Christophe ANTONIETTI (XXth) - "Bugatti T59/50"
Christophe Antonietti is the son of Marc Antonietti, a famous car modeler who made superb miniature models in very few copies.
December 29, 2021 Oldtimer Galerie Toffen - The Swiss Auctioneers Gstaad, Switzerland
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January 28-30, 2021 The Motorcar Cavalcade Concours d’Elegance Miami, USA
Coming January 28-30, the inaugural Motorcar Cavalcade will be held at the illustrious JW Marriott Turnberry Resort & Spa. This Lifestyle Concours event will bring together our incredibly vibrant car community in celebration of the passions we share and the automobiles we covet. This unique Concours d’Elegance will host and judge specially curated and themed displays of exclusive, iconic, legendary and simply awe inspiring cars – ranging from the dawn of motoring to the most advanced hypercars in the world – all in an incredible Miami inspired garden party setting.
Interesting are the v ery different categories, in which the cars can be entered:
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February 2, 2022 RM Sothebys Auction Paris, France
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February 3, 2022 Bonhams Auction, Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais Paris, France
Over the last month / weeks continuously Bugatti's have been added to the cars to be auctioned by Bonhams in Paris. Adding them one-by-one made this announcement rather strange over time... The cars to be autioned are:
Below some more photographs of the classic Bugatti's in the list.
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More info In 2006 Chassis 57287 was completely destroyed by fire, see: bugattipage.com/2006news.htm, newsitem of October 31, 2006. Apparently this car was completely put back together again. I wonder how many new parts are in it.... Ettore's personal car. More info
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March 16 - 20, 2022 Retromobile Paris, France
After finally cancelling the 2021 edition, this one will be brilliant again, and of course with quite a few Bugattis, as usual!
The event was postponed, again, until March. Expectations are that the pandemic will then be "history", and hopefully life returns to normal.
August 7, 2021 We found a secret in the files of the German Trademark Office.
There is no such thing as an "ordinary" Bugatti, but some of the company's creations are more special than others... Bugatti recently registered the name "Jean Bugatti" with the DPMA in Germany on July 29, 2021. It may seem odd that an automobile manufacturer registers the name of its founder's son, but it is not if it will be attached to a future model of the marque. Source: GS, France |
July 17, 2021 What will be the future at Bugatti, will be the hybrid and electric automobiles, according to Rimac, and not even of the extraordinary kind. Bugatti will end up producing cars which will be more approachable, less powerful and at a higher production volume, he declared. This is an extraordinary decision for a brand which has made a name as an extreme elite, selling the fastest, the most expensive, and the most beautiful in the world. "For us, it is a matter of surviving as a company on the long term", declared Rimac during the visioconference. "We want to make the company financially independent, profitable and with a return on investment. We want to do so by putting the emphasis on efficiency." Rimac called the evolution natural, saying he would not "artificially separate" Bugatti and Rimac as individual brands within the new company if they merged beyond recognition over the next several years. "They might need to converge," he said. Over the past week we heard nothing about poor old Stephan Winkelmann, who of course already had moved to Lamborghini, so VW could keep him within the Volkswagen group. Mr. Winkelmann's departure from Bugatti has now been officially declared. Thus, we will see smaller Bugatti's, less expensive, and less exclusive. The current Chiron orders will be fulfilled, which will probably be the end of the large VR16 engine with 1600HP. I really doubt if Bugatti, out of the VW group, will be able to develop an all new smaller engine of it's own. A downsized 8-liter 16-cylinder to a 4-liter 8-cylinder may be the most logical choice. That will at least be far better than mating the hybrid system with an engine bought somewhere else.... Editor A question: Can an electric car reach 300 MPH before the battery's are dead?
Road and Track had the following plea in an article titled "Mate Rimac Has to Figure Out the Future of Bugatti":
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July 11, 2021 As expected, Volkswagen will not continue it's ownership of Bugatti SAS. It will be owned jointly by Rimac and Porsche, with Rimac owning the larger share, though Porsche actually owns about 25% of Rimac, thus in the end has the largest share of Bugatti. Bugatti will be part of the new joint venture Bugatti Rimac. Thus; what will change? As we know, Bugattis were only assembled in the Atelier in Molsheim, none of the parts were actually made there, most of those were made in VW-factories in Germany, or other suppliers, mostly in Germany also. Development was done in the VW headquarters in Wolfsburg, hence the German WOB-license plates of many of the prototype Bugattis. Of course; most production contracts will continue, probably the first to be moved is the development center. if this will go to Porsche, to Rimac in Croatia or somewhere else (Molsheim? They do not have the engineers in Molsheim I guess) remains to be seen. Engineering in Croatia focusses on electrically driven Vehicles, Mate Rimac states that even in this decennium there will be an all electric Bugatti. However, Bugatti will continue to produce automobiles powered by an internal combustion engine, which will be some sort of Hybrid though. That Rimac, though still a very little-known company, is seriously investing can be seen in the Rimac campus which is currently under construction at a price tag of 200 million euro. This will house both Rimac Technology and Bugatti Rimac — Croatia, and may just become a new automotive epicenter. There are also rumours that Bugatti will expand it's range of automobiles from just hypercars. Thus: let's see what happens, all predictions are difficult, especially when they concern the future... |
July 10, 2021 Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, July 9, 2021
