|
Attend Middle School Online at Excel
RM Sotheby's Paris Auction, France, February 4-5, 2025
Bonham's The Grand Palais Auction, Paris, France, February 6, 2025
Artcurial Retromobile Auction, Paris, France, February 7 - 8, 2025
Cars were all sold, no price results yet
Osenat Arts & Cars: 100% Automobilia Auction, Paris, France, February 7, 2025
Only a few results of Bugatti Automobilia items are shown
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.
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 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
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. The factory photo 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.
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
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
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
The former world premiere at the Paris Motor Show in 1934 now enriches the exhibition.
In the exhibition of the AUTOVISION Museum (including BugattiMuseum), a Bugatti T57 Series 1 chassis with engine No. 12 (from the chassis number 57112) is shown as a rolling chassis. For museum visitors, it is very clear that in the first construction phase of the successful "Type 57" series, the engine itself was an important part of the chassis frame. In addition to its actual task to power the vehicle, it was largely responsible for the strength and stiffness of the chassis. However, this meant that the engine could not be flexibly mounted in the chassis, as was standardized in later T57 models.
True-to-original wall relief instead of body
It was precisely this design that the Type 57, created by Jean Bugatti, was first presented at the Paris Motor Show in 1934, which was a world premiere for this series that is still legendary today. That same car, chassis number 57221/57222 is now in the Louwman museum in the Hague, the Netherlands. Jean Bugatti also presented such show cars from the same T57 series at the most important automobile shows over the next five years, as they caused a great stir there and were therefore very effective for advertising. The trade press in particular was thus able to be lured to the Bugatti exhibition stand, in order to then report in international trade journals on these always very elegant automobiles from the T57 series in words and pictures. In addition to the success of a vehicle brand in international automobile races, this type of indirect advertising was one of the most effective and at the same time most cost-effective!
In the Bugatti Museum of the Altlussheim Museum AUTOVISION, 15 vehicles from the French Bugatti series T57 to T64 can now be seen.
Thierry de Maigret auction, Paris, France, December 18, 2024
BUGATTI Rembrandt (1884-1916):
BUGATTI Carlo (1856-1940) & HEBRARD Adrien-Aurélien (1865-1937):
BUGATTI Carlo (1856-1940):
Complete description and images of all items
Christie's Auction: Design New York, December 11, 2024
Venduehuis Winter Auction 's Gravenhage (the Hague), the Netherlands, December 12, 2024
Both cars Purchased by Hugh Conway and single family ownership since 1978
René Dreyfus drove this beautiful 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports to victory in the 1934 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. The Bugatti also finished third at Monaco in ’34. Ettore Bugatti transformed this Type 59 from single-seat race car to sports car, removing the supercharger, and adding a second seat and doors. It kept racing, winning GP events in Algeria and France in 1937. But more changes were to come. King Leopold III of Belgium purchased the car in 1937, and had it repainted from French blue to Belgian black, with yellow accent stripes. It stayed unraced and unrestored in the private collection of King Leopold III, and four subsequent owners of the car all kept it as-is, eschewing any restorations or modifications.
The Bugatti changed hands again in 2020. Swiss collector Fritz Burkard paid a staggering £9,535,000 ($12,681,550) when the final hammer fell at the Gooding & Company auction. It was the most expensive car sold anywhere in the world that year, and Burkard continued the tradition of keeping the original parts and patina on the car.
To the surprise of nearly everyone, including car owner Fritz Burkard, his Bugatti won the coveted Best of Show at the 2024 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the first time a preservation car has ever won the award. It was also the first time for a European winner at Pebble Beach.
The 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports resides among the 90 remarkable machines in Burkard’s private “Pearl Collection” in Zug, Switzerland.
If you would like to find out more about this special Bugatti (chassis no. 57248), it was written about twice already in the Bugatti Revue, See:
Source: velocetoday.com
From Jakub Stauch of the Czech Bugatti club, I received the following message recently:
His was the winning bid. His plan was to renovate the engine and sometimes start him to make his neighbors and wife happy. The auction also included a frame that was described as a replica production Royale frame from the 1970s.
