to form a wall of glass 5 meters high on the building’s eastern flank – opening the large space up to the morning light, and bringing the vista of the outside wilderness to Bugatti's craftspeople as they work. Wide skylights punctuate the ceiling throughout the production space, bringing the glow of daylight into the bright hall through the course of the day.

The new Atelier's modernity goes beyond skin-deep, however, with its intelligent layout delivering new levels of efficiency. Delivering double the production capacity of the existing Atelier, the larger floorspace and its upgraded facilities enable Bugatti to introduce a new generation of manufacturing equipment and workflow design, bringing more capabilities in-house. From the first assembly of vehicle sub-components, to the creation of the rolling chassis and facilitating its marriage to the bodywork, the building makes the process of bringing a Bugatti to life more efficient than at any other point in its 116-year history.

As the Bugatti brand continues its journey into a new era, so the existing Atelier building takes on its own evolution. The structure, designed in the shape of Bugatti's iconic Macaron, will become a space for introducing guests to the world of the French luxury marque, where elegance meets craftsmanship. The building will allow them to experience the brand's famous hospitality, while taking the opportunity to see the interior cabins of select vehicles being created – a unique chance to immerse themselves in the inimitable attention to detail that defines the marque.

"In its own way, every vehicle that has left Molsheim has gone on to carve out a unique story in the automotive world. Time after time, Bugatti vehicles have written chapter upon chapter in pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering – coming down to the incredible skill of the people in our Atelier. Now, with the next-generation Atelier starting to come to life, we look towards strengthening our production capabilities and brand even further. With the all-new equipment targeted for installation at the end of the year, we look ahead to bringing in new talent, efficiencies, and possibilities in creating more automotive history together. While the Tourbillon leads a bold new era in performance, our new production capabilities ensure that Molsheim continues to set the benchmark for excellence."

Frederic Daul, Director of Operations at Bugatti

You may have already noted, the photographs which look real, are in fact not, they're mere computer images.

Bonhams' the Bonmont Sale, Chéserex, Switzerland, June 29, 2025

• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Berline by van Vooren, Chassis: 57414, Engine: 212, Estimate: €200,000 - €280,000 , Sold for € 270,500 incl. premium

Garden Party In Saint-Tropez - Artcurial auction, June 28, 2025

• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio by Gangloff, Chassis: 57181, Engine: 30, Estimate: €600,000 - 800,000: Not Sold

Recently, I was browsing a bit on Aliexpress, the cheap Chinese online store, where one can buy everything from underwear to complete pre-fabricated houses. Much to my surprise, there was a miniature of the Chateau St. Jean in "Lego".

For 370 euro you can buy this "kit" containing 4621 pieces, when built it will have dimensions of L:25 cm, W:40 cm, H:40 cm. I'm not sure exactly what scale that would be, I guess around 1:50, so it would make a good background for your 1:43 miniatures.

However, as one can see comparing with the photo of the real Chateau, there are less windows (only two on either side of the entrance instead of 3) and some other details which were simplified. Of course one can extend this kit with "two windows" to three, by acquiring two kits, and combining them...

Info and ordering at Aliexpress
Beware: there are two different kits on the same page, make sure to select the right one!

Have fun building!

Bring A Trailer on-line Auction, USA, May 28, 2025

• 2018 Bugatti Chiron, Chassis number: VF9SP3V36JM795070, 2,200 Miles, Sold for $2,850,000

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Many of the last posts on work by Rembrandt Bugatti which I presented here in this news section, were on rather unknown sketches, drawings or even paintings. The sculptures are of course what he is best known for, and quite rightfully so!

Shortly, there will be two very impressive sculptures on offer, with the well-known subjects of deer respectively large cats. They will be in the following auctions:

Bonhams - Cornette de Saint Cyr auction, June 4, 2025

• Deux léopards marchant (photo below), le mâle lève une patte, 1912, numbered 'A8', Estimate €280,000 - €350,000

  More info

Artcurial auction, June 5, 2025

• Roaring deer followed by a doe and her fawn, 1903, only known example, Estimate €650,000 - €850,000

  More info

Donington Auction, the Bob King collection, Australia, March 4, 2025

• 1914 Peugeot Bébé 6HP Type BP1 / BP3 Two Seater, Chassis number: 11098, Estimate AU$48,000 - AU$58,000, Sold for AU$45,000 (25,843 euro)

For all other results, have a look at the Donington website: Donington Auctions website

welcome to the Bugatti Design Studio in Berlin

(The current Bugatti so often refers to it's famous heritage, and that the cars are assembled in Molsheim, the original birthplace of all Bugattis. Thus, why are they designed in Berlin? Ed.)

Berlin is a city that, for decades, has presented itself as a vibrant epicenter of individualism, cultural expression, and innovation. A philosophy that has remained rich to the present day, welcoming skilled artisans and entrepreneurs brimming with novel ideas and hopes for an exciting future from around the world. As Bugatti advances further into its new era, so it finds its new home for crafting the next generation of automotive design, in the heart of the German capital.

A fitting reflection of the German metropolis, the world-class Bugatti design team is formed of designers from 22 different countries around the globe. Vehicle exterior; color and trim; 3D modeling – in Berlin, a host of specialists and disciplines converge in a pool of talent overflowing with new ideas and unique concepts, taking Bugatti’s unparalleled design language to new heights. And to continue attracting such exceptional international talent, the new design headquarters for Bugatti needed to exude equally as much charisma.

The new Bugatti Design Studio was thus crafted as a space not just to generate ideas for the future of automotive excellence, but to celebrate the spirit of heritage that has inspired them. It is a creative workspace that represents a natural home for Bugatti – a 1,100 square-meter studio housed within a starkly beautiful industrial building that has stood proudly throughout the test of time.

A protected place as a site of historical significance, the structure began its life in the 1920s as a critical power station, supplying electricity for the city’s metro system – before transforming into a techno club in the 1990s. And now, having borne witness to the winds of change and cultural shifts as the sands of time flowed through the decades, the storied space takes on its own new purpose.

The studio itself is enveloped in this rich repository of history – from the original ceramic tiling covering the walls and floors, to the carefully engineered, century-old cast iron staircases leading to the walkway and open gallery in the upper reaches of its incredibly spacious main hall.

And yet, seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic of the space is a cutting-edge suite of technologies – equipping Bugatti’s industry-leading experts with the tools they need to realize new concepts, ushering thrilling change into the world of automotive design.

Replacing the art of traditional vehicle clay-modelling with an equally intricate modern-day medium, Bugatti’s designers can transform the open industrial space into an immersive virtual design studio, with the CAD concept of any given vehicle at the center. With head trackers positioned strategically and discreetly throughout an open section of the studio, the designers utilize virtual-reality technology to realize a millimeter-perfect rendering of a vehicle design in the digital space – able to inspect, revise and optimize every facet of the concept with remarkable precision and efficiency.

State-of-the-art equipment nevertheless goes hand-in-hand with dearly held hallmarks of tried-and-tested automotive design – working in harmony throughout a creative process that draws on the unique studio space to spark artistic ideation. From cabin materials of every cut, thread and origin, to meticulously hand-drawn sketches of customers’ individual vehicle commissions, the Bugatti artisans’ work is laid out for each colleague to admire and be inspired – an environment itself creatively designed by those who flourish within it, advancing Bugatti’s inimitable story of craftsmanship yet further.

It is an experience that esteemed Bugatti customers cannot help but immerse themselves in, when invited by the marque’s specialists to embark on their design journey at the new studio. The most personally meaningful of monikers; the subtlest of visual cues; the most curious and exotic of materials – each and every design path for the most intricate of Bugatti commissions is laid before its future owner, themselves taking inspiration from the discerning eye of the designers they’re guided by. All before witnessing their prized automotive jewel come to life, with full-scale vehicle models adorned with the design demonstrating how their unique dream will be realized, step by lovingly curated step.

Ultimately, the manifestation of the incredible studio’s beauty is found in its equally customizable design. Each workbench, easel, and creative space can be seamlessly rolled back; infinitely variable mood lighting throughout the studio adjusted; and the intricately tiled floor space opened up, creating an event space perfect for celebrating the magnificence of the design team’s new home.

“To be a Bugatti, each model needs to be infused with the spirit of its incomparable heritage, unprecedented engineering, technological capabilities, and captivatingly beautiful design. A vehicle so complex, precious and unique, can only be curated by a group of people with equally individual skill sets, in an environment crafted to nurture that skill. That is what the new Bugatti Design Studio, located in the heart of this thriving metropolis of Berlin, represents.

Here, as we begin a new chapter for Bugatti with the Tourbillon hyper sports car, we enter a new thrilling era for Bugatti design – one defined by the unparalleled history, engineering and luxury that has been, and will continue to be, the spirit-force for Bugatti.”

Frank Heyl, Director of Design at Bugatti

The Collection of Dr. Bob King to be auctioned - Featuring Australian & European Motorsport

The French marque Bugatti has inspired a number of legendary figures in the classic car world over the years and one man in Australia has become synonymous with the cars from Molsheim. A retired medical practitioner, Bob King has spent a lifetime collecting, restoring, racing and researching these extraordinary machines, starting with his first Brescia bought more than 60 years ago. Authoring four definitive books on the subject, Bob has painstakingly documented each and every Bugatti to reach Australian shores, deservedly earning the epitaph ‘expert’ along the way.

Bob’s interest extends well beyond Bugatti, delving into countless other marques (owning examples of AC, Alfa Romeo, Avions Voisin, Bentley, Delahaye, Ferrari, Hispano Suiza, Lagonda, Minerva, Peugeot, Talbot and Vauxhall), Australian motor sport, aviation and so much more.

Gathered over a lifetime, Donington Auctions are privileged to have been entrusted with the sale of Bob’s extensive Bugatti collection of memorabilia, literature and more (including a charming 1914 Bébé Peugeot) as, at the ripe old age of 87, he downsizes and moves on to a new chapter in life.

View the catalog, First Lot Begins Closing May 4,2025 10:00 AM AEST.

Amongst the many Bugatti items, and of course many from other marques, one item stands out:

• 1914 Peugeot Bébé 6HP Type BP1 / BP3 Two Seater, Estimate $48,000 - $58,000
  • Chassis number: 11098
  • Engine number: 10722
  • Body number: 12070
  • Registration number: 7-966 (Victoria)

MODEL HISTORY:
Peugeot Bébé (Baby) was a small car made by the French manufacturer between 1905 to 1916.
Just two models were ultimately produced under the nameplate, the Type 69 which was sold only during 1905, and the Type BP1 – for Bugatti-Peugeot 1 – which debuted at the Paris Motor Show in 1912, and was manufactured between 1913 and 1916.
Significantly, the Type BP1 Bébé was designed by Ettore Bugatti, originally for the German marque Wanderer, but also built under license by Peugeot for the French market. Bugatti had given the design an official Type number, Type 16.
Confusingly, the Peugeot factory sometimes also refers to the model as the B3P1.
Diminutive in size, looking very much like a half-scale open-topped tourer, the Peugeot Bébé used the marque’s own T-head 855cc four-cylinder engine which produced 7 kW at 2000rpm, giving the 350kg car a top speed of 60 kilometres per hour. While the Wanderer used Bugatti's own four-speed transmission, Peugeot fitted a two-speed gearbox initially, later replaced by its own three-speed.

The Bébé enjoyed some racing success among small car classes, notably at Mont Ventoux in 1913, where it won in its class.
With a total of 3095 examples made, the Bugatti designed Bébé became the first production Peugeot to surpass 3,000 units.

VEHICLE HISTORY:
Drawing attention amid the plethora of car dealerships on Sydney’s Parramatta Road was ever a challenge.
NSW Peugeot dealer Norman Agate came up with a novel solution in the years before World War II … he stuck this 1914 Peugeot Bébé up a tree!
It is not known how many Bébés came to Australia, but existing records suggest that as many as six were registered in NSW, with potentially as many or more in Victoria. Surprisingly, there are three other examples of the tiny, Ettore Bugatti-designed Peugeots currently known in the southern state.
Norman Agate is believed to have been the second owner of this Bébé, which spent an indeterminant number of years up the tree before being rescued by a Canberra enthusiast around 1976, who replaced it with an Austin 7.
Needless to say, constant exposure to the elements hadn’t done much good to the diminutive Peugeot, which was a crumbling wreck with its Gautier body disintegrating, when rescued.
It passed through several enthusiasts’ hands before ending up dismantled, in a mezzanine above a Sydney wholesale butcher’s shop, where our vendor first saw it 30 years ago.

By then some work had been done getting it back on its wheels, however the original body had been stolen, and subsequently the Bébé’s remains went to New Zealand, where its penultimate owner had located a sound, original body out of Aberdeenshire, in Scotland.
Our vendor, a renowned Bugatti enthusiast, purchased the body and “just a pile of bits, some missing” in 2014 and began the Bébé’s complete restoration, which was completed in 2018.
Today, the Bébé wears a time-worn patina thanks to the replacement body’s original olive green paintwork with black guards and bonnet, all clear-coated to protect them.
Inside, the moth-eaten upholstery and floor coverings are original too.
With the assistance of fellow Bugatti enthusiasts, the BP1 had its new body fitted to the original chassis, some welding was done to the guards, and the mechanicals were refurbished, including new differential gears made.
That work returned it to running condition and, indeed, it was running and driving under its own steam when delivered to Donington Auctions.
In deference to the Bébé’s originality, it has been kept in ‘oily rag’ condition and won ‘Best Pre 1930 Vehicle’ at the annual British & European Day at Yarra Glen (Victoria) earlier this year.
Accompanying the tiny Peugeot are copies of original manuals, various vehicle histories, receipts and assorted documentation.
A significant model in the histories of both Peugeot and Bugatti, this Bébé BP1 would be the centre of attention wherever it goes, even without its colourful past.
Previously on Victorian club registration, the 1914 Peugeot Bébé 611P Type BP1 Two Seater is being offered for sale here unregistered.

In the new era of Bugatti, defined by the Tourbillon hyper sports car, the marque’s incomparable journey takes a new path. A cutting-edge interpretation of timeless design and unparalleled luxury, the Tourbillon has captured the imaginations of enthusiasts around the world. And so that journey continues, as the latest in Bugatti’s illustrious lineage arrived for the Grand Opening of the Bugatti showroom in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Showcasing a modern design that embodies the rich and successful partnership between Bugatti and Pon Luxury & Performance Cars, Bugatti Rotterdam provides an extraordinary home for the brand in the Netherlands.