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July 5, 2021 PORSCHE AND RIMAC AUTOMOBILI HAVE AGREED TO SET UP THE JOINT VENTURE BUGATTI RIMAC. Today, Porsche and Rimac Automobili have finalized the plans to establish a new joint venture including Bugatti, named Bugatti Rimac. The two companies‘ CEOs Oliver Blume and Mate Rimac signed the relevant contracts, establishing the share split in Bugatti Rimac with 55 percent being held by Rimac Automobili and 45 percent by Porsche (which holds 24% in Rimac). The formation of the joint company is due to take place in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to the approval of antitrust authorities in several countries. Bugatti will be brought into the joint company by current owner Volkswagen and the shares will then be transferred to Porsche. The new company Bugatti Rimac combines the genes of both strong brands. Together they form an attractive automotive company, for customers as well as for employees. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. will remain at its historic headquarters in Molsheim, France, where it was founded in 1909 Not the same company as it is now, though.. The real descendant of Bugatti is making aircraft undercarriages a km or so down the road, ED.. Bugatti has always stood at the pinnacle of the automotive industry, exceeding the dreams of its customers and enthusiasts around the globe. With its long tradition and experience, Bugatti is a strong contributor to Bugatti Rimac, bringing in all of its know-how in manufacture and craftsmanship, carbon fiber and other lightweight materials, small series production, as well as a unique and experienced network of worldwide dealership partners. Porsche and Rimac Automobili are the perfect partners to accompany Bugatti into the future. Porsche entered into a fruitful partnership with Rimac Automobili as early as 2018, subsequently increasing its shares in the young, agile and fast-paced Croatian automotive and technology company. Today, Porsche holds a 24 percent share in Rimac Automobili. Porsche itself is known as a leading sports car manufacturer from Stuttgart, Germany, having been the most profitable company within the Volkswagen Group. Rimac Automobili on the other hand has established itself as an industry pioneer in electric technologies, both as a technology supplier as well as an electric hypercar manufacturer with recent the launch of the new Rimac Nevera. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG: “We are combining Bugatti's strong expertise in the hyper sports car business with Rimac's tremendous innovative strength in the highly promising field of electric mobility. Bugatti is contributing a tradition-rich brand, iconic products, unique quality standards and craftsmanship, a loyal customer base and a global dealer network to the joint venture. In addition to technology, Rimac is contributing new development and organizational approaches.” Mate Rimac, founder and CEO of Rimac Automobili: “This is a truly exciting moment in the short, yet rapidly expanding history of Rimac Automobili and this new venture takes things to a completely new level. I have always loved cars and can see at Bugatti where passion for cars can take you to. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am by the potential of these two brands combining knowledge, technologies and values to create some truly special projects in the future.”
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June 24, 2021 After extensive reviews of the most elite automobiles in the world, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport was selected as Robb Report's “Best Hypercar for 2021.” Designed for agility, the Pur Sport has been widely celebrated for its ability to apply the brute power of the Chiron’s 16-cyclinder, 1500 horsepower engine to unlock a new dimension of dynamic cornering and tangible performance throughout its entire range of speed. We're only halfway 2021... Maybe one of the competitors will launch an even better hypercar before the end of the year?... Not probable.
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December 4, 2021 Bonhams Auction, The Bond Street Sale London, UK
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June 22, 2021
RM Sotheby's Milan auction, June 15, 2021
Bonhams' Bonmont Sale - Collector's Motor Car, June 20, 2021
Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction, June 21, 2021
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November 12 - 14, 2021 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show with discovery+ NEC Birmingham, UK
The NEC Classic Motor Show returns for the first time since 2019. Make sure to visit Hall 1 Stand Number 630: A celebration of vintage Bugattis with some surprises premiering at the show:
A century of the Bugatti Brescia Driving that winning car was Ernst Friderich (pictured) and this rare gathering of Brescias at the NEC will be a memorable sight.
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Bugatti on the cover of Omnia (click the image to see it completely), French magazine, february 1929.
This appears to be a T44, though I thought at first it might be the Royale Fiacre Coupé.
November 7, 2021 Artcurial Auction, SALON ÉPOQU'AUTO - AUTOMOBILES DE COLLECTION France
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The Bugatti T43 A we present to you came out of the Argentinean Pur-Sang factories in the early 2000s. It is therefore already about 20 years old. This Argentinean factory has been specialised for several decades in the recreation of legendary pre-war models. The model we present to you has the particularity of having a registration card with the serial number 43260, which corresponds to a Bugatti 43 model. One must take into consideration the work involved in recreating a pre-war car from scratch, most often using the same techniques as those used in the Molsheim The bodywork of this Roadster is an original Argentine thoroughbred design and not a copy of the factory bodywork. Bugatti "Matching Numbers" fans will have to admit it, it dresses the 43 chassis to perfection. Please note that the soft top will have to be replaced. The car was serviced by Bugatti specialist Frédéric Novo just before its purchase in 2017. It has participated in several events, including some of d the Club Bugatti France for a total of about 4000km driven without any problems thanks to a rigorous maintenance by its owner (new dynamo, gearbox revision,...)
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Until October 31 Mahy - A Family of Cars - exposition Gent, Belgium
Including a very original Bugatti Brescia.