This collection was created by the Schlumpf brothers mainly during the sixties, who formed a private collection. The whole history is quite well known and traceable on the website of this national museum of the Schlumpf collection. The Schlumpf brothers bought cars all over the world and of course there are several Bugatti cars with Czechoslovak history and from our coachbuilders in the collection. At the time when the Bugatti factory was purchased by Hispano Suiza, in the 1960s, the Schlumpf brothers bought parts from the Bugatti factory. Now we have the photo that among these parts were the frames from the never-completed Bugatti T61 and spare frames of Type 57 and Type 44.
In the Trust is note that this type was billed as “Type 61. Very large luxury car with a 4-speed gearbox in unit with the rear axle". Greg Morgan believes that this is a type intended for military personnel carrying purposes. We have information that part of the factory archive has been sold, thus, if anybody out there has more info on the Type 61, please let us know!
After this, the Musée National de l'Automobile, Collection Schlumpf came forward with one other detail: The Esders Roadster Replica which was built at the museum, has in fact a 4-speed transaxle gearbox! In fact, this has a very low gearing, thus is specially designed for low speeds. Thus, this gearbox is actually of the Type 61!
It may be that more T61 drawings and / or parts will be unearthed in the near Future, maybe even in the Schlumpf collection!
Below: the AutoRail engine in Czech Republic
Below: Images of the Type 61 chassis at various times and locations: Left: At the Molsheim factory (1960's?), Middle: in 1979 and 1999, Right: 2008
The (replica) Bugatti Bicycle was stolen recently from the property of Greg Smith in Brighton, Victoria, Australia.
Please, all Bugatti friends, keep a look out to this unique piece of Bugatti design, which was featured many years ago in this article in the Bugatti Revue of September 2, 2002.
Thus, if you get this bike offered, see it for sale, or have other info, please let me know! J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
Just after attaining a new world record speed in an open-top automobile, Bugatti has a new goal in mind: breaking the 500 km/h barrier. Although the Chiron Super Sport has already reached 490 km/h and the new Mistral reaches 453 km/h in convertible form, CEO Mate Rimac is determined to go even further. Crucial to this is the development of tires that can handle these speeds.
The Chiron Super Sport set an impressive speed record of 490 km/h, but for Rimac that is not enough. In an interview with Top Gear, he explains that he is working with Michelin on the development of tires that can withstand the extreme forces at 500 km/h. "Can we put a five at the front of the speed record? Maybe, we'll see," he says.
Breaking the new limit requires more than just a powerful engine and advanced aerodynamics. The tires play a crucial role, because they not only have to withstand enormous speeds, but also offer maximum safety. A blowout at 500 km/h is a scenario that must be avoided at all costs. Bugatti and Michelin are therefore intensively testing whether this is technically feasible.
With the introduction of a brand-new V16 hybrid power train, Bugatti has the technology to set a new record. The merger with Rimac has separated the brand from the Volkswagen Group, which gives Bugatti more freedom in development and objectives. CEO Rimac wants to build a legacy similar to Ferdinand Piëch, who once broke the 407 km/h barrier with the Bugatti Veyron.
Top picture and below: Bugatti Tourbillon in Japan.
The Bugatti VVR16 Mistral attains a top speed of 453.91 km/h
Realized at the world-class track facilities of ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg GmbH, Germany, this record-breaking occasion followed in the footsteps of world-record runs that have been immortalized in automotive legend. In a story that began more than 14 years ago, in June 2010 with a Veyron 16.4 Super Sport reaching a record of 431.07 km/h, Bugatti has charted a historic course in the pursuit of unparalleled speed.
As the pages of Bugatti's legend turned to the present-day, so the storied marque sought to exceed that endeavor once more with an open-top vehicle. Building on the foundations of the incredible accomplishments already immortalized, the pursuit of another landmark moment in Bugatti's rich history reached its crescendo in the wake of months of intricate preparation, and meticulously planned testing to explore the car's immense capabilities.
Andy Wallace – Bugatti Pilote Officiel and winner of the Le Mans 24 Hours – assumed the controls of the one-off W16 Mistral World Record Car, warming up the vehicle's bespoke high-performance tires on a first anticipatory lap. Ascending to a specified speed of 200 km/h into the banking of the track, Andy increased the speed before unleashing the full power of the vehicle as the straight opened up coming off the banking, taking it to new heights of record-speed. Under the meticulous control of SGS-TÜV Saar GmbH, the achievement of a new world top-speed record for an open-top car was officially confirmed at the end of the run, with Andy reaching an incredible 453.91 km/h.