In a relationship that has flourished since 2012, Pon Luxury & Performance Cars has reinforced its reputation as a trusted partner for the brand, establishing itself as a crucial instrument in Bugatti’s success in the country – the unison of each vehicle and discerning owner exquisitely facilitated by the industry-leading outfit.

The manifestation of that success was symbolized by the first Bugatti showroom in the Netherlands, opened in 2016 in partnership with Pon Luxury & Performance Cars. Housed within the historic 'Het Koopmanshuis' – a stone’s throw away from where Pon’s Automotive Operations started more than a century ago – Bugatti’s Leusden home served for years to deliver the success worthy of the marque’s storied name.

And now, as Bugatti advances into its new era, it elevates the essence of the brand experience to new heights. An elegantly presented, 188-square-meter space, envelops customers in the Bugatti universe – finished in the latest iteration of Bugatti’s visual identity.

Marking the arrival of the new space, came a private Grand Opening event. Hosting Bugatti’s esteemed guests in an evening of festivities, Bugatti’s senior leadership team led by Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, and Hendrik Malinowski, Bugatti Managing Director, created a warm atmosphere of nostalgia and anticipation for a thrilling future in equal measure.

Enjoying the conviviality of the event with a glass of Carbon Champagne in-hand, guests could admire the beautiful vehicles on display, including the stunning Baby Bugatti II. At the center of the celebration, the iconic vehicles that, through Bugatti’s illustrious history, have curated an unparalleled legend. From the iconic Type 45, distinguished by its unique U16 engine, to the extraordinary EB110, the striking Veyron Grand Sport Venet, history-making Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition Car and Chiron Super Sport 300+², and the Tourbillon, the host of Bugatti cars served as a poignant reminder of the excellence that continues to power the brand into the future.

“Rotterdam represents the perfect evolution for our brand presence in the Netherlands. This vibrant city, with Europe's largest port, world-class architecture, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, embodies the forward-thinking spirit that drives Bugatti. Our new 188-square-meter showroom provides the ideal environment to showcase not only our latest extraordinary hyper sports cars, but also our vision for the future of Bugatti. To our valued partners at Pon Luxury & Performance Cars, thank you for your continued dedication and passion. To our clients, thank you for your support of our vision. We are incredibly excited for what the future holds for Bugatti and its continuing legend, and we look forward to creating more shared memories in this new era.”
Hendrik Malinowski, Bugatti Managing Director

Right: The Tourbillon being unloaded at Kinderdijk, for the photoshoot.

Five of the Bugatti's present at the opening were from the Perridon collection, which is housed in the Netherlands, also in Rotterdam. Coincidence? Perridon has been the best Bugatti customer from the Netherlands, buying not just a load of modern Bugatti's (alongside the classic ones), but also a complete chassis and engine.

At least, not yet. And if it does, this way of smuggling parts over the border really is not the way to do it..

Of course, two days after March 30 comes April 1....

However, the images are real, and were send to me by Rick Nicolaas from New Zealand.

The guy is actually taking the packages out of the rear axle of the truck, not putting them in. This was at the Mexican - US border, and the packages with some not further specified type of drugs, are actually marked with the Bugatti oval.

Why? If anybody knows, please tell me!

I was sent these clandestinely shot photographs of Bugatti employees carefully packaging parts and hiding them inside the rear-axle of a truck, which will take them from Canada to the USA.

The trip will start in two days from today, hopefully this way these expensive electronic motormanagement parts will arrive at the client's, without additional tariffs or taxes having to be paid.

As a sculptor specializing in portrait and figurative art, various artistic reasons led sculptor Bertold Grether to search for a suitable form for a portrait bust of Ettore Bugatti.

Based on historical images, between November 2024 and January 2025 he modeled and submitted the resulting impression to a bronze foundry for an initial bronze casting.

He chose the form of a mask because it transforms the portrait into an object at first glance and avoids a rather ghostly encounter with a sculpted, life-size head.

This decision also supports the technique of bronze casting, as the casting process is legible from both the front and back.

This edition is limited to 10 copies in bronze as shown in the pictures. The sculpture is attached to a stone pedestal and has the size over all of about 44 cm high, 23 cm wide and 22 cm deep.

The price of 3800 Euro includes VAT and free shipping within europe.
For more info, please e-mail plastischeportraits@googlemail.com.

Gooding & Co Auction Amelia Island, FL, USA, March 6-7, 2025

• 1930 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster, relatively new body by Crailville, Chassis 50116, Estimate: $500,000 - $600,000, Sold for $445,000
  

For years I have been convinced that Rembrandt Bugatti only made his marvelous sculptures, and not much more, except some caricature drawings.

In recent years more and more two-dimensional work of him has surfaced. Many drawings in different styles, and also some paintings.

One, for me unknown, is this "L'homme et le cygne", in pencil on paper. An impressive study of a man with a swan.

Dimensions are: 42 x 32 cm

Provenance : Vente important ensemble de dessins par Carlo et Rembrandt Bugatti; Maîtres Herve Chayette Laurence Calmels, 16 Octobre 1988, Lot 192, reproduit p. 31

The "Millon" auction where this will be sold is on March 25, follow this link for on-line bidding.

Abell Auction, USA, the Mullin Automotive Collection, March 4, 2025

Where the classic Bugatti's seem to be gradually declining in value, the Bugattiana is in the up! Although, the Peter Mullin provenance will help, and the estimates for some of the items was ridiculously low. Like the workbench with two vises with an estimate of $1,500-$2,500, just one vise will sell for around 10,000!
The only surprise is the relatively low price for the parts, mainly Type 46. They are ok prices, but not as high as one would have expected.

• Ettore Bugatti Shop Press, Estimate: $2,500-$3,500, Sold for $11,000
• Ettore Bugatti Tire rack, Estimate: $600-$800, Sold for $15,000
• Ettore Bugatti Work Table with Two Vises, Estimate: $1,500-$2,500, Sold for $15,000
• Bugatti Factory Door with Custom Hinges Designed by Ettore Bugatti, Estimate: $1,000-$1,500, Sold for $8,500

• Five Bugatti Type 46 Wheels, Estimate: $200-$300, Sold for $2,000
• Type 46 / 50 Sump and two Side Plates, Estimate: $300-$500, Sold for $1,800
• Bugatti Type 46 / 50 Transaxle casing, no internals?, Estimate: $600-$800, Sold for $2,000
• Pair of exhaust racing headers (measuring: 5 x 15 x 14 inches), and a single intake manifold for a two-barrel downdraft straight 8 carburetor. Intake manifold: 5 1/2 x 28 3/4 x 8 in, Estimate: $500-$700, Sold for $1,200
• Bugatti T13 8-valve Carved Wood foundry pattern, Estimate: $800-$1,200, Sold for $500

• Francois Chevalier: Life Size Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Bronze Sculpture, Estimate: $3,000-$4,000, Sold for $40,000
• Bugatti Royale Chassis & Engine Model, 1:8 scale, Estimate: $200-$300, Sold for $9,500
• Art Reid: Photorealistic Painting of a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Grille, 122 x 152 cm, Estimate: $500-$700, Sold for $500
• Antoine Dufilho (French, b.1987): Bugatti Atlantic 1/8 scale articulated model, Estimate: $3,000-$5,000, Sold for $4,000
• Bugatti Atlantic T57SC Model by Amalgam Fine Model Cars, 1/8 scale, Estimate: $1,000-$2,000, Sold for $6,500
• 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Erdman and Rossi Model by Teodoro Castro, 1/8 scale, Estimate: $300-$500, Sold for $1,000
• Bruce Wheeler Bugatti Type 32 "Le Tank" from 1923 French G.P. Model, Estimate: $300-$500, Sold for $750
• Bruce Wheeler Bugatti Brescia Model / sculpture, Estimate: $700-$1,000, Sold for $1,400
• Train Autorail Mecanique Hornby (Double and Triple), Estimate: $75-$150, Sold for $300
• Lidia Bugatti: Two Works, "Siblings" and a nude, Estimate: $8,000-$12,000, Sold for $8,500
• Lidia Bugatti: Leaping Panther Hood Mascot Painting, Estimate: $3,000-$5,000, Sold for $3,500
• Lidia Bugatti: Elephant Mascot Hood Ornament Painting, Estimate: $1,000-$1,500, Sold for $2,000

From my friend Daniel Schuler from Switzerland I get the message that the above Type 40A (chassis 40748), is being offered on the Car & Classic website, the seller apparently being Conroy Classics, 15010 SE Morning Way Clackamas, OR 97015. Conroy Classics does not own the car, nor have they permission from the seller to sell it on his behalf.

The real owner of this car is Jeff Becker, who sends the following message:
"I don't want to make derogatory remarks about someone in an email but you should be aware that I have never heard of Conroy Classics or David Kunzler. I have never dealt with them in any matters especially as regards my Bugatti Type 40 A.

I am the rightful owner of this car having purchased it at auction from Ria Van Dalen Wetters in 2016. I am in possession of the car and its legal title.

I presume the extensive photos which Conroy Classics shows were taken when the car was listed on Bring A Trailer last year, where it did not reach the reserve."

Thus: please be careful and do not consider any deals with Conroy Classics on this automobile.
In fact, the web-address www.conroy-classics.com has been listed only 2 weeks ago, since February 19, 2025, though they claim to be in business since 1995.... Chance is, they do not own any of the cars listed, that they just look to get some downpayments (maybe in Crypto) to then disappear again. On the address claimed (15010 SE Morning Way STE D Clackamans USA, 97015), no Conroy Classics exists....

Abell Auction, USA, the Mullin Automotive Collection, March 4, 2025

Of course the Automobiles have all been sold or auctioned, as have most of the prominent Carlo Bugatti furniture and many other items.

However, there was still a lot left, amongst which car parts (also Bugatti), some Carlo Bugatti furniture, work bench with vises and a tire rack (which I saw at Retromobile before Mullin bought it), paintings, miniatures, concours prizes and various other interesting items.

It is possible to bid on the items through Liveauctioneers, a well-known International auction website. See: www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/362783_the-mullin-automotive-collection/

Below are listed some of the remarkable items from the auction, there are (many) more, for this, click the link above.

• Ettore Bugatti Shop Press, Estimate: $2,500-$3,500
• Ettore Bugatti Tire rack, Estimate: $600-$800
• Ettore Bugatti Work Table with Two Vises, Estimate: $1,500-$2,500
• Bugatti Factory Door with Custom Hinges Designed by Ettore Bugatti, Estimate: $1,000-$1,500

  

• Five Bugatti Type 46 Wheels, Estimate: $200-$300
• Type 46 / 50 Sump and two Side Plates, Estimate: $300-$500
• Bugatti Type 46 / 50 Transaxle casing, no internals?, Estimate: $600-$800
• Pair of exhaust racing headers (measuring: 5 x 15 x 14 inches), and a single intake manifold for a two-barrel downdraft straight 8 carburetor. Intake manifold: 5 1/2 x 28 3/4 x 8 in, Estimate: $500-$700
• Bugatti T13 8-valve Carved Wood foundry pattern, Estimate: $800-$1,200

  

• Francois Chevalier: Life Size Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Bronze Sculpture, Estimate: $3,000-$4,000
• Bugatti Royale Chassis & Engine Model, 1:8 scale, Estimate: $200-$300, Current bid $2,250
• Art Reid: Photorealistic Painting of a 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Grille, 122 x 152 cm, Estimate: $500-$700
• Antoine Dufilho (French, b.1987): Bugatti Atlantic 1/8 scale articulated model, Estimate: $3,000-$5,000 (Right)
• Bugatti Atlantic T57SC Model by Amalgam Fine Model Cars, 1/8 scale, Estimate: $1,000-$2,000, Current bid $3,250
• 1939 Bugatti Type 57 Erdman and Rossi Model by Teodoro Castro, 1/8 scale, Estimate: $300-$500, Current bid $600 (Right)
• Bruce Wheeler Bugatti Type 32 "Le Tank" from 1923 French G.P. Model, Estimate: $300-$500
• Bruce Wheeler Bugatti Brescia Model / sculpture, Estimate: $700-$1,000
• Train Autorail Mecanique Hornby (Double and Triple), Estimate: $75-$150

• Lidia Bugatti: Two Works, "Siblings" and a nude, Estimate: $8,000-$12,000
• Lidia Bugatti: Leaping Panther Hood Mascot Painting, Estimate: $3,000-$5,000
• Lidia Bugatti: Elephant Mascot Hood Ornament Painting, Estimate: $1,000-$1,500

RM Sotheby's Auction Miami, Florida, USA, February 27-28, 2025

• 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis: 4947, Engine: 201T, Estimate: $1,000,000 - $1,800,000, Sold for $1,380,000
  From the Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

Bugatti proudly shares that the first W16 Mistral automobiles are now being delivered. The last model with that famous VVR16 engine, so it is said. But that is not true. Dutch automotive magazine Autovisie can report that another Bugatti with that VVR16 (often called W16) engine is in the making.

A well-informed source has informed Autovisie of this.

That is not all. We also know that one exclusive Bugatti VVR16 Mistral is going to a Dutch customer. And no, it is not brand enthusiast Michel Perridon. Whoever does buy this Mistral has something special in their hands. Only 100 were produced. One remains in the hands of Bugatti and 99 will go to customers. The first two models, a white and a black one, are now finding their way to their American owners.

As mentioned the Mistral will not be the last VVR16 powered Bugatti: Before the V16 engined and hybrid Tourbillon will be delivered, a one-off Bugatti that will be equipped with the 8-liter VVR16 engine will be designed, developed and delivered to an unknown customer. This will apparently become the most expensive new car in the world. At the moment, that title is still held by the Rolls-Royce Arcadia Droptail, of which only four copies were built. According to Bloomberg, it had a price tag of 31.8 million $US (about 30.4 million euro).

Bring A Trailer Auction, USA, February 19, 2025

• Pur Sang Bugatti Type 35B, chassisnumber 671PS, Sold for €170,000

Tom Andrews of the Classics Museum, New Zealand, presented these two completed projects at the recent Art Deco Festival in Napier
Photographs and info from Rick Nicolaas

On the day before the festival, february 12, the cars were presented at a meeting of the Bugatti Owners Club NZ (above).

Ivan Dutton who was present at the presentation thought that the Atlantic was a well made and accurately detailed recreation of "La Voiture Noire".