September 2 - End of October, 2021 Bugatti Chiron Sport on display in Molsheim Molsheim, France
October 24, 2021 Artcurial Auction, Automobiles sur les Champs France
- Very realistic and correct replica of an iconic model |
October 31, 2021 Herbette Auction, Automobiles de collection et de Prestige France
This vehicle left the Bugatti factory at the end of 1930 with a sedan body (drawing number 950) and was delivered to Bucar, the Bugatti importer in Zürich, Switzerland.
It was registered ZH 25673 in the name of Hermann HARDMEIER (Chemist, living in Dübendorf) in the 1950s. The car was registered under the number 2234 QR 62 in 1994. Louis Quételart's young son, Louis-Richard, drove the bride without any mechanical problems. Two years later, the car had not yet found another opportunity to run and the father of the bride asked his friend, Louis Quételart, to sell the vehicle. It was moved to the garages of the trader Edgar Bensoussan (British Motors). It is there that a trader bought it in 1999 before selling it to Pierre Feidt, a Bugatti collector and enthusiast. The Type 49 was registered (49 ZC 67) in his name on September 23, 1999. This Bugatti Type 49 is beautifully presented inside and out, with a high-quality beige full grain leather, a blond walnut dashboard, a black alpaca hood, a body made of aluminium and ash wood, and a beautiful midnight blue color. The current owner asked BUGATELIER (Christian SCHANN) to perform checks on the car and make it more reliable. Several detailed invoices are provided (02/2019, 12/2020, 02/2021, 03/2021, 04/2021). This Bugatti Type 49 is ready to hit the road to take you on the most beautiful historic rallies. Included with the car are an expertise carried out by an accredited professional, as wells as French registration document of a collection car ("Carte grise"), updated. This Bugatti was auctioned by Osenat Auction in June 2018, and then sold for €276,000 |
Disintegrating Bugatti 57SC
By Fabian Oefner, 2016
September 27 to October 3 International Bugatti Meeting Germany 2021 Bavarian Alps, Germany
Before the IBM, there will be the Prologue „Crossing the Alpes“, from September 24 - 26
From the organisation:
"Dear Bugatti friends,
more than half of an incredibly eventful year is already behind us and yet we still have the feeling of stepping on the spot and not really making any progress. The world, our life as we knew it, has gone off the rails. The virus, which does not stop at any borders, means for each of us a hitherto unfelt insecurity and fear – the fear of what may happen to us personally, to our family, to our friends and their family.
Certainly none of us has ever experienced such a crisis, and we in the Bugatti community will only be able to overcome it all together and then go back into a positive future with renewed strength.
However, it is also a reality that nothing can be properly assessed, that it is difficult to make binding plans. And yet we would like to invite you to the “International Bugatti Meeting Germany 2021”. We can assure that we will continue to work hard and with dedication to ensure that the international community of Bugatti enthusiasts will be able to welcome you in Bavaria next year as planned."
September 3-5, 2021 Hampton Court Palace Concours of Elegance UK
Concours of Elegance returns to the spectacular grounds of Hampton Court Palace this week on 3-5 September 2021 for its 10th edition, promising an array of classic delights across its three days. Its early September date meant it was able to run in 2020, but expect a bigger affair this year with around 1000 cars taking part – as well as some new-for-2021 features. The above 1934 Bugatti Type 59 is one of just 12 chassis built and is surely one of the most sought-after pre-war racing cars, and this week it will feature in the main concours at Hampton Court Palace, according to Classic & Sportscar |
September 3/4, 2021 Worldwide Auctioneers Auburn auction Auburn, USA
![]() Chassis No. 57659, "57641", Engine No. "474"
3,257cc DOHC inline eight-cylinder engine, supercharger, Stromberg twin-choke updraft carburetor, 160 HP at 4500 RPM, four-speed manual gearbox, beam-front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, live rear axle with reversed quarter-elliptic leaf springs, front and rear De Ram shock absorbers, four-wheel hydraulic finned drum brakes; wheelbase: 117.3”
The engine number seems to have been added later (recently?) the type face is wrong; also the recessed numbers are clean, unlike the chassis numbers, which are dirty.. In the BugattiRegister the car is described more clearly; it consists of the chassis and drive train ( front axle, engine, gearbox and rear axle) of 57659, the Atalante body of 57325, and chassis plate and paperwork of 57641. All probably done by Henri Novo in the 1960's (before matching numbers became important) at request of his client Auguste Delicourt. Nice restoration by Smith Coachworks in Gainsville
Some additional info:
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September 10 - 12, 2021 Bugatti Festival Molsheim, France
For information and inscription: Michel WEBER, phone: 0033 (0) 609 478 455, e.mail: michel.weber33@sfr.fr
September 15 - 19, 2021 EB 110 30 Anni Tour Italy
More info: info@2fast4you.it
August 13/14, 2021 RM Sotheby's Monterey auction Monterey, USA
![]() Chassis No. 57156, Engine No. 48 Estimate: will be available later