"Throughout the testing program leading up to this moment, it was incredible to feel how stable the car felt – I got the sense that it wanted to go faster," explained Andy Wallace. "And when it came to the moment itself, the experience was overwhelmingly thrilling; feeling the elemental forces from the open-top cockpit, the sound of the immense W16 engine emanating from the air scoops next to my ear – it made the achievement incredibly emotional. A record like this pushes the boundaries of automotive innovation, and requires immense focus, dedication, and teamwork to realize. It’s a true testament to the passion that everyone at Bugatti has for making history."
Like each Bugatti owner, the customer of the W16 Mistral World Record Car had a unique vision to cement the legacy of their rare Bugatti collection: to own each of the Bugatti World Record Cars; the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition, and Chiron Super Sport 300+. Each icon joins the W16 Mistral World Record Car in this exceptional collection, while forming a unique representation of the marque in The Singh Collection – an incredible private car collection showcasing the aspirational achievements of the community from Punjab, India.
In addition to the World Record Cars' monumental accomplishments, a unifying thread runs through the W16 Mistral World Record Car and each of its illustrious forebears. Signifying its membership of a truly incomparable collection, the unique €14m W16 Mistral World Record Car features unmistakable accents on the lower body and wheels in vibrant 'Jet Orange' – a color that has evolved from the original signature hue of the Veyron World Record Cars to define the record-breaking Chiron and W16 Mistral, married with a pure, visible-black carbon exterior. The spirit of this unique design language continues in the interior, with a plethora of orange-accented features throughout the cabin immersing the driver in the aura of record-breaking triumph.
Below, Andy Wallace and the 14 million record-setting Bugatti Mistral. Note the autumn leaves on the front grille.
A new project for building quality replica Bugatti Baby's, has recently been started by Pierre-Henri Raphanel.
In 1926, Ettore Bugatti sought to celebrate the fourth birthday of his youngest son, Roland, with a uniquely special gift. Inspired by an icon close to his heart, he decided to build an exquisite half-scale interpretation of the inimitable Bugatti Type 35 – the legendary vehicle that would go on to become the most successful racing car of all time – and marking the birth of the Bugatti Baby, also wrongly known as "Type 52". It is now reinterpreted as a piece of art, a quintessentially special limited series of collectors' sculptures infused with the vision of Ettore Bugatti himself, and realized by Bugatti's first Pilote Officiel, Pierre-Henri Raphanel.
Pierre-Henri's journey with Bugatti began in 2005, and since then, he has become synonymous with the brand's uncompromising standards and visionary spirit. Having conducted more than 10,000 road-tests around the globe, he has amassed a depth of experience that few can rival. His celebrated career in racing – including competing in Formula 1, the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, and setting a world-record top speed of 431.072 km/h with the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport in 2010 – adds a unique dimension to his role at Bugatti. Pierre-Henri now channels his extensive experience, profound historical knowledge of the brand, and deep automotive expertise into every detail of the Bugatti Baby T52 series. Pierre-Henri knowingly names his creations Baby T52, to differentiate his creations from the orginal baby and the Bugatti Baby II, which is made by the Little Car Company.
Each Baby T52 creation is far more than a replica; it is a masterful reinterpretation, paying homage to Bugatti's heritage while celebrating Pierre-Henri's own legendary journey with the brand. Designed to be treasured and displayed as pieces of art, these creations not only preserve Bugatti's legacy but elevate it, bringing together nearly a century of tradition, Pierre-Henri's unparalleled expertise, and the finest craftsmanship that French artisanship can offer. In each Baby T52, Bugatti's storied past and Pierre-Henri's personal devotion to the brand unite to create a tribute worthy of exhibition and admiration for generations to come.
With each work individually numbered, 60 of the examples are dedicated to privileged customers to individualize according to their preferred color-palette, with some appointed in official vintage racing liveries. These iconic hues represent nations from France to Italy and Monaco, all woven into the fabric of motor-racing's long and star-studded history. Reflecting the unique artistic flair of Bugatti's special-edition vehicles, 39 of the exquisite models represent bespoke versions of the iconic Baby; defined by exclusive configurations and materials, the series includes 12 'silver legends' – eight of which are finished in mirror-polished aluminum and four in unique artists' proofs – and 12 'gold legends', with eight replete in highly complex mirror-polished brass and four also finished in artists' proofs.