On the Thursday, February 13, both the Atlantic as well as the T57 Ventoux, the ex-Baillon 57579/417 were publicly presented.

Below: More shots of the Ventoux, chassis no. 57579. I shot pictures of that car at Retromobile in 2015.

Tom Andrews about the Atlantic Recreation project:
Many years ago, I dreamt of owning a Bugatti.

Purchasing the Type 57 Ventoux from the Roger Baillon Collection in Paris in 2015 was a big moment in my life. I absolutely loved the car and all of its rich, fascinating history.

After I laid eyes on the Ventoux back here in New Zealand, however, I was inspired to add another Bugatti to the collection at the Classics Museum – Jean Bugatti’s 1936 Type 57S Atlantic Coupe that went missing in 1939. No one had ever built this specific car before, so I began to formulate a plan as to how this could be achieved. My initial focus was to assemble a talented, motivated, and close-knit team around me that could pull this build off.

As we reveal the Atlantic today, I would like to acknowledge those who dedicated most of the past decade to create a faithful recreation of “La Voiture Noire”, No. 57453. This was a challenge in itself; however, the team also worked simultaneously on the full, beautiful restoration of the Type 57 Ventoux,
I would like to firstly thank my wife, Diane, for her never-ending patience and support. Her loyalty and interest towards these projects have been so important to me, and we have travelled the world together, meeting members of the Bugatti community and sourcing original parts.

When I was introduced to Simon Tippins, I knew that he was an exceptionally talented fabricator. As I got to know Simon and started to see the aluminium fabrication on the Atlantic Coupe as well as other projects he was involved in, I quickly realised that we had one of the best in the industry on our team. Simon’s talents and abilities know no bounds.

Gordon White joined the Classics team with a diverse set of skills. He began his career in boatbuilding, so his carpentry work on these projects has been to absolute perfection. Gordon is a mechanical engineer, and some of the pieces he has created for these cars have been simply awe-inspiring.

Finally, and most importantly, I wish to acknowledge Greg McDell.

During the fifty-five years I have been in business, getting Greg onboard as project manager is one of the best decisions I have ever made.

When Greg started with the Museum, he immediately immersed himself in all things Bugatti. His research abilities were astonishing as he pieced together all the information and discovered small details that weren’t publicly known. Liaising with the Bugatti Trust in the UK as well as other craftsmen around the world, Greg has been the primary communicator throughout the two projects.

Complementing his research skills, Greg is a very talented fabricator and mechanical engineer. I do believe we would not be showcasing a car of such perfection, quality and beauty here today if Greg had not managed the projects.

Full credit goes to Greg McDell for the recreation of Jean Bugatti’s ‘La Voiture Noire’, No. 57453.

Below: short info on both cars

More information on both cars, including history and a report of both the restoration as well as the recreation.

RM Sotheby's Paris Auction, France, February 4-5, 2025

• 1929 Bugatti Type 37, Chassis: 37363, Engine: 252, Estimate: €980,000 - €1,300,000: Not Sold, asking €1,000,000
• 1933 Bugatti Type 49 Drophead Coupé by Van Rijswijk, Chassis: 49570, Engine: L458, Estimate: €400,000 - €550,000: Sold for €184,000
• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff, Chassis: 57431, Engine: 314, Estimate: €480,000 - €600,000: Sold for €308,750
• 2022 Bugatti Centodieci, Chassis: VF9SE3V33NM795006, Estimate: €10,000,000 - €15,000,000: Not sold
• 202? Bugatti Baby II Children's Car by the Little Car company, number 043/500, Estimate: €40,000 - €70,000: Sold for €66,000
• Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Children's Car by the Cyclekart Company, number 03/10, Estimate: €40,000 - €60,000: Sold for €90,000

Bonham's The Grand Palais Auction, Paris, France, February 6, 2025

• 1924 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia' Open Tourer Chassis no. 2064, Estimate: €250,000 - €300,000: Not Sold
• 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater, Chassis: 4644, Engine: 45 (ex 4640), Estimate: €900,000 - €1,300,000 (sold without reserve): Sold for €759,000 inc. premium
• "1928" Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix Continuation Chassis no. "4858", Engine no. 125T, Estimate: €360,000 - €480,000: Sold for €368,000 inc. premium
• 1928 Bugatti T43 Grand Sport Chassis no. 43219, Estimate: €1,000,000 - €1,500,000: Not Sold
• Baby Bugatti, Short chassis n°454, Estimate: €80,000 - €100,000: Sold for €95,650 inc. premium
• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet 4 places Coachwork by Maltby, Chassis: 57379, Engine: 273, Estimate: €400,000 - €600,000: Sold for €391,000 inc. premium

Artcurial Retromobile Auction, Paris, France, February 7 - 8, 2025

Cars were all sold, no price results yet

• 1930 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, Chassis 51154, Engine 17, Estimate: €1,700,000 - €2,300,000: Sold for €1,587,600 inc. premium
• 1935 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet Stelvio, Chassis 57182, Engine 160, Estimate: €350,000 - €500,000: Sold for €343,664 inc. premium
• 1995 Bugatti EB110 GT, Chassis 99, Estimate: €1,200,000 - €1,500,000: Sold for €1,530,400 inc. premium

Osenat Arts & Cars: 100% Automobilia Auction, Paris, France, February 7, 2025

Only a few results of Bugatti Automobilia items are shown

• A Cent A l'Heure A travers LE SAHARA - 1929, By Lieutenant LOISEAU, Estimate: €100 - €200: Sold for €605 inc. premium
• Enameled oval plaque featuring the BUGATTI logo 30 x 14,5cm, Estimate: €150 - €300: Sold for €3276 inc. premium
• Lot of BUGATTI factory souvenirs, Including tokens from the BUGATTI canteen in MOLSHEIM, water and lemonade, Estimate: €50 - €100: Sold for €1009 inc. premium
• Two "Autos BUGATTI" burlap cloths 42 x 37cm (Photo right), Estimate: €50 - €100: Sold for €1953 inc. premium
• 19mm - 22mm flat key blank with "EB" monogram, Estimate: €10 - €20: Sold for €882 inc. premium
• Bugatti factory's time clock for the workers, manufactured by Bürk, Estimate: €1000 - €2000: Sold for €6804 inc. premium
• Two BUGATTI cast-iron workbench legs, Estimate: €4000 - €6000: Sold for €4788 inc. premium
• BUGATTI workshop vise, Estimate: €8000 - €10000: Sold for €13230 inc. premium

As you can see from the listings above, the Bugatti automobiles were mostly sold below their lower estimates, or were not sold at all.

On the other hand, the Bugatti Automobilia fetched record prices, up to 40 times their high estimate!

RM Sotheby's Arizona Auction, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, January 24, 2024

The surprise can be found at the booth of Julien Dubrulle, Hall 1 - A049.

I do not have further info.... Yet.

Bugatti vise and legs from the family collection

At the Osenat auction, an auction of Automobilia, there are various Bugatti items (see also the banner advert above).

However, what I did not know were some special informations on the Bugatti vise especially, but also on the legs.

The descriptions in the auction catalog state the folowing:

BUGATTI workshop vise
The vise designed by Ettore Bugatti is an adjusting vise - he didn't intend it for the heavy-duty work for which conventional vises are generally used. It was used by workers to adjust mechanical parts on cars at a time when machine tools were not as advanced as they are today. This is what gave this precision tool its letters of nobility. Early in the design process, Ettore Bugatti had a wooden mould made to cast the core for the sand moulds. In this impression, the logo is carved into the wood. Early versions of the vises had a groove on the moving part and two guide screws in the fixed body. Later, the wooden mold was modified by the insertion of an aluminum logo. This will ensure a higher quality of the logo in the foundry. They are easily recognizable, as the logo is more prominent on the body. A sheet metal dust cover with three screws and felt gasket will also be added to prevent impurities from getting trapped between the moving and fixed body. After the war, there was less need to adjust finished parts, and vises had to be more versatile. Pierre Marco made the final modification, removing the two guide screws and machining the fixed body to fit a much stronger square slide.

The vise presented here is therefore a version of the first series made by Ettore, who will have seen Bugatti automobile parts between his jaws. It bears the number 34, which can be found on almost all components.

Some models also had the number behind the bronze piece where the crank rests, as is the case here. A second number, 046, was added after the war. In its long career, the vise has only had one of its jaws replaced by number 18. It is functional and has kept its original black paint. It has remained in the family to this day.

Two BUGATTI cast-iron workbench legs
Cast-iron, each leg stamped in relief on both sides with BUGATTI mounting holes; original condition.
From the former Molsheim workshops
H. : 81cm ; L. : 69cm ; Diameter at base of legs : 15cm

There are many stories about Bugatti vises, workbench legs and workbenches. We won't go into detail here, but will explain a few points. To do so, we'll use an archive photo of the post-war factory. We can see that there are 2 versions of the legs, one with the Bugatti logos in the same direction, the other with the logos reversed. They even exist with the two logos on the same leg in different direction! The factory photo (below, zoom in on the legs) confirms the existence of these two models, but cannot tell us why they were created.

Brussels AutoSalon 2025

The prodigy at the head of Bugatti Rimac has a harder time selling his electric hypercars than his Bugattis, but his technology is hidden under the hood of a series of BMWs, Porsches or Hyundais.

"Often, visitors rush to us to have access to the cars. Then, they are already in Hall 11 where they can look at the more accessible cars from D'Ieteren." This little phrase whispered at the Motor Show illustrates the power that prestige brands have in the automotive sector.

"All our Bugattis are sold until 2029," Mate Rimac, the child prodigy of the European automobile industry, tells us. The boss of Bugatti Rimac receives us in a small group on his stand on which the cars of all superlatives are presented.

"Here you have this Bugatti Bolide, the car with the most powerful thermal engine in the world, and the Rimac Nevera R, the fastest electric car in the world," smiles the Croatian.

Rimac made a name for himself in his younger years by combining his two passions, electronics and cars, to create an electric racing car. From this fame, he created a technology company that sells his findings to other manufacturers "to survive" and be able to produce racing cars.

In 2021, his group joined forces with Porsche to create a company for prestige hypercars. 900 people work for Bugatti Rimac and 1,300 for Rimac Technology. Apart from 200 people in Moselle, 2,000 people work in Croatia.

Today, the man admits that his electric Neveras sell less quickly than the Bugattis. But he insists, his Nevera R is "a car that beats all the others in performance".

Residual values
But hypercar customers are not all convinced by electric cars yet. Also, the central question is that of residual values, a subtle play on the prestige car as an investment.

What will an electric hypercar be worth in 10 years? What about its batteries in 15 years? This type of question slows down the purchase of this new type of vehicle.

"There is clearly a business to be developed to keep these cars on the road in the future. We can already see it with the first Tesla Roadsters that are repaired by small specialist companies", explains Mate Rimac who indicates that his teams are working hard on this type of concern.

Brand heritage
Heritage also does a lot. Bugatti customers are often customers who already have Bugattis. The thousand Bugattis in circulation in the world are in the hands of around 500 customers. "Our cars only drive 800 kilometers per year on average," adds Marta Longin, head of communications at Bugatti Rimac. "That's normal when you have 30 cars," she adds.

At the show, Mate Rimac stops to answer a few fans who also take a few selfies. Those who don't know him may have parts of Rimac Technology, his other company, in their car, particularly in battery systems and electric powertrains. "Our biggest customer is BMW. We also have Porsche or Hyundai," Mate Rimac reminds us. "Some cars at the show have my technology, but I can't contractually tell you which ones," he says.

Rimac divides his time 50-50 between his position as CEO of Bugatti Rimac and that of CEO of Rimac Technology. He did the latter business out of necessity in the past and out of an interest in technology, he explains. "But my real passion is making cars," he says.

Bugatti Rimac finances itself and is coming out of two years of losses. Mate Rimac promises profitability in 2025.

Among his various businesses, Mate Rimac has also launched Verne, which intends to compete with the big players in the robot taxi field. His ambition? To offer autonomous taxi rides from 2026 in Zagreb before tackling other European cities.

"On the timetable, one thing is already certain: I will not respect it," jokes Rimac. "We think it is technically possible. The regulators are helping us in Europe and particularly in Croatia," he says more seriously.

Currently, he is working with Mobileye technology, but he explains that he will take the technology of whoever is the best. "Once the technology is safe, it is no longer on autonomous driving that we will be able to differentiate ourselves," he explains.

In fact, it is on the quality of the service that Mate Rimac intends to differentiate itself by ensuring, for example, that the car is always clean and the service is qualitative and the vehicle designed for this type of service.

300 people already work for Verne in Zagreb. When it comes to autonomous driving technology, Mate Rimac explains that he doesn't like the in-between. "Either you drive or the car drives itself, but I don't like all these things like lane assist," he insists.

Top Image: The Bugatti Bolide “Type 35 Homage” at the Autosalon Brussel 2025

• 1928 Bugatti Type 44 Profilé 'Aérodynamique' by Gangloff, Chassis: 44784, estimate: £250,000 - £275,000

The chassis of the Type 44 offered here, numbered 44784, is noted to have been completed by the Bugatti factory in November 1928. The Factory Monthly Register lists the sale of the car, in its first form as a rolling chassis, to important Bugatti dealer Christy, Pangaud & Monestier of Lyon, who paid 48,000 French francs. Originally mounted with an eight-cylinder Type 44 engine, numbered 571, the chassis left the Molsheim factory under the instruction of its supplying dealer for the short journey across north-eastern France to Gangloff’s workshop in Colmar. Here, the French coachbuilder styled the Type 44 Profilé with a rare ‘Aerodynamique’ body, seldom worn on a Bugatti chassis. The Gangloff coachwork is instantly recognisable for its ‘Aerodynamique’ shape, with its compact coupé profile and low-rake windscreen that combine to denote a sporting character.

Upon completion, the Bugatti was first registered for the road in France on 26 February 1929 in the department of Rhone, wearing the registration “3021 PF”. According to the Bugatti expert Pierre-Yves Laugier, who commissioned a history report of the Type 44 in September 2025, chassis 44784 was first privately owned by Jean Paul Prylli, a devoted car enthusiast and member of the Automobile Club du Rhone. Monsieur Prylli was known to have made his fortune in London by selling silk muslin, tulle fabric, and veils for weddings, eventually ranking among the most prominent globally and the biggest silk buyer in France. The Bugatti was delivered new to the Prylli family home in Lyon in February 1929. It is thought that Monsieur Prylli acquired a Bugatti Type 49 Berline around October 1933, forcing the sale of chassis 44784 to one Monsieur Aufenast, also of Lyon.