The records of French Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier note that chassis number 57156 was assembled in June 1934 for Belgian customer, mill owner, and sportsman Frederic Deflandre, with engine number 48. This rolling chassis was bodied by Bugatti as their Galibier, a four-door sedan, on 29 June 1934, and delivered through Parisian agents Bucar the same day. In 1936 the car was rebuilt for Mr. Deflandre by the factory, with a new, updated second-series frame of the same number, 57156, still paired with an engine bearing number 48. This car remained with Mr. Deflandre until April 1938, at which point it is believed to have been traded to the Belgian coachbuilders d’Ieteren toward a new body for his new Bugatti. A local Belgian coachbuilder then produced a new two-passenger cabriolet body for 57156. The identity of the shop has never been conclusively established; Dutch Bugatti historian Kees Jansen attributes the work to Paul Nee, although no documentary proof has been found. It may well have been d’Ieteren themselves, and indeed, the work bears some resemblance to a drophead body d’Ieteren constructed on chassis 57589. It is important to note that at this time the car was also upgraded to the latest and best specifications, including the installation of hydraulic brakes. The car remained in Antwerp for many years, then was acquired by the famous Bugatti dealer Jean de Dobbeleer, still on a 1930–40 Belgian registration 154486. Mr. de Dobbeleer claimed that the car had been traded in by a priest, Abbé Dubois de Sévry, to whom it had been donated by a Mr. Cadans. Inspection of the car’s numbers by Mr. Laugier indicates that the rear axle and gearbox are both original and authentic replacements from other Type 57s, likely dating to de Dobbeleer’s ownership. The Bugatti was subsequently exported to the United States in 1955 by Gene Cesari for Porsche dealer Jack Fritsche, passing next to Al Wall and, in 1958, to Joseph Fine of Silver Spring, Maryland. Mr. Fine began restoring the Bugatti but in the 1960s was distracted from the work, and the dismantled car was stored on his property until his death in 2003. It was then sold by his widow; its next owner elected to have it fully restored by Alan Taylor Company of Escondido, California. As part of its total restoration, the car was reimagined with new fenders, door skins, hood, and trim, beautifully hewn in aluminum by Mr. Taylor’s employee Edouard de Vaucorbeil; these subtly reworked elements were inspired by the most alluring of in-period Continental design, artfully incorporating elements that instantly recall the likes of Gangloff. The finish of the leather, woodwork, and paint is all spectacular and a tribute to its restorers’ craftsmanship. Exquisite details, such as the addition of a wine basket and beautifully crafted fitted luggage (which stow vertically behind the seats), as well as a Type 57C-style dashboard—to say nothing of the intricately turned firewall and engine beneath the hood—are found wherever one looks. In its present form the cabriolet has been proudly exhibited at several concours d’elegance, including several times at Amelia Island; the annual La Jolla Concours, where it was judged Best of Show Pre-war in 2013; and Keels and Wheels, where it received the People’s Choice award in 2014. Further, it has been a First Prize winner (number 3176) in Classic Car Club of America National judging. With its stunning restyled coachwork, which has been maintained in excellent, restored condition, this well-documented Type 57 embodies the engineering excellence and high style for which vintage Bugattis are rightly known.
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August 14/15, 2021 Gooding & Co Pebble Beach auctions Pebble Beach, USA
Chassis
4938,
Engine
192T Considered by many to be among the finest racing cars of its period, and no doubt one of the most enduring automotive designs of all time, the Type 35 Grand Prix is the definitive Bugatti. Initially unveiled at the 1924 Grand Prix of Lyon, the Type 35 came equipped with an overhead-cam eight-cylinder engine and produced an impressive 95 hp. Its extremely lightweight chassis was emblematic of Bugatti’s revolutionary engineering, including a hollow front axle and cast aluminum wheels with integrated brake drums, beneath a lightweight, two-place aluminum body. With 340 built, the Type 35 dominated racing in the late 1920s and early 1930s, resulting in a total of over 1,000 wins.
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In preparation for this extremely remarkable sale, Bugatti historian Mark Morris was commissioned to produce a comprehensive report on 4938, included in the car’s file together with an earlier report by David Sewell. The report verifies that this example retains its original chassis frame, engine, supercharger, gearbox, rear axle, front axle, data tag, and much of its Molsheim Grand Prix bodywork. Unlike many Bugatti competition cars from the prewar era, chassis 4938 remains in fundamentally original order, surviving for over 90 years –– making it truly one of the most desirable automobiles of all time.
1928 Bugatti Baby, "chassis" 358 A |
Bugatti T43, watercolour and ink
By Alan Crisp, 1961
June 12, 2021
Below: That what Bugatti themselves state about their newest "baby": The Bugatti Chiron Super Sport – The Quintessence of Luxury and Speed Molsheim, 8-6-2021 WITH THE CHIRON SUPER SPORT, BUGATTI PRESENTS A NEW HYPER SPORTS CAR THAT BOASTS A TRULY UNIQUE COMBINATION OF COMFORT AND TOP SPEED. With a low-slung front, special aerodynamic shape at the sides and an extended rear for peak performance, it is clear at first sight that the new Bugatti Chiron Super Sport has been designed without compromise for optimal aerodynamic performance. Bugatti engineers developed the new hyper sports car for top speed while fully embracing both luxury and comfort.
Design – made for speed At speeds over 420 km/h, a vehicle must offer sufficient downforce alongside minimal drag. “Our aim was to give the vehicle a neutral setup at its top speed while also giving it as streamlined a shape as possible.” explains Frank Heyl, Deputy Design Director at Bugatti. The uplift forces exerted on the bodywork at 440 km/h are immense. The body of the Chiron Super Sport generates massive downforce to counter this uplift and perfectly balance the forces. “The design process was therefore in particular about achieving aerodynamic efficiency,” Heyl continues. The Chiron Super Sport’s extended rear, which is known as a long tail, gives it new proportions and very distinctive aesthetics. An optional, new, horizontal color split visually extends the proportions of the Chiron Super Sport even further, making the hyper sports car appear even lower.