Concluding his reflections, Pierre-Henri elaborated on the symbolism of the project:
Priced from €95,000 (exclusive of taxes), a series of 99 examples will be produced – with a third of models already reserved by brand enthusiasts and collectors.
More info on www.bugatti-type52.com, make sure to take a look at the film, which is a Cannes "Corporate Media and TV Awards" Gold winner.
Dutch Financial magazine Quote announces the following:
The Michel Perridon Bugatti Museum which was planned to be in Dubai is off the Table, Entrepreneur Now Looks to France
Bad news for Arab car enthusiasts: Michel Perridon will not be opening his 'Bugatti Experience' in Dubai. The museum with his impressive collection of sports cars will now be located near the company's factory in France. Perridon says he has already agreed to a collaboration with Bugatti.
Details of what can be found in the Perridon collection can be found here.
The collection comprises: Quote 500 member Michel Perridon claims to have the largest Bugatti collection in the world and dreams of showing it to the world in a museum. It is part of the ‘legacy’ that the founder of computer accessories store Trust wants to build in the autumn of his life.
The intended location for that ‘Bugatti Experience’ was Dubai, he told us three years ago. But his efforts to open the museum there have failed, as we understood when we recently visited him for the Quote 500 in South Africa (where he is also building that ‘legacy’, more about that later).
Instead, the entrepreneur now wants to open the museum in Molsheim, in the French Alsace, near the factory where the luxury cars are produced. Perridon even says he already has a deal with Bugatti about a collaboration. The company does not want to confirm that to Quote (yet).
Perridon less in Dubai
In the latter country, he is converting 28,000 hectares of former hunting grounds into a nature reserve where tourists can go on safari from the beginning of 2025. Perridon is so proud of that project that he was happy to give us an insight for the recently launched Quote 500 edition. And Rotterdam, that remains his home. He owns the luxurious city villa Welgelegen there, among other things.
'Everything from Bugatti on its home base'
When we confront Perridon with this again (back in the Netherlands), his earlier statement appears to have ‘nothing’ to do with it. He simply states that he has come to the conclusion that Molsheim is a much nicer location for the museum. ‘This is much better. Everything from Bugatti on its home base. Really great.’
This wire sculpture was constructed by the seller (in the Bring-a Trailer auction, it sold for $15000), artist Terry Lawrie, to resemble a Bugatti Type 35. Features include a four-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel, leather tie-down straps, a Bugatti emblem, a hood ornament, a faux aero screen and starting handle, a mesh grille, a side-mounted faux spare wheel, and #8 race numbers. The sculpture is constructed from wire finished in blue and measures approximately 14' 8" long, 6' 9" wide, and 4' 3" tall. This Type 35-style wire sculpture is now offered with a wooden shipping crate at no reserve in San Francisco, California, on a bill of sale.
The faux side-mounted spare wheel is attached by a leather strap and has a silver metal simulated tire tread, magnesium spokes, and black-finished internal sections. Laser-cut Dunlop, 4.50×19, and Cord yellow-finished script are attached to the outer sections.
The cockpit is equipped with a four-spoke wood-rimmed steering wheel aft of a fold-down faux aero screen and rear-view mirror surrounds. The simulated seat is finished in brown paint, and a chrome-polished faux handbrake is mounted on the right side.
Leaf spring suspension is present front and rear, while a hollow front axle and a faux starter handle are fitted up front.
The style is vaguely similar to that of Antoine Dufilho, who however uses flat metal plates, constructing also a Bugatti T35 themed sculpture, see for example the last report of Retromobile in the Bugatti Revue.
Plus Rembrandt Bugatti movie from 2015....
EXCLUSIVE: Andrea Iervolino, the Italian producer of sports car biopics Ferrari, Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend and the upcoming Maserati movie, is revving up a biopic of Ettore Bugatti.
Bugatti is slated to film late next year in Italy and France for Iervolino’s new banner, The Andrea Iervolino Company.
The movie is set to tell the life story of Bugatti, the founder of the iconic automobile company, who was known for transforming the automotive world with his creative genius and relentless dedication to design and technology. The Italian-born French designer and manufacturer also designed aeroplane engines and was no stranger to tragedy: Bugatti’s son, Jean, was killed on 11 August 1939 at the age of 30 while testing a Bugatti car near the family’s factory in Molsheim, France.