In February 1934 the Type 44 was sold again by the Monestier agency, with its ledger roughly translated as commenting: ‘It is the only Type 44 for which we have Bugatti agency archives with the mention of ‘Aerodynamique’, even if we do know that chassis 44419 was quite similar.’ By this point the car had been acquired by Marcel Perrin, a renowned motorcycle racer residing in Mâcon, and registered as “9367 QD 2”. The Monestier agency sold the car again when it was registered as “6582 PF 5” in May 1934, and it was sold once more in August 1936, assuming the French registration “3318 RK 5”.

Andre Paul Sirejols owned the car next, with it registered in his name by September 1938. It is possible, however, that Monsieur Sirejols had the car before this; he was involved in a road accident with chassis 44784 the year before. A document provides his statement: ‘On 19 December 1937, at 3pm, I was driving my Bugatti closed car chassis 44784, 17 HP, plate “3318 RK 5”, with a racing BNC behind which had mechanical trouble. The BNC being towed hurt a car coming the other way, which went into the front left wing of the Bugatti whose front axle was also damaged.’ It is unknown if the frame of the car was spoiled in this accident. The Bugatti was next owned by Philippe Vernholes, treasurer and later secretary of the French Bugatti Club, who bought the car around 1969. Monsieur Vernholes bought the car in poor condition and so instructed Henri Novo to return the engine to running condition and Jean-Paul Monceau to carry out repairs to the coachwork. The wings were replaced, interior and seats retrimmed in green, and the body repainted in Souffre Blanc—a light green colour.

By June 1972, the Type 44 had been acquired at auction by prominent marque collectors of the 1970s and 1980s: Nicolas Seydoux, with his brother Michel. It was next acquired by Edgard Ben Soussan in 1988 and later exported to Switzerland to join Peter Aeschliemann’s Bugatti collection in Zurich in 1993. The Bugatti was noted for sale at a Swiss garage in Teffen in 1995 and in 2006 it was bought by the Dutch car dealer Jack Braam Ruben. It was sold to Spain one year later. In the care of the consigning owner, the Type 44 has been subject to at least £250,000-worth of maintenance, performed by Bugatti-specialist Ivan Dutton Limited and established race mechanic and engineer Maurice Ogier.

On Monsieur Laugier’s last inspection of the car, he noted that the lower crankcase of the engine (numbered 470) originates from a Bugatti chassis numbered 44760. The gearbox comes from a Type 44 made around May 1928, the rear axle from a same model made in December 1927, and frame (stamped 683) correct for a chassis numbered around 44520. The report concludes: 'There is no doubt that the actual body on the car is made for 44748, one of the very rare Gangloff ‘Aerodynamique’ bodies for Bugatti. The car presented today is a unique example, an original Type 44 'Aerodynamique'. It is an historic piece of Bugatti and Gangloff coachwork.'

The two B&W photographs above are from the time of restoration at Jean-Paul Monceau, in the early 1970's. The photo below is of 44784 in 1936. Note that the fenders have been changed into more flowing ones. B&W Photo's provided by PY Laugier.

More info

A pioneer, a myth, a legend
In Paris in the 1920s, amid the glamour and turmoil of the Jazz Age, Hellé Nice began her career as a dancer and (nude) model. But the Parisian stage was not enough to satisfy her hunger for freedom. Her true passion unfolded in a completely different area: on the racetracks, where she would become an icon of motorsport.

Hellé Nice, born Mariette Hélène Delangle, entered racing at a time when women were an absolute exception in this field. She took the wheel as an expression of her freedom and independence - the roar of the engines as the music of her time. With style, elegance and an indomitable boldness, she conquered the racetracks of Europe and the world. Her name was always associated with the Bugatti brand, whose perfection and aesthetics reflected her own passion and willingness to take risks.

Life in the fast lane
Hellé Nice was more than just a racing driver. She was a symbol of freedom and female strength in an era when the unthinkable became reality. Her life took her from the Parisian salons to the world of film and the world's most dangerous racetracks. She competed against the greatest drivers of her time and kept pace with them, even though she was often considered an outsider.

But despite her triumph on the racetracks, Hellé's career ended tragically. A serious accident in São Paulo in 1936 and later false accusations during World War II cast a shadow over her legacy. Nevertheless, she is remembered as an icon of motorsport - the woman who, against all odds, became the Bugatti Queen and redefined the boundaries of what was possible.

Hellé Nice was not always the fastest woman however, see the article on Emma Munz in the Bugatti Revue!

About the MAC Museum Art & Cars
Selected vintage cars in the context of art, sensational light art in spectacular architecture, artificial and artistic staging in a natural landscape directly on the Hohentwiel - these opposites do not repel each other in the MAC Museum Art & Cars, but rather attract each other.

Supported by the Southwest German Art Foundation and the Gabriela and Hermann Maier Foundation, the museum ensemble with the MAC 1 and the MAC 2 forms a very special highlight with a unique atmosphere.

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The Chiemgau, the landscape around Chiemsee, the largest lake in Bavaria, also known as the "Bavarian Sea" is situated between Munich and Salzburg. In view of the beautiful mountain scenery of the Bavarian Alps and our neighboring country Austria with its regions Tyrol and Salzburg, we will take our tours on four riding days - original, rustic, idyllic and with breathtaking views.

Highlight is the crossing of the Alps via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, probably the most spectacular Alpine road in Europe, with an overnight stay in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

As in 2021, the limitation to 25 teams allows for a family atmosphere in which, in addition to the joy of driving, there is also enough time for an interesting programme of visits, lively communication and the enjoyment of regional specialties in restaurants and inns.

Further information and the entry form can be found at: bugatti-club-deutschland.de/crossingthealpes2025/

One Bugatti, a 1926 T35T, has already been announced.

Please come on 27/28 of September 2025 to the Superb Race Demo on the Amazing Historical Race Track of Ospedaletti/Sanremo, as a Rider or as a Spectator.

Do you own a Grand Prix car, sports car, roadster or a car of particular historical interest? Please grab the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience on the fantastic Ospedaletti city circuit; where Legends as Louis Chiron, Raymond Sommer, Froilan Gonzales, Leslie Brooke, Count Bira, Giovanni Bracco, Guy Mairesse, Alberto Ascari, Luigi Villoresi, Juan Manuel Fangio, Stirling Moss, De Graffenried and many other true heroes once raced.

Ospedaletti is a wonderful Place on the Flower Coast, only one hour drive into Italy from the Nice airport and Monaco, with the clearest sea, wonderful flowers and parks, the best Italian food, bars and beach Lounges with Restaurants.

The Ospedaletti circuit represents an important point of reference not only for the great international riders involved in the motorcycle races held from 1947 to 1972 and the car races held from 1947 to 1952, but also for many enthusiasts and collectors who wish to experience highly evocative events in a unique context in the world.

The RaceCar event is held every 2 years and takes place in the streets of the city. In fact every other year: One year for Historical Race Cars and the other for Historical Race Bikes. The history of the Ospedaletti circuit begins with the first official race way back in 1947. In those years, in fact, the Sanremo circuit highlighted how necessary a different track was to guarantee the safety of drivers and spectators. Thus was born the Ospedaletti circuit which, until 1972, represented an important point of reference for holding motorcycle and car races, as well as sporting events dedicated to enthusiasts and collectors.

The Ospedaletti circuit is defined as a small Targa Florio, because of the need for considerable skills required to ride it. It is truly a Fantastic track to ride on; Breathtaking curves also up and down, a long straight and guaranteed entertainment for drivers and spectators. Visit the gallery section to take a look at the photos of the latest sporting events and breathe in the air of the event. The event is free for spectators.

Several side events will take place during the Sunday event, which will be revealed later

Further information: circuitospedaletti.org

• 1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Paul Née, Chassis: 57156, Engine: 48, Estimate $550,000 - $650,000

Further info

• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Graber, Chassis: 57483, Engine: 360, Estimate 520,000 - 580,000 euro
• 1996 Mark Al Harris Bugatti Type 59, Estimate 5,000 - 10,000 euro

Further info

• Breathtaking scenery: Three days of rallying will take you through spectacular mountain roads and iconic destinations in the region.
• An unforgettable experience:
  • Thursday August 28: Arrival from 5 p.m., followed by a welcome cocktail dinner at 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday August 29: Departure at 8 a.m. towards the shores of Lake Geneva and the magnificent town of Évian-les-Bains, renowned for its elegance and soothing atmosphere.
  • Saturday August 30: Walk towards the Col des Aravis and passing through the prestigious village of Megève, where authenticity and refinement meet. Return at the end of the afternoon, followed by a memorable gala evening from 7:30 p.m.
  • Sunday August 31: Crossing the different passes around Morzine, before a last meal all together at the gathering at 12 p.m.

This event is the perfect opportunity to fully experience your passion for the Bugatti brand, in a friendly and warm atmosphere.

More info

The exhibition is open Every day from September 9 to 21, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., EXCEPT Sunday, September 14

At the Hôtel de la Monnaie - Rue de la Monnaie in Molsheim.

Bugatti will present the Michel Perridon Bugatti Collection (Above only a few of the older Bugatti's)

A rare opportunity to admire this exceptional private collection up close, including Bugatti furniture.

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• "1924" Bugatti - Diatto Avio 8C, Chassis: B1919, Engine: 136. To be sold without reserve.
• 2020 Bugatti Divo, VIN. VF9SD3V34LM795015, Estimate: US$7,000,000 - US$9,000,000 (no reserve)
• 2021 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport, VIN. VF9SC3V31MM795008, Estimate: US$3,750,000 - US$4,250,000 (no reserve)
• 2023 Bugatti Chiron Super Sport, VIN. VF9SW3V31PM795053, Estimate: US$3,500,000 - US$4,500,000 (no reserve)

The "1924" Bugatti - Diatto Avio 8C project, based on an original Bugatti-Diatto Aero engine from 1915, was once started by Uwe Hucke, and has recently been completed by Claude Teisen-Simony. The car is described by him in his book: "The hidden Bugatti Diatto Aliance", in which he presents this very car, and adds a connection to the Royale as well as to the 1922 300HP Moraes special, which was entered for the La Turbie Hillclimb of that year. Neither of these hypostheses were proven in his book.

Anyhow, fact remains that the engine is original, and that the rest is a nice build, with a bodystyle resembling that of the 5-litre Bugatti, chassis 471.

Chassis frame, axles, gearbox, steering box and many other parts were sourced from other automobiles from that period, and added to that was a custom-made Bugatti-Brescia style radiator, though significantly enlarged.

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• 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Supercharged Grand Prix, Chassis: BC035, Engine: 194T (EX-4939), Estimate $625,000 - $850,000
• 1926 Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix, Chassis: 37103, Engine: 7, Estimate $750,000 - $950,000

  
  

• 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis: 4817, Engine: 126T, Estimate $2,500,000 - $3,000,000
• 1927 Bugatti Type 43 Grand Sport, Chassis: 43172, Engine: 12, Estimate $1,500,000 - $2,250,000

  
  

• 1928 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport, Chassis: 40661, Engine: 565, Estimate $375,000 - $450,000
• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux, Chassis: 57297, Engine: 151, Estimate $250,000 - $325,000 / Without Reserve

  

• 1935 Bugatti Type 57 Drophead Coupe James Young, Chassis: 57236, Engine: 136, Estimate $400,000 - $550,000 (Top image and below)
• 1994 Bugatti EB110 Super Sport, Chassis: ZA9BB02E0RCD39012, Engine: 086, Estimate $3,000,000 - $3,500,000 (Images below)
• 2019 Bugatti Chiron Sport, Chassis: VF9SP3V3XKM795168, Estimate $3,250,000 - $3,750,000 (Image on the right)
• 2024 Bugatti Bolide, Chassis: 001, Estimate $4,500,000 - $6,000,000 (Image below)

Descriptions and info on all the Bugattis in this auction.

Descriptions and info on all the Bugattis in this auction.

Further info

• 1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff, Chassis: 57597, Engine: 82C (ex 57809), Estimate $700,000 - $800,000

After being clothed with third-series Stelvio open coachwork from the coachbuilder Gangloff (including a rare, rounded tail reminiscent of the Atalante body style), the Bugatti was delivered in February 1938 to Pierre Monestier, a marque agent in Lyon. The Type 57C was sold to local resident Jean d’Aubarede, a lawyer whose family had been established in the area since the seventeenth century. The Stelvio was taken on a trade-in of a Labourdette-bodied Type 57 by d’Aubarede and his brother, Paul, who was an automotive engineer soon to work for Mercedes-Benz. He even occasionally used 57597 to commute to Germany.

Per Mr. Laugier’s research, a Bugatti factory note indicates the d’Aubarede family returned the car to Molsheim for maintenance in early 1939, and one of Paul’s sons later remembered that the car was requisitioned during the war but never returned. By the mid-1950s the Type 57C resurfaced in Lyon with a new registration to an unknown owner, and in November 1957 the car was brokered through Henri Malartre to Jean-Louis du Montant, a well-known Bugatti hunter living in Antibes.

Mr. du Montant and his brother owned another Gangloff-bodied Type 57C, chassis number 57809, and during the following few years, both cars underwent maintenance at a local garage in Nice. It is believed that this was the occasion when the two cars’ supercharged engines were swapped, and stampings evident in the featured lot today suggest that 57809’s original engine number 82C has remained in 57597 ever since.

In 1961 Mr. du Montant passed away and the Bugatti was inherited by his wife, along with several other Molsheim speed machines. In early 1963 she began offering the car for sale, and the availability was soon relayed by American Bugatti collecting stalwarts O.A. “Bunny” Phillips and Peter Williamson to their friend, Dr. Richard Roger, a cardiologist in Beverly Hills, California. A purchase was arranged and the Type 57C was imported to the US, arriving in June 1963. By then painted in a two-tone scheme of blue and silver, the Stelvio was enjoyed by Dr. Roger for 15 years before he sold it in 1978 to Gary Tiscornia of Milford, Michigan.

Given the Bugatti’s aging condition, Mr. Tiscornia undertook a full restoration, retaining Bob Lorkowski of Wisconsin for chassis work and Bunny Phillips for engine considerations, while cosmetically the car received a finish in teal paint and matching upholstery. Following the completion of the refurbishment, the Bugatti won its class at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and it reportedly scored 100 points at three different CCCA events. After roughly 20 years in Mr. Tiscornia’s care, the Type 57C passed to The Blackhawk Collection in Danville, California, from whom it was sold in October 2000 to Robert Pond, a collector based in Palm Springs.