Even from afar, the Chiron Super Sport is unmistakable due to its repositioned tailpipe configuration. To boost the effect of the diffuser and give it more space, Bugatti has shifted the otherwise central exhaust system to the side, with the pipes aligned vertically. The exhaust system also sounds deeper and richer. “If we can generate downforce with the diffuser, there is no need for us to generate it with the drag inducing wings. This means we can retract the wing as far as possible in Top Speed mode for a drive with minimal drag,” explains Frank Heyl.
The nine exhaust air holes on each fender are more than just a nod to the Bugatti EB 110 Super Sport – they also serve to release the air pressure from the front wheel wells, thereby generating streamlined downforce at the front axle. Additional outlets behind the front wheel arches likewise help to balance out the aerodynamic loads.
The interior is a combination of timeless elegance and comfort beyond compare. It is a blend of natural elements like leather and polished aluminum, together with high-tech carbon fiber applications. This is an interior perfectly suited to high-speed continental trips. With a strong focus on technical maxims during development, the demands made of the new hyper sports car are exacting. Even at top speeds of up to 440 km/h, it must be effortless and safe to control.
Greater performance and higher revs per minute
In order to achieve seamless acceleration at full throttle, boost pressure must remain close to maximum while the hyper sports car rapidly builds momentum and reaches its optimal speed. When changing gear, the pressure dips only very briefly for a mere 0.3 seconds, to then return to full boost pressure of 2.8 bar to fill the Chiron Super Sport’s W16 engine. “In spite of the immense power and the enormous longitudinal acceleration, the Chiron Super Sport offers a comfortable, quiet, and balanced drive,” explains Michael Kodra. Even above 6,000 rpm, acceleration doesn’t diminish, giving the Chiron Super Sport a mighty thrust up to 7,100 rpm. “The attributes of this engine are a perfect fit for the fastest Chiron.” says Michael Kodra.
New chassis setup for top speed
Newly developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires which have been optimized for top speed offer greater rigidity and smoothness than grip-optimized tires fitted to the Chiron Pur Sport. What’s more, these are the only tires that can consistently drive at up to 500 km/h. This is made possible by reinforced belts that can cope with immense forces – verified on the test bench originally built for the Space Shuttle. Every tire is x-rayed following production in order to rule out even the most minuscule of irregularities. “We tweaked all possible parameters when developing the chassis in order to achieve the best possible setup for immense acceleration as well as the unique Bugatti luxury and comfort experience,” explains Jachin Schwalbe. “In comparison to the Chiron Pur Sport, which, as a free-revving vehicle with transverse dynamics offers a great deal of downforce up to 350 km/h, the Chiron Super Sport remains very neutral and quiet even above this in the uppermost speed ranges. This vastly increases the feeling of safety,” he explains. The result: extremely precise handling that the driver can predict together with confident steering and a quiet bodywork.
The three forefathers of the Super Sport Bugatti didn’t construct the next version of the Super Sport until 1993 to 1995. 39 of the EB 110 Super Sport were produced. The EB 110 was once again all about lightweight construction, performance, luxury, and exclusivity, and became the best super sports car of its age. It was the first super sports car with a carbon fiber bodywork, all-wheel drive, and four turbochargers. The V12 turbocharged engine delivered more than 610 PS and set multiple records in the EB 110 Super Sport, including a record speed of 351 km/h. Two decades later, Bugatti brought the Super Sport back to life again. The Veyron 16.4 Super Sport boasting 1,200 PS broke the speed record in 2010 with a speed of 431.2 km/h, thereby securing a spot in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s fastest road-legal series sports car – a record which it held for many years. This is the only Veyron model to feature NACA ducts rather than the typical large air intakes and the only model on which the engine is largely covered. Bugatti developed the horizontal color split specifically for the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport. History then repeated itself in summer 2019 when Bugatti exceeded the threshold of 300 mph with the Chiron Super Sport 300+, with the record-breaking vehicle hitting an incredible speed of 304.773 mph (490.484 km/h). This served as the basis for a few-off model of just 30 units featuring a similar design and color elements. Bugatti will soon begin with the manufacture of the Chiron Super Sport in Molsheim, France. Delivery of the hyper sports cars with a price tag of 3.2 million euros (net) is scheduled to start early 2022.
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June 2, 2021 Read this interesting article from Classic & Sportscar, by Mick Walsh
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May 21, 2021 Bonhams Bond street Sale auction, London, May 19, 2021
![]() Bonhams Amelia Island auction, May 20, 2021
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May 18, 2021 Bugatti's Type 57 SC Atlantic (the 4th one) is the automotive world's Holy Grail: disappeared without a trace, often searched for, never found. Until now. At least, that's what the many fans of the French supercar brand hope. The reason is a remarkable action by Bugatti on Instagram: a burst of 15 black and white photographs with teasing messages about a search of 374 days and a big reveal on May 31, 2021. Flashback to the Geneva Motor Show, 2019. Bugatti presents La Voiture Noire, a pitch-black concept car of which only one copy - a one-off - will be made. Completely by hand. And with a corresponding price tag: at least 11 million euros plus taxes. "La Voiture Noire," said Bugatti CEO Stephan Winkelmann, is "more than a modern reinterpretation of Jean Bugatti's Type 57 SC Atlantic, this is a true hymn to its beauty."