Iervolino is in talks with writers and directors on the project, which will feature a U.S. and international cast and be English-language. The producer is hoping to get buy-in from the Bugatti family.
Iervolino said today: “After the success of our films on Lamborghini and Ferrari, I am thrilled to bring another global automotive icon to the screen. Bugatti will be a film that honors the passion and innovation that have defined one of the most iconic car manufacturers of all time.”
Prolific producer Iervolino is soon entering production on car movie Maserati: The Brothers, which will star Anthony Hopkins and Michele Marrone for director Bobby Moresco. Morrone will star as Alfieri Il Maserati in the biopic about the family behind the high-performance automobiles. Hopkins will play an Italian financier who bankrolls the Maserati brothers.
Recent films produced by the Italian include Johnny Depp’s San Sebastian entry Modi starring Al Pacino, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s franchise sequel Kill ‘Em All 2 and thriller Skincare starring Elizabth Banks. Previous credits include Waiting for the Barbarians starring Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson and drama To the Bone starring Lily Collins and Keanu Reeves.
A movie on Ettore Bugatti is new, one about his brother Rembrandt had started in 2008 though. A filming company had started near the Barr museum (see picture above), to shoot scenes for a movie on the Animal sculptor.
The German Director Jean-Charles Wolfarth, 35 years old, was planning to relate an episode of Rembrandt's life in 1912, in which he visits his brother Ettore in Molsheim. There would be 4 to 5 weeks of filming in the Alsatian area. The actors are all French: Frédéric Lanoue interpretes Rembrandt, Olivier Guillermain is Ettore and Céline France incarnates Barbara Bugatti, Ettore's wife.
Somehow, that project was suddenly stopped, but finally finished in 2015! (I now come to know about this...) The actors and actresses are all different now, the only character that remained the same is the 8-valve Bugatti, chassis number 670 of 1914. The scene of the movie now is 1913, but still a visit of Rembrandt Bugatti to his brother Ettore and sister-in-law Barbara.
Jean-Pascal Viault, French Type 37 driver and well known kids’ car collector (www.voitureapedales.fr) is preparing an art book focusing on the Baby Bugatti (he owns the #445).
Published by the French editor "Odyssée", in 2 versions (French and English) Jean-Pascal and his crew are working on a book based on the most exhaustive world register they can gather.
If you own an authentic Baby Bugatti, please contact him if you want your car included.
Top Photo: J.P.Viault, by Bernard Canonne for Auto Heroes
Bring a Trailer Auction Online, USA, October 14, 2024
Bring a Trailer Auction Online, USA, October 4, 2024
Aguttes AUTOWORLD : Auction & motion auction, Brussel, Belgium, October 5, 2024
Bonhams' Auction, the Zoute Sale Knokke-Heist, Belgium, October 6, 2024
RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction Hershey, PA, USA, October 9 - 10, 2024
November 16, 2024 - October 2025 BUGATTI QUEEN Exposition Museum Art & Cars, Singen, Germany
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
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
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.
December 6, 2024 - April 13, 2025 Bugatti: Reaching for Perfection Academy Art Museum, Easton, Maryland, USA
1) 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante, Chassis no. 57456. Private Collection. Photo: Peter Harholdt
February 12 - 16, 2025 Art Deco Festival Napier, New Zealand
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.
February 27-28, 2025 RM Sotheby's Auction Miami, Florida, USA
THE BUGATTI TYPE 35
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
March 6-7, 2025 Gooding & Co Auction Amelia Island, FL, USA
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.
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.
August 29-31, 2025 Bugatti Motors Addict Léman Classic 7th Rally
Morzine, Haute-Savoie, France
This event is the perfect opportunity to fully experience your passion for the Bugatti brand, in a friendly and warm atmosphere.
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/
Online homeschool programs at Northgate Academy
Bugatti News
February 9, 2025 Auctions results
February 5, 2025 Auction results
February 3, 2025 Surprise at Retromobile, and at Osenat auction
Bugatti vise and legs from the family collection
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.
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
January 20, 2024
Mate Rimac: "Our Bugattis are sold until 2029"
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.
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.
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.