Following Mr. Pond’s passing a decade later, the Bugatti was purchased from his estate by a Beverly Hills-based physician who offered the car at RM Auctions flagship Monterey sale in August 2014. Acquired then by respected collector Greg Manocherian, the Type 57C was the subject of a major two-year refurbishment by the noted marque specialist Scott Sargent, as reflected by invoices on file. An effort was also taken to elevate the color scheme with the addition of a secondary dark tone for the fenders and rear end, greatly enhancing the Stelvio’s finish and aesthetic appeal.

After being sold in August 2019 to a doting Bugatti enthusiast residing in New Jersey, the Type 57C was treated to further fine-tuning, with the new owner reportedly retaining the awarded restorer John Estell, Mr. Sargent, the well-regarded Steven Babinsky, and longtime Bugatti specialist Jim Stranberg to help dial in the car. Serviced in February 2025, chassis number 57597 features the same correct Type 57C supercharged engine that was installed by the early 1960s.

The beautifully presented Stelvio is optimally poised for concours presentation or potential enjoyment in vintage touring rallies, exuding the race-winning essence of Molsheim’s celebrated Pur Sang.

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Early 20th-century France attracted visionaries from across the globe with creative and economic opportunities. Fusing craft and technology, automobiles absorbed and influenced facets of modern art, design, fashion, and architecture. After World War I, cars—long the domain of engineers—met the minds and hands of French designers, artists, and craftspeople. Materials and techniques moved fluidly between sumptuous Art Deco interiors and luxury automobiles. Avant-garde showrooms, glittering displays, and thrilling races helped market the thousands of cars driving off assembly lines. Those same factories became centers of a labor movement that brought paid vacations and efficient automobiles to French workers.

In cars, artists discovered novel perspectives, subject matter, and even canvases. As driving became more comfortable, motoring fashions evolved into stylish wardrobe staples. Magazines portrayed liberated women dressed in knit sportswear driving convertibles. When fashions streamlined, so did cars. Embodying aerodynamics and natural forms, the sculptural curves of 1930s French custom, coachbuilt automobiles are unrivaled today. With an open, interdisciplinary approach, Roaring illuminates the rich ecosystems that nourished this golden age of French automotive design.

Divided into six sections, the exhibition assembles more than 160 works, comprising major loans from prominent institutions and private collections around Europe and North America. Roaring is accompanied by a 210-page exhibition catalogue with contributions from seven authors.

Roaring is curated by Genevieve Cortinovis, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Associate Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, with research assistant Sarah Berg and automobile curation by Ken Gross.

And, of course there are quite a few Bugatti's there:

• 1923 Bugatti Type 32 “Tank de Tours” (replica)
• 1927 Bugatti Type 35B Hellé-Nice Grand Prix
• 1931 Bugatti Type 41 “Royale” Weinberger Cabriolet
• 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Vanvooren Cabriolet

More info, for the other automobiles on display: Look here for the other cars, like Delage, Delahaye, Citroën, Hispano-Suiza, Talbot Lago, Voisin and Alfa Romeo (?).

• 1929 Bugatti Type 44 Cabriolet by Lavocat et Marsaud, Chassis No. 44942, Engine No. 696, Estimate: £150,000 - £200,000 GBP

Ettore Bugatti—or “Le Patron” as he was known in the workplace—always offered “street” versions of his automobiles; but they were road cars for racing drivers. That changed at the 1927 Paris Motor Show, where Bugatti unveiled the Type 44. This model featured an inline eight-cylinder engine in two cast-iron blocks of four. With a single-overhead camshaft, two inlets, and one exhaust valve per cylinder, while displacing 2,991 cc, it produced an estimated 80 horsepower.

Fitted with a vibration damper and on a long—by Bugatti standards—3,119-millimetre chassis, it was still a powerful and fast car. But make no mistake, this was a kinder, gentler Bugatti. The late dean of automotive writers, Ken W Purdy reported: “A good one will do 80 miles an hour; it’s reasonably quiet, starts easily, is pleasant to shift, and has the softest clutch I, at least, have ever laid foot to.”

The Type 44 offered here was fitted with an especially attractive cabriolet body by Lavocat et Marsaud of Boulogne, Paris. Its form notably incorporated cycle-style front fenders and a curved “carriage sill” below the doors for a decidedly sporting air. In Hugh Conway’s 1962 Bugatti Register and Data Book, the car was described as having been run by its original French owner. It was then “laid up and run very little” until it was acquired by a D M Thompson in 1960. It subsequently passed from Thompson to Dr S Bayliss of Welwyn, Hertfordshire. Conway noted: “the car is apparently 100 per cent original, with the exception of the rear window [being] enlarged… and is believed to have done under 100,000 miles. Engine very powerful and smooth.”

In 1968 the car was acquired from Dr Bayliss by the consigning owner, in whose small, well-chosen collection it has now remained for a remarkable 57 years. It is still in the same condition in which it was acquired, a wonderful testament to its preservation. The exception is the braking system, which in 1975 was upgraded to feature hydraulic units—for more dependable modern operation. While actively enjoyed in current ownership, the Bugatti had been stored for a period of time before being returned to running condition. A mechanical inspection is recommended prior to the car being driven. It is a marvellous road car and awaits its next caretaker for enjoyment at any number of events worldwide.

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Photograph below right: This car at a PAC-Rally (Pioneer Automobile Club) in 1981, visiting the Royale palace "Soestdijk" with Princess Juliana (who had just abdicated the year before) and Prince Bernhard. The car was then already owned by the current seller, W. Cooke.

Sculpture, decorative arts and cars by four generations of virtuoso creators to go on view during London’s flagship summer art fair

Rarely in history has a dynasty of artists exerted more fascination than the Bugattis. Through their considerable talent, fertile imaginations, technical virtuosity and pioneering flamboyance, four generations of creators have all produced completely unique bodies of work, with each making immense contributions to the world of art, design and automotives in their time. This summer, their oeuvre will be brought together in a landmark exhibition and special feature of the 2025 Treasure House Fair.

The Brilliant Bugattis will be the first exhibition on this virtuoso family in the UK since the pioneering show at the Royal College of Art, London in 1979. A treasure trove of 30 artworks, designs and cars, this non-selling exhibition will feature pieces by the family patriarch, Carlo (1856-1940) - a true Renaissance man who could design anything to perfection, from furniture to silverware; his sons - the genius animal sculptor Rembrandt (1884-1916) and the epoch-defining car engineer Ettore (1881-1946); and his grandson, Jean (1909-1939) whose car design significantly contributed to the fame of the Bugatti name today.

This show is being curated by Edward Horswell, a world-renowned authority on artworks relating to the Bugatti family. It will feature rarely seen pieces loaned by some of today’s most important Bugatti collectors. Marrying the functional and the aesthetic with exceptional execution, these pieces will offer a unique insight into this extraordinary family and its tradition of artistry and design.

Edward Horswell, curator of the exhibition said: “The multi-generational accomplishments of Carlo, Ettore, Rembrandt and Jean are phenomenal. Beside their immense creative range, each of them were pioneers of their respective fields, creating completely new aesthetics, and demonstrating an unabated pursuit for perfection. We hope this exhibition will shed light on their individual genius, as well as the characteristics that typify all their work – aplomb, stylisation, functional inventiveness and above all, beauty.”

Cars included in the exhibition will be the Bugatti Type 39 chassis number 4604, a Bugatti Type 57 with Stelvio body and a Baby Bugatti.

More info in the press release.

Practical information on the treasurehousefair.com website.

• 1987 Bugatti Vice replica from original mould. Estimate: €5,000 - 8,000
• 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio by Gangloff, Chassis: 57181, Engine: 30, Estimate: €600,000 - 800,000

This Bugatti #57181 was ordered on 3 March 1934 by Bugatti agent Muller & Cluzel in Mulhouse for a sum of 50,400 francs. However, the invoice was amended on 23 May of the same year to 51,900 francs. Typically, the second order is lower than the first, often due to delayed delivery for example. It is however the opposite in this instance, therefore suggesting a cancellation and subsequent reinstatement of the order. Regardless, the chassis of this Bugatti Type 57 Series I was delivered on 30 May 1934 to a customer whose name “Widerker” is written in pencil in the delivery logbook.

The chassis was then fitted with a four-seat Stelvio convertible bodywork at the Gangloff workshop in Colmar, although it does not seem to appear in the coachbuilder’s records. From 1949, the car was owned by a certain Mr. Gros in Seysses (Haute-Garonne), France. This is where it was registered as 209 DA 31 in 1955 (according to the new system). With a mileage of only 27,000 km at the time, it was bought in 1958 by Robert Baer, a classic car dealer based in Geneva who sold it in the United States to David Mize, a dedicated Bugatti enthusiast who regularly sourced Bugatti models in countries he was working in. As a member of the American Bugatti Club of which he later became president, he sold the Bugatti 57 Stelvio in 1967 to another American enthusiast, John G. Risch.

The latter was also the owner of a Ferrari 250 GT Lusso and in 1968, he took part in the eleventh edition of the exhibition “New Hope Automobile” with his Bugatti and won the Best of Show category. Another Bugatti also signed up to this event, a Type 57 Galibier saloon car which took second place in the competition. The Trophy was given to him by René Dreyfus, famous racing driver for the manufacturer who settled in the United States after the war.

The car first appeared in Hugh Conway’s Register in 1974, listing Risch as resident in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. He later moved to Solebury in Pennsylvania; and being of Dutch origin, the car was also mentioned in Volume 4 of the Bugatti Register The Netherlands – Belgium. Following John Risch’s death in 1991, the Bugatti was inherited by his son Johnny who barely used it before eventually parting with it a few years later. It was therefore with the Risch family that this car remained the longest, marking a 50-year tenure. It was carefully preserved throughout, with John Risch devoted to retaining its originality without compromising its integrity.

In 2016, this Bugatti Type 57 convertible was serviced by Andrew Mastin from LBI Limited, collector car specialist based in Pennsylvania; the car was then displayed that same year at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it won second prize in its category “Pre-War Preservation”. It subsequently participated in other classic car events and concours: the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance in 2016, “The Elegance” at Hershey in 2017, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in 2018, the Plymouth Concours d’Elegance in 2018, the Lime Rock Historic Festival in 2018 and the inaugural Newport Car Week at Belcourt Mansion in 2019. In 2021, it was acquired by the current owner, a leading expert on the make who was mesmerised by the car’s exceptional original condition.

Finding a fully original Bugatti nowadays is a miracle! Yet, this is precisely the case for this 57 Stelvio, which has never suffered any mishap. This is in fact the most original Bugatti 57 Stelvio, fully matching numbers. It has a flawless authenticity, featuring its original bodywork and traditional colour, its original patinated brown leather upholstery and its original engine. It is truly a “time capsule”.

Additionally, this Type 57 features one of the model’s most elegant bodyworks, ideal for drives or to be welcomed at the most prestigious classic car events.

Photos © Kevin Van Campenhout

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• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Berline by van Vooren, Chassis: 57414, Engine: 212, Estimate: CHF190,000 - CHF260,000 / 200.000 € - 280.000 €
• Also 5 Art Collection Auto, 1/8 scale miniatures of T35's (one of them a chassis only), by Jean-Pierre Fontenelle (5 different lots)

The Type 57 was presented at the October 1933 Motor Show as a four-door pillarless saloon, named "Galibier". After three prototypes, built for this presentation, 38 production cars came into circulation in 1934, then the Bugatti coachbuilding atelier retired this type of chassis until 1936. Indeed, it produced only one saloon, chassis 57292, in 1935, before coachbuilding 13 in 1936. After a break in production in June 1936, the third series of Galibier saloons would not be revealed until October 1938, this time more aerodynamic and lighter, thanks to the use of aluminium.

In 1935, the clients of the factory who wished to acquire a four-door saloon on a Type 57 chassis had to turn to the coachbuilder Vanvooren in Courbevoie. From the end of the 1920s, Vanvooren offered saloons on 3 and 5L chassis, then two-door sedans on chassis 49. A system mounted on silent blocks ensured a silence and comfort appreciated by their wealthy clientele. Vanvooren coachbuilt a first Type 57 Saloon, chassis 57175, in June 1934, then presented 57230 at the October Motor Show, producing a total of 13 automobiles up to the end of 1935, before producing three last saloons in 1936, chassis 57380, 57414 and 57418.

For its part, the Gangloff workshop in Colmar would produce, between 1936 and 1938, a total of around 24 sleek and exclusive saloon models. The first of these, known as "aerodynamic", chassis 57421 and 57445, were presented at the October 1936 Motor Show.

It would seem that only 5 of some 17 Vanvooren Type 57 Saloons remain, including 57224 and 57338, which can be found in the Musée Schlumpf's inventory, then 57291, 57380, and our model, chassis 57414.

Chassis 57414, fitted with engine 212, came into circulation in April 1935 before being delivered to Vanvooren to receive its saloon coachwork. It was on 14th May 1936 that the finished car was delivered to Otto Graf. It was already registered as of 27th February 1936 under number 6396 HR 1, in the name of Otto Graf, 5 rue du Château d'Eau, Dôle (the address of Graf's factory). Its purchase price was 15,000 ff, plus the exchange of his old car, a 1935 saloon, chassis 57233, for 30,000 ff.

Otto Graf (1898-1978) came from a Swiss family originally from the canton of Bern; his father Gottlieb (1865-1940), a cheesemaker, settled in Pontarlier in 1915. In 1917, Gottlieb founded a cheese factory in Château Poiset in Dôle, with his elder sons, Gottlieb, born in 1888, and Emile, born in 1889, using the recipe for processed cheese from Gerber in Switzerland. Otto was born in Corgemont, in the canton of Bern, on 26th May 1898. He received his foreign national's identity card in 1917. In 1918, the company Graf Frères et Cie was set up. The Graf brothers were the first to produce "Crème de Gruyère", soon followed by the cheesemaker Leon Bel of Lons le Saunier, where Emile Graf had completed an apprenticeship in 1920-1921. He would say that he was the genitor of The Laughing Cow. In February 1922, the company would take the name S.A. des Anciens Etablissements Graf Frères. Its head office was at 5 rue du Château d'Eau. Otto Graf was head of production and lived at Villa Bellevue, while his brother Emile lived at the Villa des Rochers, the business prospered, and Otto was able to partake in his various interests. He had his horse, Crésus, take part in the races, notably winning the 1934 Prix de Londres, but he also used to sponsor different sports, both football and rugby.