Mythical coupé
But where the fourth example has gone - if it still exists - is a mystery. And it just so happens to be the one that belonged to Jean Bugatti. The only one with jet black bodywork, nicknamed La Voiture Noire. Bugatti junior had taken over the management of the factory from his father in 1936, but was killed in a car crash three years later, barely 30 years old.
Gone up in smoke
Unfortunately, Ettore can no longer tell, the man died in 1947. Or was the train intercepted by the Nazis and the car seized? The American Monuments Man Foundation, which tracks down art objects stolen by Nazis, does not rule out the possibility that the car is still somewhere in Germany. If the car still exists, it would be worth 100 million dollars (more than 82 million euros).
Or is it just a marketing stunt to unveil the final version of the successor, as automotive journalists think? And who knows also the identity of the buyer: in addition to the name of a Saudi prince, that of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is especially talked about. “Appointment on May 31, 2021”, it says at the fifteenth and last photo. So please be patient.
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April 30, 2021 Bring a Trailer online auction, April 30, 2021, USA
1927 Bugatti Type 38A Grand Sport
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April 23, 2021 Bonhams auction: 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco', April 23, 2021, France
1934 Bugatti T57 Ventoux
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April 17, 2021 Stanislas Machoïr auction, April 17, 2021, France
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April 9/10, 2021 Following the various questions and debates about the Mido EB watch that will be on sale by Stanislas Machoïr on April 17, 2021, it is possible for us to give the following facts concerning this piece:
Caroline BUGATTI - Cyril GAUTIER Thanks to Mrs Daniel LAPP and Jaap HORST www.bugattipage.com for their collaboration. ---- End of statement ----- Thus, it can be concluded that the casing of this watch belonged to Ettore Bugatti himself; as for the mechanism; in 1986 the number of the mechanism was not recorded. Thus, it can not be proven that the mechanism is the same as in the watch of Ettore Bugatti. Mido Bugatti watches that have been on offered, including this one:
However, looking at all the watches sold over the last decades, there must have been at least one more series, as 220128 and 220142 also exist. Assuming that these are from the same series, this series consisted of at least 15 watches. Of the 90 watches produced, fewer than 20 examples are believed to have survived to the present day (10 of which are listed above). These watches were commissioned by Ettore Bugatti from Mido and given as gifts to his racing drivers and later to principal members of his factory staff. Movement of these watches: Mido 15 jewels, (3) adjustments, Swiss made, manual wind, stem wind, stem set. By the way, the radiator watch was not Ettore Bugatti's idea, as the Mido advert on the right shows!
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April 8, 2021 Very interesting video made by John Staveley This is a short biography of William Grover, a works Bugatti driver, illustrated with period photographs from a number of sources including The Bugatti Trust and private collections. The photographs were chosen for their historical content rather than quality. Throughout his career he was supported by the lovely Yvonne who later presented “The Williams Trophy” to the Bugatti Owners’ Club. Don't forget to switch to full screen! |
March 30, 2021
Small detail: It's 1:4 scale ... The fastest, most powerful and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history at the time of its launch, the Chiron was revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. Master-minded by Achim Anscheidt, every element of the Chiron was designed to be a combination of reminiscence to its history, taking its name from Bugatti racing legend Louis Chiron, and the most innovative technology. The result was a unique creation of enduring value, and breath-taking automotive accomplishment. Its sophisticated design, innovative technology, and iconic, performance-oriented form made it a unique masterpiece of art, shape and technique, pushing boundaries beyond imagination. The Chiron was an attempt to create something very different from contemporary engine manufacturers, such as Ferrari and McLaren with their leanings towards hybrid technology.
The first engine model Amalgam has made since the early 2000s, this very highly detailed and meticulously finished example of the Chiron’s immense W16 engine echoes the same large 1:4 scale model previously made of the Ferrari 049 engine that powered the F1-2000. Measuring in at 44cm (18in) long and 22cm (9in) high, each individual material in the engine has been carefully and artfully reproduced at scale using special finishes as befits the Bugatti Chiron design. The accurate replication of the actual engine has relied heavily on Amalgam’s close relationship with the Bugatti design team. With some 1,040 individual parts, this 1:4 replica shows every visible detail of the engine right down to the numerous parts labels and barcodes. The Bugatti Chiron Engine and Gearbox is limited to only 99 pieces. |
March 27, 2021 The "Berline de Voyage" has made the voyage to its new home, back in Europe
The Blackhawk Collection has sold its Bugatti Royale, the famed “The Berline de Voyage” that was hidden from the Nazis during World War II, to a European collector, and at a price that a person involved in the sale says is the most ever paid for a pre-war automobile. The transaction was reported on Facebook by former collector car auctioneer Rick Cole after the car arrived in Europe from its previous home in the museum collection in northern California. Don Williams of the Blackhawk said Cole “was a teammate” in the sale.