December 30, 2024 Bugatti T57 Grand Raid in the Bugatti Museum Altlussheim
The wall relief decorated in the AUTOVISION exhibition was implemented in the style of the T57 Grand Raid body. This means that visitors can still get a true-to-scale impression of this sporty roadster from 1934, despite the exposed chassis. The model name "Grand Raid" already suggests that this vehicle was not intended to be a normal civilian luxury automobile for the road. Rather, it was intended for demanding racing events and therefore had a streamlined body with extended fenders, a V-shaped windshield and very distinctive, aerodynamically tapered headrests. 
The original engine No. 12 of the Bugatti T57 112 in detail.
Address: Hauptstraße 154, D-68804 Altlussheim, Germany, Tel.: +49 6205-307661, e-mail: post@autovision-tradition.de
www.museum-autovision.de
Only from a bird's eye view can the full scope of the technology in this T57 Grand Raid be seen, which otherwise lies dormant under a body. Here, the significance of the engine, which still partially takes over the task of the chassis, is also made clear in the truest sense of the word.
December 22, 2024 Auction results
December 16, 2024 Auctions results
Bonhams' Auction, The Bond Street Sale London, December 12, 2024
December 11, 2024 The ex King Leopold 1934 Type 59 Bugatti voted IHMA Car of the Year
It’s like an ancient insect trapped in amber. Or an unopened cask of century-old single malt Scotch. That’s the kind of time-bending accomplishment achieved by this 90-year-old car, a car that has never been restored, winning the coveted 2024 Car of the Year honor at the International Historic Motoring Awards presented by Lockton Insurance, which took place at the Peninsula London on Friday November 22.
Type 61 chassis in the auction catalogue 2024
December 6, 2024 Bugatti Type 61 discovered!
Believed to be a replica T41 chassis when offered at auction in April 2024, this turns out to be the chassis of the rather unknown type 61!
Before the auction of part of the Mullin collection in April this year, I made a bad joke to my friend Tomas Krause. I knew there was going to be an auction by Gooding & Company of a Railcar engine that was based on the engine for the Bugatti Royale and I said: “if you want a Royale you have to buy this engine. 
Type 61 chassis in Czech Republic, 2024
When he finally brought the frame and engine to the Czech Republic, it was discovered that the chassis was 700 mm longer than the Bugatti Royale frame. Tomas got a drawing for the T41 and found that the entire frame was extended at the rear, and the cross members were completely different. A search of the history revealed that the frame had been purchased by the Mullin collection in 2008 from the widow of Fritz Schlumpf, who, a few years earlier, had been restituted part of the “Reserve” collection from the Schlumpf Museum in Mulhouse through the courts. 
We were together at the beginning of November at the Bugatti Owners Club and the Trust (Image on the right), where we met all the archivists, including those who are retired, such as Richard Day. In their archive, a further 62 drawings for the unknown Type 61 were found. We also met Greg Morgan, who is a great expert and knows all details on the Type 41 and who helped resurrect several Royales. 
Type 61 chassis drawing, lower right: Identification on the drawing: "Assemblage des Longerons", 61CH-8, 12-1-34.
Thanks to Greg Morgan, Tomas also managed to obtain the original drawing for the Type 61, which is identical to the frame purchased at auction. He confirmed that this frame is really for Type 61 and really original from production from Molsheim. Greg helped us with many informations – thanks again.
November 21, 2024 
November 20, 2024 
November 14, 2024 
In a growing legend punctuated by iconic moments, Bugatti has engraved its name into the annals of automotive history. In its pursuit for innovation and top performance, three icons of the Bugatti legend have broken world top-speed records: the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport World Record Edition; the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse World Record Edition; and Chiron Super Sport 300+. Now, another incomparable feat of engineering and driving skill has been accomplished – with the W16 Mistral World Record Car setting a new top-speed world record for an open-top car, at 453.91 km/h.
With the closed-cockpit world record broken once more in 2019 with the mesmerizing Chiron Super Sport 300+ achieving 490.48 km/h, in search of ever-more challenging innovation Bugatti's masterful, history-making engineering also extended to open-top vehicles. Three years after the momentous achievement of the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, this chapter in the automotive history books was opened with the Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse, reaching 408.84 km/h with the roof down, open to the elemental force of air.
And so that journey led to the project-zenith in Papenburg, on November 9th. From the esteemed guests in attendance, to CEO of Bugatti Rimac, Mate Rimac, the senior management team, the project crew and the intensely focused vehicle technicians – all immersed in overwhelming emotion as the run-briefing concluded, and the historic moment arrived.