Above all, the Graf brothers were great automobile enthusiasts and were close to the Bugatti family. Emile was himself a friend of Ettore and bought a 5-litre and two Type 57s new. Gottlieb had a driver for his Hispano and his Type 49. Otto, for his part, first acquired a second-hand Type 43 in 1930 before acquiring, from new, a Type 49 in 1931, a 46S Million Guiet in 1932, a Type 57 in 1935, and finally his Vanvooren Saloon chassis 57414 in 1936.

The historian Michel Renaud tells us that Otto Graf's passion for automobiles even led him to open a garage in 1935 named "Au Grand Garage", at 3 avenue de la Gare in Dôle, then to have a petrol station built at 3 bis avenue de Paris.

Otto was arrested on 3rd July 1944 by the Feldgendarmerie, as a Resistance network was operating from one of the Graf residences. He was deported to Germany via Belfort in a convoy of 29th August 1944, prisoner number 43582, with his nephew Robert, aged 19. He returned from deportation in February 1945, freed thanks to his brother Emile's connections with the president of the Helvetic Confederation. He returned to live in Dôle and married Marguerite Thurillet on 27th July 1951. He died in Dôle on 2nd September 1978. The Graf factory was sold to the Bel Group, known for Apéricubes, Babybel, The Laughing Cow, etc., in 1960.

As for 57414, it was sold by Otto Graf on his return from the camps. An application for a certificate of vehicle lien release (certificat de non-gage) was made on 20th August 1945, and a sale was made on 9th October to an enthusiast from Lyon who registered the vehicle under number 4498 PG 3.

The car was sold again on 28th January 1946 to a businessman from Alsace by the name of Albert Riegel, 2 rue Saglio in Strasbourg. It was registered under 3752 NV 5. Albert Riegel was known for his concrete building components business, Zavagno-Riegel et Cie.

57414 then came into the hands of Strasbourg hôtelier Henri Meurdra, himself known for having owned 11 Bugattis between 1931 and 1955. While no sale was registered between Riegel and Meurdra, we can see 57414 in photos in front of the latter's hotel: "Henri".

On 23rd June 1954, the high command of the 48th Battalion, medical section, of the US Army, authorised John Bayard Britton (1925-1995) to acquire the Bugatti from Meurdra, with a certificate of sale by Riegel to Meurdra. The authorization for import into the military zone in Germany was signed on 25th June and the official sale took place on 30th June between Riegel and Lieutenant Britton, resident in Bruchweg 10-B 2 in Mainz am Rhein. The certificate of registration in the Europe-US zone dates from 18th March 1955. We were able to trace a registration in the US dating from 27th April 1959 in the name of Dr Britton of Charlottesville, Virginia. The car was also mentioned in the 1962 Bugatti Register published by H.G. Conway, described as a "pillarless saloon, purchased in 1954 from its owner, a Strasbourg resident" and stating that it was in the hands of Dr John Bayard Britton, resident at 34 North 14th Street, Ferdinanda Beach, Florida.

Britton kept the car for over 40 years, until his tragic death in 1994. Britton, a doctor who worked with women in difficult situations, practicing legal abortions at his clinic, he had worn a bullet-proof vest and carried a .357 Magnum revolver since the murder of his predecessor. That was not enough to prevent being murdered, him and his bodyguard by Paul Jennings Hill on 29th July 1994.

In 1995, Jim Stranberg accompanied the Britton family to sell the Bugatti to a couple named Laverne and Marlene Johnson at 1000 Three Miles Road, Grosse Point Park, Missouri.

The Bugatti was then restored and painted two-tone brown and green. It was then presented at various concours d'élégance, such as that in Meadowbrook in 1999 or in Cranbrook in 2005. On the death of Laverne Johnson in 2013, his wife Marlene sold 57414 to the dealer Jack Braam-Ruben.

In 2017, 57414 was acquired by its current owner, and was then registered in Switzerland on 17th March of the same year. This latter undertook an extensive restoration of the car, which is now painted shades of black and white after a complete disassembly and paint stripping.

Today it is in possession of all its original mechanical parts. The chassis plaque, engraved 57414 19CV, is the original. The front axle, the engine, the gearbox and the rear axle all bear the number 212. The engine is mounted on silent blocks. The dashboard is that of the 1936 model with all its instruments on a single central panel. It has cable brakes and is fitted with optional Houdailler front shock absorbers and Repusseau rear shock absorbers. Additionally, 57414 has a retractable roof and chrome wheels, which were also factory options. The frame is that of the car with engine 212.

The coachwork does not appear to have been modified, its lines are similar to those of 57380, another surviving 1936 Vanvooren saloon. The two-tone painted coachwork was originally monochrome black. The woodwork bears number 2682, which appears to correspond with the series of Vanvooren models assembled. The signature plaque of the Courbevoie coachbuilder can be found on the lower portion of the two front wings.

Saloons on Type 57 chassis are rare, regardless of the coachbuilder. They have unfortunately vanished for the most part.

This model, registered in Switzerland, will be sold with its registration document, various images from its past, and its historical report by Pierre-Yves Laugier. Prior to the sale, the vendor did a general overview of the mechanical components of the car, including the brakes, fuel lines and suspension.

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The rally will enable us to discover the Belgian Ardennes, the Spa Francorchamps circuit, Waterloo and the French Ardennes.

The rally is aimed at Surrealists, lovers of Belgian “frites”, waffles and chocolate, and those who dream of embracing the Belgian touch are eagerly awaited.

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As every year, we place great emphasis on safety – you'll once again be able to try out the rollover simulator. An inspector for a possible historic vehicle inspection will also be on site. You can also expect small competitions, including the popular sound contest, as well as demonstrations by the fire department and parachutists.

We look forward to seeing you! All information and the registration form can be found under the link to the club website below:

sebr.cz/sebr-2025-program-a-registrace/

The chosen driving route centers around the Aso-Kuju area in Kyushu, renowned for having some of Japan's most scenic winding roads.

The event is expected to welcome many Bugatti owners from overseas, as well as attract participation from numerous Bugatti vehicles existing in Japan, with the cooperation of Bugatti Club Japan.

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Next month, the Hawkes Bay Vintage Car Club, in collaboration with the Art Deco Trust, will host the annual Art Deco Rally in Napier. This year, the focus falls on Bugatti, the French marque being the Art Deco Festival’s featured car.

From February 12th to 16th, expect to see a number of Bugattis and other cars from the 1920s cruising the streets of Napier and the wider Hawke’s Bay region, participating in the various rally events organised by the Hawkes Bay Vintage Car Club.

The highlight of the weekend will be the gathering of cars on Saturday the 15th in front of the Napier Sound Shell. Of the 15 known Bugatti’s in New Zealand, 12 will be present, including an impressive collection of four Type 57 models.

One of these is a Type 57 Atlantic recreation. Of the four Atlantics originally produced, only two are known to survive. Tom Andrews from the Classics museum in Hamilton, New Zealand, acquired a barn-find Type 57 (57579) in France ten years ago. As Andrews set about fully restoring the Type 57 Ventoux, he was inspired to also build a faithful recreation of one of the lost Atlantic models too. This recreation will be unveiled to the public on Thursday, February 15th, at the Masonic Hotel on Napier’s Marine Parade.

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• 1930 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix, Chassis: 4947, Engine: 201T, Estimate: $1,000,000 - $1,800,000

Offered from the Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

• A genuine supercharged Type 35B model, with known history since new
• Raced in Europe both before and after WWII at notable venues, including Monaco, Dieppe, Comminges, Bugatti Grand Prix at Le Mans, and Chimay, as well as hillclimb events
• Only six owners, including Georges Bouriano, Arthur Legat, and Colonel George “Fearless” Felton
• Part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum’s collection since 1960
• Retains its original chassis frame, engine, and rear axle
• A provenance-rich competition Bugatti, from 65 years of distinguished ownership

THE BUGATTI TYPE 35
With the Bugatti Type 35’s first appearance at the 1924 French Grand Prix held at Lyon, there was no doubt to anyone who saw the car run that this was an automobile that had it all: durability, mechanical functionality, and a wonderful sporting exterior design. The Type 35’s best finish for that race was a respectable 7th overall, but it was clear that the car had the potential for greater success following future tuning and refinement. Indeed, in its many variations, it would eventually become the most successful racing car, in number of total victories - a record which it still holds today and likely will never lose.

Bugatti’s final iteration of the Type 35 would be the Type 35TC, or as the model came to be called, the Type 35B. This new model, which bore the same 2.3-liter, eight-cylinder motor as the earlier Type 35T, was outfitted with a supercharger that was similar to the one in the Type 35C, albeit slightly larger and more powerful. In its day, the Type 35B boasted incredible performance figures, and these figures are still respectable today. It was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just six seconds, and it had a top speed of 125 mph.

CHASSIS 4947 IN ACTION
The Type 35B in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum’s collection, chassis number 4947, was completed in the autumn of 1929. While the American Bugatti Club Register postures that the car was retained and raced by the factory in the European Grand Prix, there were no significant races on the schedule between the car’s completion and its final sale in March 1930 to Romanian racing driver Georges Bouriano. Bouriano is best-remembered for his 2nd-place finish in a Bugatti Type 35C at Monaco in 1929, behind only the famous Bugatti works driver William Charles Frederick Grover-Williams, also known as “W Williams,” in a Type 35B. Bouriano registered this car, chassis number 4947, on temporary plates “1656-WW5” and drove it away from Molsheim.

According to historian Pierre-Yves Laugier, Bouriano recounted that his successes in his previously, used Type 35 had resulted in Ettore Bugatti selling “me a new car at a very special price. I entered the new 35B in the 1930 Monaco race. I slowly gained on Chiron and Bouriat; we all three arrived at a certain corner. It is characteristic of me that I will not accept to be passed and I came out first, but had hit a sandbag, sand got into the carburetor, and then into the compressor which seized, and I had to abandon [the effort].”

His subsequent entries in the car included the Bordino Grand Prix, where the car survived a rather spectacular accident only to be repaired by the factory. It was also run in grand prix races at Dieppe and Comminges, both in France and important circuits in the early days of motor racing; Bouriano retired in both cases, with unspecified mechanical issues and a broken piston ring, respectively.

The last known racing event for 1930 was the Bugatti Grand Prix at Le Mans. Held from 1928 through 1930 at the venue that is famous for its 24-hour endurance race, the Bugatti Grand Prix was an interesting event open to all Bugatti owners; although both amateur and professional drivers were eligible to compete, no factory-backed cars were permitted. Unfortunately, Bouriano retired from the 1930 event with a bent steering arm after hitting an animal on the track.

No records exist of Bouriano racing the car in 1931, but in 1932 he returned to Chimay, Belgium for the Grand Prix des Frontières, held on 15 May on an approximately 6.5-mile street circuit. There, he led the race in the first lap and set a lap record for the circuit at 125 km/h, only to DNF following a carburetor fire.

In 1934, Bouriano sold the car to a prolific competitor and three-time winner at Chimay, Belgian racing driver Arthur Legat, who upgraded from his prior Type 37A. Legat dubbed his new Bugatti La Boule II and also competed with the car, and with much greater success than its original private owner. Legat continued to compete at Chimay until 1939, driving chassis 4947 with the exception of 1936, when the event organizer asked him to use his Type 37A instead. Although outright victory eluded him, he placed 2nd in 1937, 7th in 1938, and 2nd again in the 1939 running of the Grand Prix des Frontières.

Yet circuit racing was not the Type 35’s only strength, and Legat also put his La Boule II through its paces at hillclimb events. Not long after acquiring the car in 1934, he took 2nd at the hillclimb held at Opbrakel in Belgium, as well as 1st in both the Bomerée and Wavre hillclimbs, also in Belgium.

During World War II the car was sold to Pierre Vingerhoedts of Antwerp, who modified it with an “aerodynamic body” that would be used until 1948. As shown in a photograph taken in 1946, however, this “new” body was in fact a superficial update of the original Molsheim sheet metal, consisting largely of a streamlined radiator surround and a tailfin that was attached to the car’s original tail section.

Despite Vingerhoedts’ ownership, he continued to allow Legat to drive the car in events for at least two years. Its first post-war outing was on familiar turf: The Grand Prix des Frontières in Chimay, Belgium, where Legat, and the car, retired during the 10th lap with engine trouble. The car once again retired from the 1947 edition of the race due to drive shaft issues, again with Legat driving. That June, chassis 4947 again proved its mettle as a hillclimb contender: Vingerhoedts piloted it to victory at the 1 km hillclimb at Huy, Belgium, at what would be that event’s final running. It would prove to be chassis 4947’s final European race outing, as well.

FEARLESS FELTON’S BUGATTI
Following a crash in 1948, which reportedly occurred during preparations for that year’s grand prix in Chimay, Vingerhoedts fitted the Bugatti with a modern, Maserati-style single-seat racing body. The car was apparently never raced in this configuration, however, and by 1955 Vingerhoedts had resold the car to the prolific Dutch (Belgian, Ed.) Bugatti dealer Jean de Dobbeleer. A photo on file shows the car in de Dobbeleer’s garage, wearing this updated bodywork.

De Dobbeleer handled an enormous number of cars in the post-war era, dealing many of them to enthusiasts elsewhere in Europe and the United States. In this instance, the car was sold to Colonel George S. Felton. “Fearless Felton” was one of the best-known figures in the early automobile hobby on the East Coast, famously serving as the first vice-president of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America. He had the Bugatti restored by another notable participant in the dawn of the hobby, Edgar Roy of Roxbury, Massachusetts.

It is presently unknown whether Felton received chassis 4947 (which he called it 'Decibelle') - from de Dobbeleer with the updated monoposto bodywork still fitted, or whether it had been returned to its original configuration prior to its export to the United States. Close inspection of the bodywork, including by RM Specialists, indicates that the hood, belly pans, and tail sections of the bodywork are original, Molsheim-made components, with only the cowl area showing evidence of later fabrication or significant repair.

Further, the Winter 1956 issue of Bugantics includes a photo of chassis 4947, with a caption indicating that the car was then “nearing the end of a rebuild” and showing the cowl, tail section, and belly pans already fitted to the chassis. The Spring 1957 issue shows Felton behind the wheel of his completed Bugatti—a relatively rapid restoration timeline that further supports the fitment of original body components with minimal fabrication work.