While the price paid for the car has not been shared, Cole indicated it certainly was more than the previous highest amount paid for any pre-war automobile, which was the $22 million spent in 2018 for the 1935 Duesenberg SSJ roadster formerly owned by actor Clark Gable at the Gooding & Company auction at Pebble Beach. Ettore Bugatti planned a run of 25 of his largest vehicles and dubbed them the Royales with the intention of selling them to kings and princes. But the Great Depression limited sales and only seven cars were constructed, and Bugatti sold only three of them. One was destroyed in a crash. A new chassis was built to replace this, but received the old chassis number 41100. Thus: 7 chassis built, of which one re-build
The Berline de Voyage was among the cars that did not sell initially and was kept by Bugatti and, with 41100, the “Coupe Napoleon,” was kept at the Bugatti home in Ermenonville, France. After the war, both cars were purchased from Bugatti’s daughter, L’Ebe, by American sportsman and racer Briggs Cunningham. Cunningham spent several thousand dollars to have the cars restored in France and finally brought them to the US in early 1951. A year later, he sold 41150 to early car collector Cameron Peck, and the car later became part of the famed Bill Harrah Collection in Reno, Nevada. When the Harrah Collection went to auction in 1986, the Royale was purchased by Texas real-estate developer Jerry Moore for a then-record price of $6.5 million. Moore, whose car collection included more than two dozen Duesenbergs, kept the car for more than a year, then sold it for more than $8 million to Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan. Don Williams and business partner Ritchie Clyne, who together owned the car collection showcased at the Imperial Palace hotel in Las Vegas, bought the car from Monaghan in the early 1990s. Williams noted that people might consider themselves to be the owners of cherished collector cars, but they really are just temporary caretakers. “There’s a time in our lives when we get to take care and have fun with the cars we like,” he told the ClassicCars.com Journal of the sale of the famed Bugatti. “We’re all just caretakers.” But, he added, “The legacy of the cars is the good friends we make along the way.” Source: Larry Edsall, journal.classiccars.com, Top photo: Rick Cole
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March 18, 2021 Volkswagen in talks with Rimac over Bugatti joint venture Volkswagen Group boss Herbert Diess has confirmed plans to spin off Bugatti into a joint venture between Porsche and EV specialist Rimac – but has denied reports it could sell the brand outright.
As we reported earlier, Volkswagen would consider selling a controlling interest in the French hypercar maker to Rimac as part of a financial deal that involved Porsche increasing its investment in the Croatian firm. Porsche recently increased its stake in Rimac from 15.5 percent to 24 percent in a deal worth £60.4 million. During the Volkswagen Group's annual media conference, Diess said that responsibility for Bugatti is currently being transferred to Porsche, which would then discuss a possible joint venture with Rimac. "Transferring Bugatti to Rimac isn't true," said Diess. "Porsche is currently preparing a partnership that's going to be under discussion with Rimac, and Porsche will be taking care of that.” "The whole thing isn't yet finalised. What we want to do is transition responsibility of Bugatti to Porsche, and Porsche in all probability will establish a joint venture with Rimac, with a minority share of Porsche." It's not clear whether any potential Bugatti joint venture would involve Porsche and Rimac taking an equal share. Diess added that the decision to move responsibility for Bugatti within the Volkswagen Group to Porsche is because "we believe that Bugatti will get an environment that's stronger than being here in Wolfsburg in the volume segment." He elaborated,: "We have more synergies between Bugatti and Porsche over there, such as carbonfibre bodies and high-performance batteries." Diess' comments come just weeks after Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said Bugatti and Rimac were a good fit. Blume also said that various scenarios were being discussed for Bugatti and that he believed a solution would be reached within the first half of 2021. Sadly, any tie-up between Bugatti and Rimac will likely mean the 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W-16 Bugatti currently uses to power its cars will be phased out at the end of the Chiron's product cycle, currently estimated to be around 2024. Although VW Group has not yet committed to a fixed date for the end of the internal-combustion engine, the automaker aims to be the global leader for electric vehicles by 2025 at the latest. With Bugatti being a halo for the company, it makes sense the hypercar brand will also be electric by this date.
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March 6, 2021 Bring a Trailer online auction, March 4, 2021, USA
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February 19, 2021 Bonhams' Legends of the Road auction London, UK, February 19, 2021
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February 12, 2021 Artcurial “Parisienne 2021” Auction, February 5, 2021
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February 27, 2021 Five automotive masterpieces from Molsheim were the five most valuable vehicles sold at auction internationally in 2020. Despite the pandemic, historic Bugattis broke records at the auction houses Bonhams and Gooding & Company: never before have the five most expensive cars sold at auction been produced by one single manufacturer. Bugatti automobiles have always been exclusive. But as their age increases, so does their value – as shown by an analysis carried out by Classic Analytics, a company specialising in international market analysis and valuation of classic cars worldwide. “Bugattis from the Ettore and Jean Bugatti era, especially in their original condition and with a history of racing, have always been among the most expensive classic cars on the market. This trend has held steady and in fact even increased despite the general decline in interest in pre-war vehicles,” says Frank Wilke, Managing Director of Classic Analytics. Classic Analytics belongs to the Hagerty Group, the largest classic car service provider in the USA. The top ten ranking is based on an internal auction database in which all international classic car auctions over the course of a year are observed and evaluated. “This year certainly presented challenges, but it opened the door for Gooding & Company to create new opportunities to maintain our connection with our automotive community and enthusiasts around the world,” says David Gooding, Gooding & Company President and Founder. We held our first-ever UK sale which set many new records that include selling the most expensive Bugatti at public auction and selling the top two most valuable lots of 2020; the 1934 Bugatti Type 59 Sports and the 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante.” “We were honoured and extremely proud to have been entrusted with these exceptional and historic Molsheim masterpieces,” said James Knight, Chairman of Bonhams Group. “Both represented superb Type 55's – one a special coachbuilt convertible by Figoni, the other the iconic artistry of the Jean Bugatti Super Sport roadster. As one would expect, both cars attracted multiple bidders. Not surprisingly, the Bugattis won the accolade as the most valuable motorcars sold at their respective auctions. and both also achieved the highest results at auction during Paris Rétromobile 2020 and the 2020 Amelia Car Week respectively.”