For the first time in Bugatti's history, the customer of the vehicle was in attendance to witness a record-breaking event for the ages, he was offered the opportunity to immerse himself in an exclusive, exquisite experience throughout the weekend in honor of the momentous day. Reinforcing the purely unique and landmark nature of the occasion, the customer was bestowed with the incredible opportunity to join Andy on another high-speed run in the wake of the world record, almost reaching the same speed – and likely setting an unofficial record for the fastest-ever passenger ride.
Reflecting on the immense moment in the history of Bugatti and indeed the automotive world, Mate Rimac, CEO of Bugatti Rimac, said:
"Since the inception of Bugatti in 1909 (1910, ed.), the marque has sought to supersede the perceived realms of possibility in luxury, elegance, and performance. The Bugatti World Record Cars throughout the marque’s history have represented the epitome of speed and power, setting new boundaries and redefining again and again, what Bugatti vehicles are capable of. And now, with the unparalleled achievement of the W16 Mistral World Record Car etched into the history books, we see history not just repeating itself, but new history made. We are immensely proud of the whole team that made this incredible achievement possible – an achievement defined by passion and the pursuit of perfection. That is what defines Bugatti – and what makes its achievements truly incomparable."
November 14, 2024 
Today, around 100 to 150 of the extraordinarily beautiful Baby's remain, of which about 500 were built. The press release says that only a handful remains, while in fact it is closer to one third, ed.. These are relics of an era that celebrated both luxury and pioneering design. Now, through Pierre-Henri Raphanel's deep-rooted passion and lifelong dedication to Bugatti, this iconic configuration has been meticulously recreated. His company, 'Nations Racing Legends', has brought the Baby back to life as a limited series of artful masterpieces, crafted to be admired and cherished as heirlooms of automotive and artistic heritage.
This exclusive series, limited to just 99 hand-crafted pieces, embodies Bugatti's near-century of celebrating luxury and excellence in a 'baby' package. Each artwork has been created with an unwavering commitment to authenticity, employing original crafting techniques and the highest-quality materials that Ettore Bugatti himself had chosen. The result is a collection of timeless artworks, reflecting the marque's dedication to elegance, precision, and unyielding passion for perfection.
"Pierre-Henri has been a wonderful brand ambassador for almost two decades. His incredible knowledge of the Bugatti brand and his passion for our inimitable legacy and Ettore’s visionary spirit and philosophy – as well as his great love for detail and ambition to being faithful to the original car – brings so much authenticity and uniqueness to his oeuvre d'art. We are incredibly proud to complement our portfolio with these state-of-the-art sculptures designed for Bugatti enthusiasts and art collectors." Wiebke Stahl, Managing Director at Bugatti International
"The remarkable group of craftspeople and artists I have assembled, share a common vision to honor Bugatti's truly unique story – reviving the spirit of inimitability that the original Bugatti Baby represented, and embodying the ethos that has made each Bugatti model incomparable. The artworks we have created, with incredibly intricate crafting processes and precious materials, is entirely faithful to the original vision. Designed as sculptures, these timeless bespoke creations are a beautiful testament to the spirit of legacy that compelled Ettore to bestow the original Baby to his son, honoring the brand's legacy and customer-centric approach."
November 4, 2024
Recent communications with the Perridon organisation indicate however, that the final decision has not been made yet; the museum may also be in the Netherlands, in the area of Perridon's home town Rotterdam. Ed.
The turnaround is remarkable. In recent years, Perridon has been full of praise for Dubai, where his entrepreneurial vision was better understood than in the Netherlands, for example. In the Quote 500 interview, he says he still visits the desert city regularly, because he has real estate projects there and his daughter Lizzy lives there. But Perridon can now be found more often in the Netherlands and South Africa.
Why exactly Perridon is leaving Dubai remains a bit of a guess. In South Africa, he said that regulations in the United Arab Emirates do not allow him to hold positions at companies there and in the Netherlands at the same time. That is why his museum plans in Dubai fell through. Inquiries with the ENDB, which advises Dutch entrepreneurs on their move to the United Arab Emirates, show that such a rule does not exist at all.