Alas, after racing the Bugatti only once, Colonel Felton passed away suddenly in November 1959. Edgar Roy sold the car on behalf of the estate to Anton "Tony" Hulman Jr. for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, which took receipt in 1960 and has now owned this special automobile for a remarkable 65 years.

Inspection of the car today shows that it retains much of the Roy restoration, with certain liberties often taken by even the best craftsmen in that early “enthusiast” era of collecting, including non-original instruments, an AC fuel pump, and a Zenith 38U carburetor, likely for durability in racing, just as the hydraulic brakes were fitted for safety, although the latter was done with minimal modification and utilizing the original backing plates and shoes.

Yet underneath is an excellent and correct Grand Prix Bugatti, one that retains its original chassis frame, engine, and rear axle, as confirmed by Laugier, and, in fact, numbers in nearly all the areas that a Bugattiste would seek to find then. The gearbox cover still bears the correct original number markings, although the gearbox itself is believed to be a factory replacement casting. The fuel tank is even the original, and the replacement front axle is an original Bugatti piece, albeit from a Type 51! This is an unusually mechanically pure supercharged Grand Prix Bugatti, with, even more remarkably, continuously known history back to its original owner—indeed, it has had only six owners in its nearly century-long lifetime. With its record of European racing both before and after WWII, it contributed to the Type 35’s immortal motorsport legend, and it has been fittingly preserved on the grounds of one of the world’s great temples of speed, within the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, for over six decades.

Its offering here marks an exquisite opportunity to acquire a car of character and personality, still very much the automobile that Bouriano experienced at speed on some of Europe’s greatest circuits.

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• 1930 Bugatti Type 50 Roadster, relatively new body by Crailville, Chassis 50116

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Furthermore loads of parts, miniatures and books. And of course there's much more than just Bugattis...

Surprise at Retromobile

The surprise can be found at the booth of Julien Dubrulle, Hall 1 - A049.

I do not have further info.... Yet.

Than there will be the accompanying auctions, one by Artcurial, who shows the Automobiles on auction at the Retromobile itself, but also a few others, organised also in Paris around the same time, at other venues.

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• 1929 Bugatti Type 37, Chassis: 37363, Engine: 252, Estimate: €980,000 - €1,300,000
• 1933 Bugatti Type 49 Drophead Coupé by Van Rijswijk, Chassis: 49570, Engine: L458, Estimate: €400,000 - €550,000
• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff, Chassis: 57431, Engine: 314, Estimate: €480,000 - €600,000
• 2022 Bugatti Centodieci, Chassis: VF9SE3V33NM795006, Estimate: €10,000,000 - €15,000,000
• 1920? Bugatti Baby II Children's Car by the Little Car company, number 043/500, Estimate: €40,000 - €70,000
• Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Children's Car by the Cyclekart Company, number 03/10, Estimate: €40,000 - €60,000

1929 Bugatti Type 37, Chassis: 37363

• One of approximately only 220 examples of the Type 37 built from 1926 to 1930
• Matching-numbers 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine
• Known ownership history from new in France; retained by prominent collector Jean-Michel Cérède for 43 years and bought by the consignor in June 2013
• Attended the 1966 opening of the Bugatti Circuit and 2009 International Bugatti Meeting
• Documented and inspected by renowned marque historian Pierre Yves Laugier

A more attainable version of the legendary Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix, the Type 37 of 1926 shared its bigger brother’s chassis and beautiful bodywork. Trading a straight-eight engine for a new single overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder motor, it delivered 60 horsepower via a four-speed manual transmission. It is thought that only 220 examples were completed.

Marque historian Pierre Yves Laugier reports that the engine numbered “252” was built in December 1927 and mated to chassis 37363 the following month. A letter dated December 1956 from the factory (available on file) notes that the completed car left Molsheim in September 1929 before being driven to Limoges to be delivered to its first owner, Bugatti dealer Léon Boucher. A regular hill climb entrant, he is said to have a hit 180 km/h on a stretch of road between Paris and Limoges aboard his Type 43 Grand Sport.

Chassis 37363 was likely spotted in public wearing dealership numberplates, since it was not formally registered until May 1934, when it was acquired by Mr André Fayette of Paris. The Type 37 then returned to Limoges in August 1935, having been bought by 21-year-old Jean-Pierre Labuze. Remaining in the city, the car was purchased by Maurice Jean Gaume in the spring before an August 1936 sale to entrepreneur Jean Benoit.

Come June 1946, the car was residing in Paris and surfaced again in April 1951 under the care of car and motorcycle repair business owner, Jean Renard. He sold the Type 37 to journalist Jacques Levy before, in December 1955, it was purchased by Yves Leriche. The following December, chassis 37363 moved to fellow Saint-Cloud resident, Francis Muel.

Mr Muel also owned a Type 37A, chassis 37374. When the supercharged car was damaged by fire, he swapped the two chassis plates. The example offered here then took part in the 1958 equivalent of the Le Mans Classic, where it was driven by George Delaroche, the runner-up in the 1934 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Muel had the engine rebuilt in time for his wedding before selling at the end of 1961, with the car registered in the December by Jean-Michel Cérède of Vésinet. The collector retained chassis 37363 for the next four decades. Notably, during his custodianship, this Type 37 appeared at the first public event held at the permanent Bugatti Le Mans Circuit in 1966.

The car was sold to an enthusiast in Normandy in February 2004, at which point it was mechanically and cosmetically recommissioned. In May 2009, chassis 37363 was exhibited at the International Bugatti Meeting in Maremma as the manufacturer celebrated its centenary. Meanwhile, the owner of the Type 37A called upon the expertise of Laugier, which ultimately led to both cars being formally paired with their original chassis plates.

Purchased by the Paris-based consignor in June 2013, the car received restoration work from Bugatti specialist Garage Novo in Marolles-en-Hurepoix. This Type 37—complete with its original chassis and plate, plus cam cover numbered “252”—boasts a fascinating known history and is presented with beautiful patina. It would make for a wonderful addition to any discerning collection.

1933 Bugatti Type 49 Drophead Coupé by Van Rijswijk, Chassis: 49570

• A rare and attractive example of Bugatti’s luxurious Type 49
• Coachwork by the Dutch royal coachbuilder, B.T. Van Rijswijk & Zoon of Den Haag
• Outstanding provenance—displayed when new on the Van Rijswijk stand at the 1934 Amsterdam International Motor Show
• Inspected by Pierre-Yves Laugier with assistance from Kees Jansen
• Retains its original chassis frame and plate, engine, front and rear axles, and gearbox
• Presented in its original colours

Chassis number 49570 was built at the Molsheim factory at the end of May 1933, using a long 3.22-metre wheelbase chassis and it was fitted with engine number L458. The running chassis cost 38.000 French francs and was invoiced to the European agent B.U.C.A.R. of Zurich, being transported by rail on 21 November 1933.

The first owner was a car dealer, later Jaguar agent, called N.V.J.W. Lagerwij of La Haye, Holland. It was registered "HX 31549", and in early 1934 it was displayed in pride of place on the Van Rijswijk stand, No. 100, at the Amsterdam International Motor Show at the RAI. It was described in the 15 February 1934 issue of magazine De Auto as having a black body, black leather hood, and red leather seats.

Lagerwij did not keep it long as it was sold to Mr E. Blaisse. It appears it passed to Blaisse’s son Erik Steven, later owner of the distillery, Van Zuylekom, and other Bugattis. Erik Steven sold chassis 49570 to Wilhelm Anton Te Gussinko of Alten on 25 March 1946, who in turn sold it to H. James A.M. Coebergh of the Coeberg Bessen Jenever distillery on 30 August 1952. He kept it for less than a year when it is sold on 15 June 1953 to P. Deelen Jnr of Lekkerkerk.

Deelen kept this wonderful Type 49 for nearly a decade when ownership passed to Garage Limborg in 1962 and they rebuilt the engine. It then went to Bugatti collector Henk Groenwegen of Rotterdam, who passed away in 1974, and it later joined to the world famous collection of Evert Louwman. Gert Jan Moed bought the Bugatti in 2000 and a restoration was completed in April 2005, returning 49570 to its original colours. In 2011, it was purchased at auction by The Curated Collection.

An inspection of this wonderful Bugatti by Pierre-Yves Laugier shows that the mechanicals of this Type 49 are highly original, with the engine, gearbox, front and rear axles all bearing the stamping of 458. Both crankcases carry the assembly number of 22 proving their originality. The chassis plate is also the original item. All six of the aluminium Bugatti wheels are numbered, five of them are dated from July 1933 and the sixth is from the end of August 1933.

The central part of the body is original and was conserved during the restoration, and the rear, as well as the wings, were recreated as the originals were modified after World War II. The red leather in the interior appears to be original apart from the driver’s seat which has been retrimmed. It should be noted that the engine runs but the block has a previously repaired crack which is no longer sealed—a repair or replacement block would be recommend prior to proper use.

A truly special Bugatti, which has remained in Holland for most of its life, this rare and attractive Type 49 is worthy of a place in any pre-war collection.

Below some pictures indicating the uniqueness of this "Dutch" Bugatti, with images from it's time in the Netherlands.

1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff, Chassis: 57431

• A highly desirable Cabriolet ‘Stelvio’ by esteemed coachbuilder Gangloff
• Features special profiled wings by Gangloff
• Importantly retains its original body, chassis, chassis plate, engine and gearbox
• Known history for much of its existence
• Inspected by Pierre-Yves Laugier with assistance from Kees Jansen

This Type 57 was assembled at the Molsheim factory during April 1936 and it was transported to Gangloff’s workshop at Colmar on 25 July 1936. The attractive four-seat ‘Stelvio’ body was finished on 9 September 1936 and was invoiced at a price of 16,000 French francs with a further 450 FF for creating a special profile for the front wings. The running chassis cost 45.000 French francs.

Chassis 57431 was delivered to its first owner Mr Muracciole on 16 September 1936—this is believed to be Etienne Muracciole. Etienne was a lawyer and General Counsel, whilst a noted car and aeroplane enthusiast having served as the President of the Automobile Club of Constantine and the Aeroclub in 1928, before being elected President of the Automobile Club of Algeria in 1934. It then passed into the hands of Emile Knecht, the importer for Algeria of Terrot motorcycles. It was then sold to a certain ‘Pasha’ who raced stock cars in Alger.

In 1962, an American called David Mize travelled to Algeria and discovered Pasha’s collection of Delahayes, Delages and this Type 57. In the summer of 1963, he purchased chassis 57431 and exported it to Marseille. It was received by Guy Huet and Rob Noorlander, who drove it back to Holland in the rain without a hood! During 1964, it was stored at Noorlander’s garage in Pijnacker, sat amongst other Bugatti’s awaiting shipment to New York. It disappeared after Guy Huet delivered the car to Antwerp and it was left on the side of the port for several weeks.

At the start of the early Seventies, it was acquired by Jacques Antoine de Biolley of Brussels, before being purchased by Edmond Perry on 29 June 1976. Perry is best known for his company APAL, which built VW-Porsche specials. Perry sold the car to Ennio Gianaroli of Liège in 1994. Gianaroli was an Italian émigré collector of Ferraris and Bugattis. He sold the car to Jos Vander Stappen, who’s son Pascale sold this Bugatti to The Curated Collection in November 2016.

Analysis by Pierre-Yves Laugier shows that the car retains its original chassis plate, and the engine is stamped with 57431. Its original number, 314, has been erased and restamped with 108, but the two crankcases retain the original assembly number 81 so it is the original engine. The frame number 84 is in the series of the new design of mounting with a suspended engine and redesigned crossmembers.

The gearbox is stamped 314 and corresponds with the original engine number. The Gangloff body is entirely original, and the wood frame appears to be old. The paintwork has been completed more recently. Interested parties should note that this Bugatti has been on static display for many years so it will require some recommissioning prior to use.

2022 Bugatti Centodieci, Chassis: VF9SE3V33NM795006

• One of just 10 examples produced
• A stunning tribute to the EB110 series, the celebrated Italian Bugatti of the 1990s
• Features Chiron-based mechanical elements adorned with heritage-influenced coachwork
• Shocking performance envelope of 0-100 km/h in 2.4 seconds with a top speed of 380 km/h
• Benefits from fastidious care during a single dedicated Swiss-based ownership
• Displays extremely low use with just 437 kilometres (272 miles)
• Factory finished in the opulent colour combination of Quartz White and Grey Carbon over a full leather interior of Beluga Black and Gris Rafale hides
• Documented with original purchase contract, build-spec sheet, and TÜV paperwork

Over the past 17 years, the modern Bugatti Automobiles SAS has built several limited-production variants of its two legendary hypercars, the Veyron and the Chiron, many of them paying tribute to a driver or model from the company’s prewar golden era. But in August 2019, at the exclusive The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the Molsheim-based hypercar manufacturer unveiled something even more special—the Centodieci.

For the first time, Molsheim was officially acknowledging the importance of the brief but beautiful Italian foray into the Bugatti genealogy, Romano Artioli’s early 1990s embodiment of the long-dormant Bugatti marque. Named for the number 110 (in Italian), the Centodieci was not only a tribute to Artioli’s iconic Bugatti EB110 and EB110 SS models, but a commemoration of the marque’s 110th anniversary, having originally been founded by Ettore Bugatti in 1909.

The chassis and drivetrain of the Centodieci were closely derived from the concurrent Chiron, while boasting a more highly developed version of the 8.0-litre quad-turbocharged W-16 engine, now making 1,600 PS (a specification soon followed in subsequent Chiron variants). In addition to the uplift in power, the newest Bugatti shed 20 kilograms of unladen weight, and featured revised steering algorithms for more dynamic handling. With these improvements, the Centodieci could reach 100 km/h from a standstill in just 2.4 seconds, with an electronically limited top speed of 380 km/h—astonishing performance figures that remain competitive today.

In tribute to the great EB110, the Centodieci featured entirely novel coachwork that hinted at its forebear’s wedge-themed design motifs, including a small horseshoe grille, pointed front splitter, extremely narrow headlamps, circular inlets in the C-pillars, and a fixed rear wing. Just 10 examples of the Centodieci were slated for production, and by the time of Bugatti’s August 2019 introduction of the model, all 10 cars had been reserved by eager buyers.

With the final example delivered in December 2022, the Centodieci remains one of the rarest and most distinctive of the special models based on the Chiron, featuring exquisite coachwork and heritage associations. The fascinating tribute to the Italian Bugatti supercar justifiably sits at the top of Molsheim’s celebrated line of heritage-based models, sure to enjoy continued appreciation within the hypercar market.

As the Bugatti brand now embarks on a new hybridized V-16 era, limited edition W-16-powered models are spotlighted as the most significant creations of a pivotal era in the 125-year history of the marque. For two decades, the W-16 was at the apex of internal combustion development and remains one of the most complex road car engines ever built.

As clarified by a purchase contract and Bugatti specification sheet on file, chassis number 006 was ordered new in August 2019 by a Swiss collector. The magnificent Centodieci was finished in a two-tone livery of Quartz White and Grey Carbon over an interior trimmed in Beluga Black and Gris Rafale leather with Black Anodised trim parts and Glacier door sills.

The Bugatti has been ideally maintained and only minimally driven during its sole ownership, displaying an incredibly low 437 kilometres at the time of cataloguing. Having enjoyed such little use, it is understandable that the Centodieci has never undergone a service appointment, although bidders should note that Bugatti’s four-year manufacturer’s warranty went into effect upon delivery in September 2022, implying that the car remains eligible for service under warranty until September 2026.

As an extremely rare and distinctively styled speed machine built during Molsheim’s modern era, one that furthermore has accrued only 437 kilometres, this Bugatti is undoubtedly one of the most highly desirable luxury/performance cars in today’s market. Ideally suited for the dedicated marque collector or hypercar completist, the Centodieci beautifully evokes one of the marque’s most celebrated chapters, sure to strike the hearts of enthusiasts far and wide.

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• 1924 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia' Open Tourer Chassis no. 2064, Estimate: €250,000 - €300,000
• 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater, Chassis: 4644, Engine: 45 (ex 4640), Estimate: €900,000 - €1,300,000 (sold without reserve)
• "1928" Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix Continuation Chassis no. "4858", Engine no. 125T, Estimate: €360,000 - €480,000
• 1928 Bugatti T43 Grand Sport Chassis no. 43219, Estimate: €1,000,000 - €1,500,000
• Baby Bugatti, Short chassis n°454, Estimate: €80,000 - €100,000
• 1936 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet 4 places Coachwork by Maltby, Chassis: 57379, Engine: 273, Estimate: €400,000 - €600,000

1924 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia' Open Tourer Chassis no. 2064

1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix Two-Seater, Chassis: 4644

1928 Bugatti T43 Grand Sport Chassis no. 43219

Baby Bugatti, Short chassis n°454
The automobile held a special place in the Bugatti family. Roland, Ettore's youngest son, could not be left out. For his fourth birthday in 1926, Ettore built him a faithful 1/2 scale replica of the celebrated Bugatti 35 Grand Prix, then at the height of its glory. This would become the famous Baby Bugatti.

Presented on the marque's stand at the Milan Motor Show in 1927, rich and famous clients acquired them for their offspring. It was a modest commercial success. Less than 500 examples were built as Ettore Bugatti realised that not all children were comfortable with the 1/2 scale. The chassis was soon lengthened, with 22 louvres on the bonnet in place of 20 on the rare first models like the one on offer today.

This model enjoyed its own catalogue and was displayed at Bugatti dealerships alongside its big sisters. Often to be spotted at fashionable beaches such as Deauville and Nice, it gave rise to fiercely contested competitions with its top speeds of 15 to 18 km/h. Proud owners included the future Kings Hassan II of Morocco and Baudouin of Belgium.

This Baby Bugatti, chassis n°454, is known as a short chassis (20 bonnet louvres). It features aluminium bodywork and wheels, with a steel chassis. Dashboard with Bugatti-branded ammeter and gear change lever (forward, neutral and reverse). Fitted with a 12- volt electric engine operated by a rheostat-accelerator, "Dunlop Cord Balloon" tyres on removable spoke wheels. Leather bonnet straps, seat and spare wheel strap. Boyce Motometer type radiator cap and 2-eared petrol cap. Brakes on all four wheels operated by external lever. Restored in the iconic blue, presented in working condition. It rests on four correctly sized jack stands.

1936 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet 4 places Coachwork by Maltby, Chassis: 57379

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• 1930 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, Chassis 51154, Engine 17, Estimate: €1,700,000 - €2,300,000
• 1935 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet Stelvio, Chassis 57182, Engine 160, Estimate: €350,000 - €500,000
• 1995 Bugatti EB110 GT, Chassis 99, Estimate: €1,200,000 - €1,500,000

Full information on all the cars, including images.

930 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix, Chassis 51154, Engine 17

1935 Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet Stelvio, Chassis 57182, Engine 160

1995 Bugatti EB110 GT, Chassis 99

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January 16 - 19, 2025 Interclassics Maastricht, the Netherlands

The first classic car show of the year, now in it's 30th edition! Not of the same quality as Retromobile of course, but always interesting.

And hopefully Chantal Prick continued (again) the legacy of her father Jean with a special Bugatti stand!

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• 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand, Chassis: 57644, Engine: 470, Estimate: $750,000 - $1,000,000
• 1939 Bugatti Type 57 C Atalante by Gangloff, Chassis 57828, Engine: 100C, Estimate: $1,750,000 - $2,500,000

1938 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand, Chassis 57644

• One of just eight series-produced cabriolets built on the Type 57 chassis by Letourneur et Marchand
• Retains numbers-matching engine and coachwork
• Benefits from 66 years of uninterrupted care during prior single-family ownership
• Comprehensively restored in the late 2010s by marque experts
• Mechanically upgraded with period-correct supercharger
• Class award winner at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Finished in green paint over lighter green coves, and trimmed with green leather upholstery, the Bugatti was equipped with a klaxon, side lamps, and traffic indicator lamps. Delivered in November 1938 to an agent in Paris, the Type 57 was initially retailed to a Frenchman named S. Jaspart. In 1945 the cabriolet was registered to a new owner in The Netherlands, commencing a short chain of Dutch ownership that culminated in 1949 with acquisition by Rudi van Daalen Wetters.

Mr. van Daalen Wetters was a pilot in the Dutch Air Force who became an attaché to Prince Bernhard following World War II. He was soon assigned to lead a jet pilot training mission in the United States, and during his preparation at the American Embassy he met his future wife. The dashing couple moved to New York City in 1951, and the rare Bugatti Type 57 accompanied them.

Mr. van Daalen Wetters repainted the green upper bodywork sections in red, although he allowed the beautiful green upholstery to remain, and before long he and his wife relocated to Burbank, California. As the caretaker of a modest collection of Talbot-Lagos and Bugattis (including the exquisite Aravis, chassis number 57768), the owner soon became known in the local collector car niche. In 1985 the legendary racing driver Phil Hill introduced Mr. van Daalen Wetters to the consignor, noting their similar taste in interwar French automobiles, and it was then that the current owner first became familiar with 57644. He was struck by the car’s impressive originality and instantly smitten.

Although Mr. van Daalen Wetters and his wife drove the Bugatti around the Los Angeles area from time to time, they eventually shipped the car back to Europe for use in European driving events. After being returned to Los Angeles, the cabriolet was stored and remained undriven for a number of years, particularly following the owner's passing in 1999.

In 2015 Mr. van Daalen Wetters’ widow sold the Bugatti to the consignor, who had known and appreciated the car for so long. This transfer concluded an amazing period of 66 years of dedicated single-family ownership, ensuring that the Type 57 continues to display a remarkable degree of originality today.

The consignor immediately set about a full refurbishment, commissioning the highly respected Bugatti specialist Scott Sargent of New Hampshire to perform a thorough restoration, including a refinish in the consignor’s preferred color scheme, green over light green over green, mirroring the cabriolet’s original factory appearance. The matching-numbers engine and gearbox were entrusted to the esteemed Leydon Restorations of Pennsylvania for a complete rebuild, and the opportunity was taken to tastefully upgrade the engine with a period-correct supercharger, effectively lifting the car to Type 57C power ratings. This performance-enhancing modification, which remains easily reversible, was particularly convenient due to the design of the later Type 57 engines, which featured a covered inlet to which a blower could be quickly attached.

Upon completion, the immaculate Bugatti was exhibited at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where it successfully completed the Tour d’Elegance before taking home a class award. The Type 57 also participated in the International Bugatti Rally in Saratoga Springs a few weeks later. The cabriolet has been additionally shown at the 2019 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, as well as a handful of local Southern California shows.

Retaining its numbers-matching engine and coachwork, and claiming 66 years of uninterrupted care by a doting Dutch family, this unique open Type 57 is additionally distinguished by its rarity as one of just eight examples featuring the exceptional Letourneur et Marchand cabriolet coachwork. A true prize for any serious Bugatti collector, 57644 is ready for immediate use in vintage driving events or further exhibitions, certain to draw the envy of Bugattistes worldwide.

1939 Bugatti Type 57 C Atalante by Gangloff, Chassis 57828

• A very late-production Atalante; produced to order by Gangloff to a unique “long-tail” design
• Numerous special original details, including the sought-after roll-top roof
• Factory-supercharged 57 C chassis, retaining its original engine and gearbox
• Known history from new and accompanied by report from marque expert Pierre-Yves Laugier
• Only two owners from 1955 to 1996 when acquired by the Petersen Automotive Museum
• A magnificent example of the Bugatti Type 57 C with stunning one-off coachwork

Bugatti’s ultimate pre-war roadgoing model, the Type 57 was the successor to the swift and comfortable Type 49, but it shared little except for the bore and stroke of its inline eight-cylinder engine. The design was steadily revised between 1934 and the end of production in 1939, with the late third series cars like chassis 57828, offered here, benefitting from nearly every engineering upgrade developed for the Type 57, including a reinforced cross-braced chassis, strengthened rear axle, rubber engine mounts, telescopic shock absorbers, and Lockheed hydraulic brakes. Optionally available beginning in 1937 was a supercharged engine with a Roots-type blower, identified as a Type 57 C, which could boast over 160 horsepower—a significant improvement over a stock Type 57.

When the Type 57 was introduced in 1934, Bugatti offered three body styles designed in-house, built primarily by the factory coachworks in Molsheim, and named after famous mountain peaks and passes in the French and Italian Alps: the Galibier four-door pillarless saloon, the Ventoux two-door saloon, and the Stelvio drophead coupe with coachwork subcontracted to Gangloff of Colmar. A sleek two-seat sports coupe, the Atalante, conceived by Jean Bugatti and inspired by the Aérolithe coupe, arrived in 1936. It cost twice as much as some other factory offerings. As a result, only 33 Type 57 Atalantes were built, in addition to 17 constructed on the Type 57 S chassis, with some of the most exclusive examples actually produced by Gangloff by special order, rather than by the factory shops.

Chassis number 57828 is recorded on the factory build records as the most desired object, a factory-supercharged Type 57 C, noted by the “C” suffix on its original engine number, 100, which remains in place to this day. It was produced in May of 1939, a year in which, as is noted in the American Bugatti Club Register, the factory coachworks were focused nearly entirely on production of the four-door Galibier, and thus the more sporting and rakish designs had either been outsourced in limited numbers or simply ceased altogether. Nonetheless, when famed driver and prominent Hotchkiss dealer Louis Dupont of Oran, Algeria placed a custom order for the ultimate sports coupe on the 24th of March 1939, Bugatti responded and ultimately delivered one of the last great Type 57s.

Dupont’s order was for an Atalante. Because Carrosserie Bugatti had discontinued the design by this point, Gangloff built the special-order body—listed by Barrie Price as one of perhaps only five or six Atalante “specials” built by them to a Molsheim design revised by Lucien Schlatter with slightly larger dimensions and extended rear bodywork and fenders.

Reportedly one of the most expensive Bugattis produced in 1939, chassis number 57828 offers a fascinating combination of the best design features introduced throughout Atalante production. It possessed the more sensual Aravis-type “long-tail” styling, but had a rolling fabric roof that retracted fully back to the rear deck, known to Bugatti enthusiasts as the “bureau top.” Finished to design number 4011, it was a unique creation, and Atalante in everything but its name—officially, it was a coupé decouvrable, in reference to the opening roof. Dupont’s nephew Jean de Flotte recounted to historian Pierre-Yves Laugier that his uncle had raced Amilcars, Alfa Romeos, and Delahayes, and bought the Bugatti with competition intentions.

The completed car was delivered on 5 August 1939 and is believed to have been kept in Algeria throughout the war years as it was re-registered in Oran in 1952. In late 1954 it went to the well-known Parisian Bugatti garage of Francis Mortarini, then sold in 1955 to longtime Bugattiste Georges Combe, where it remained in Paris and was registered there as 5065 DJ 75. Interestingly, Laugier notes that in May 1955 the car was brought to the renowned Figoni coachworks in Boulogne sur Seine, to have work done on the windshield and doors. Photographs of the car in this era clearly show it in its present form, including the bold chromed “arrows” on the beltline moldings and tail fin.

Following 22 years of regular use, including in occasional rallies and hillclimbs, Mr. Combe’s estate sold the Bugatti in 1977 to Hervé Charbonneaux, son of renowned French industrial designer, automobile enthusiast, and museum impresario Philippe Charbonneaux. During its time in the Charbonneaux museum, the car was refinished from 1980 to 1981 from blue and black to its original color scheme of black with red highlights. It was also fitted with a replacement cylinder block casting acquired from Bart Loyens in the same period. The car was sold from the Charbonneaux stable in 1996 to Ton Meijer of the Netherlands (Where it was photographed during a rally in the Netherlands, and featured on the cover of my first book, "Bugatti Legends"), then by him in 1999 to Eric Albada Jelgersma (The car is still fitted with the Dutch numberplates, thus appears to never have been driven after the museum acquired it). He, in turn, sold it in 2006 to the Petersen Automotive Museum of Los Angeles, in whose famed halls it has been regularly exhibited now for the last 14 years alongside many other outstanding examples of important French coachwork.

Laugier notes that the car retains its original chassis plate, gearbox, front axle, and instrumentation, and its engine sump is still correctly stamped 57828 and 100C. Overall the restoration is well-preserved and still highly attractive, although the temptation for a fresh restoration elevating this stellar Bugatti into a potent international concours competitor at the most prestigious events is surely present.

“The Gangloff Coupe body to drawing 4011 is a unique design by the Alsatian firm from Colmar,” Laugier said, “and one of the most beautiful profiles on the Type 57 chassis...a unique and splendid Bugatti of the last evolution of the Type 57 C.”

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