October 27, 2024 
Australian artist Terry Lawrie has produced several automotive-related wire sculptures, and this example is
constructed to resemble a Bugatti Type 35. Wire framing comprises 3/8th zinc-coated tubes that have been sandblasted and powder-coated in French Blue. Vented side and hood panel segments are finished to match, while the horseshoe-shaped radiator features a faux radiator temperature sight gauge and CNC-punched mesh grille. Other features include a two-eared fuel filler cap, a leather hood strap, and outlines representing an aero screen and rear-view mirror. Number 8 race numbers adorn the grille and rear framework.
October 22, 2024 
October 14, 2024
October 14, 2024
October 10, 2024
H & H Auction, Imperial War museum Duxford, Cambrigeshire, UK, October 9, 2024
Bugatti news, former issues
Hellé Nice – the fastest woman in the world 
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 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.
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.
Featuring loans from two important private family collections never-before seen together, along with pieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, this bijoux exhibition of cars, sculpture, and furniture will illuminate the multigenerational ambition and creativity of the Bugatti family and their place in the history of art, design, and cultural modernity. Among the highlights are eight bronze sculptures from the Arsidi-Scuderi Collection of Lugano, Switzerland, and five rare Bugatti cars from the North Collection: two grand prix race cars, two Type 57 touring cars, and a miniature "Baby." 
The exhibition will explore the rich artistic and technological legacies of the peripatetic Bugatti family, beginning with patriarch Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940). His fin-de-siècle furniture designs, which debuted at international expositions in London, Paris, Milan, and Turin, are noteworthy for their fanciful combination of materials: ebonized wood inlaid with copper, brass, ivory, mother-of-pearl, and vellum, which he often decorated with leather tassels, geometric marquetry, and painted designs. Sons Ettore (1881-1947) and Rembrandt (1884-1916) inherited their father’s artistic passion but pursued different paths. Rembrandt had a tragically brief career as a sculptor, producing deeply empathetic and impressionistic portraits of animals. Ettore, meanwhile, became a celebrated automobile designer and manufacturer. Although he famously declared, “Perfection is never reached,” he pursued it throughout his career. The cars that he and his elder son, Jean (1909-1939), designed came to epitomize the speed and dynamism of modernity. But the cars were much more than machines. As automotive scholar and guest curator Ken Gross has observed, "Everything about Bugatti was artistic: the cars, their advertising, and the enduring joie de vivre associated with the marque."
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to immerse themselves in the Bugatti family story as they view the furniture, cars, sculptures, photographs, advertisements, and other ephemera. These pieces and the stories behind them will provide a deeper understanding of the family's creative passions, their pursuit of perfection, and their place within the history of cultural modernity. “Although Ettore Bugatti famously declared, ‘Perfection is never reached,’ he obsessively pursued it throughout his career,” said senior curator Lee Glazer. 
The exhibition supports the museum’s commitment to education, outreach, and inspiration for all. With no admission fee, Bugatti: Reaching for Perfection will be accessible not only to car enthusiasts and collectors, but to art and design lovers, and the broader community, including students and residents of the mid-Atlantic region and the Eastern Shore.
2) Rembrandt Bugatti, Leaping Kangaroo, 1907. Arsidi Scuderi Colleciton. Photo: Peter Harholdt.
3) Carlo Bugatti, Hall Bench, c. 1890s. Wood, parchment, copper, brass, paint, leather. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Gift of Lloyd and Barbara Macklowe. 89.141. Photo: Troy Wilkinson. © Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Part of this festival on the southern Hemisphere is a series of classic car activities, with Bugatti being the featured marque this year.
Offered from the Collection of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
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.
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].”
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.
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.
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.
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.
March 28 – April 7, 2025 International
Bugatti Meeting 2025
Kyushu, Japan
It has been decided that in the spring of 2025,
the International Bugatti Meeting will be held in Japan for
the first time in 10 years.
June 8 - 14, 2025 International
Bugatti Meeting 2025
Dinant, Belgium
The Belgian Bugatti club has the great pleasure to
organise the next IBM (International Bugatti Meeting),
which will be held in Dinant from June 8th to 14th, 2025.
Why participate ?
More info to follow...
Bugatti Club Deutschland cordially invites to "Crossing the Alpes 2.0", a logical consequence of the successful prologue "Crossing the Alpes" at the opening of the International Bugatti Meeting 2021 in Chiemgau and a special experience for ambitious Bugatti enthusiasts.
Bugatti events from the past
Please let me know if you know the dates of any Bugatti events in the future.
I can be reached by email at J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com.