And, what were the next? |
January 27, 2021
![]() With the presentation of the Bugatti Bolide last autumn, the French luxury brand Bugatti unveiled its most extreme car to date. Now the Bolide has been officially voted the most beautiful and aesthetic hyper sports car in the world. The Bugatti Bolide won the "Hypercars" category at the prestigious Festival Automobile International in Paris. An expert jury voted the experimental vehicle from Molsheim the most beautiful hyper sports car of 2020 by a substantial margin from a total of four finalists. In its 36th year, the Festival Automobile International gave awards to cars from a range of categories according to their beauty, aesthetics, form and design. The expert judging panel was made up of 14 judges, chaired by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Anne Asensio, Vice President of Design Experience at Dassault Systèmes.
The jury selected a winner in each of a total of 15 categories. “We are extraordinarily proud that the Festival Automobile International judges were as enthusiastic about the design of the Bugatti Bolide as Bugatti fans all around the world. The experiment to demonstrate the brute force of our W16 engine in a lightweight and high-performance car has resulted in a driving experience akin to riding on a cannonball. My thanks goes to the entire Bugatti team, who have once again demonstrated with this incredible car the full extent of their creativity and technological expertise,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “Our focus has always been on innovation and aesthetics from the very beginning. Receiving this award is an affirmation of our work.” With the presentation of the Bolide in October 2020, Bugatti introduced the most extreme, uncompromising, fastest and lightest vehicle concept in the company’s recent history. The French luxury car manufacturer designed an ultra-lightweight shell around the iconic 8.0-litre W16 engine with up to 1,850 PS. Weighing just 1,240 kilograms, the Bolide achieves a phenomenal weight-to-power ratio of just 0.67 kilograms per PS. The top speed has been calculated at well over 500 km/h – without sacrificing maximum handling and agility. “The Bugatti Bolide has been both the greatest joy and the greatest challenge of my 17-year career in Bugatti Design,” says Achim Anscheidt, Design Director at Bugatti. “Combining the extreme aerodynamic and thermodynamic requirements into a complete and integral expression of Bugatti's unique DNA is the clearest demonstration of our motto ‘Form follows performance’. The fact that this sequential iteration between technical development and design has been recognised by the jury on a stylistic level is a source of enormous pride for the Bugatti design team, and we are extremely grateful for that.” Also read the article in the Volume 26, Issue 1 of the Bugatti Revue on the design of the Bugatti Bolide. |
January 25, 2021
RM | Sotheby's Auction, Arizona, USA, January 22, 2021
January 22, 2021
Gooding & Company Scottsdale Auction, January 22, 2021
January 2, 2021
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This one is chassis 57512, and there are some differences of course: This car is fitted with a supercharger, thus it is a T57SC; experts differ in opinion about if the car was fitted with one at the factory in 1939, or at some later date. Thus: Take your pick of a low-slung Bugatti Corsica Roadster! Or, this is you chance to acquire both, and put them in the same stable! More about this car and the auction in the Events section |
Bugatti Royale Roadster "Esders"
By François Vanaret
July 9, 2021 Bonhams' Goodwood Festival of Speed auction Chichester, Goodwood, UK
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The Bugatti Type 40 offered for sale here is very well known to the Bugatti Owners' Club having taken part in numerous events with the current long-term enthusiast owners, both at home and overseas. It is a highly original and correct example and is supplied with a full historical report from Bugatti authorities David Sewell and Mark Morris. Sporting and yet practical, the Type 40 is eligible for numerous historic events including perhaps the most internationally renowned of them all: the Mille Miglia.
![]() ![]() ![]() Introduced in 1926, the Type 40 Bugatti succeeded the Brescia types, being built on a longer wheelbase and equipped with a more powerful engine. Virtually identical to that used in the Type 37 Grand Prix car, the latter was a four-cylinder unit displacing 1,496cc, which incorporated an all-plain-bearing bottom end with five mains. A single overhead camshaft operated three valves per cylinder (two inlets, one exhaust) and the Type 40's 45bhp or thereabouts maximum power output was transmitted to the rear wheels via a separate four-speed gearbox. An estimated 787 Type 40s had been made when production ceased in May 1931, with a further 32 Type 40As completed with the 1,627cc engine by the end of that year. It is estimated that fewer than 200 survive today.
It appears that '40557' was supplied in rolling chassis form and clothed with a two-seater Torpedo-style sports body with disappearing hood: the same coachwork it carries today. It is not entirely clear whether the body is by Charles Duval of Paris or possibly Maleyre of Bordeaux. Duval worked closely with the neighbouring Amilcar factory, and there are elements of the coachwork on '40557' that reflect Duval's styling, and hence the car carries Duval coachbuilder's plates. However, there are also design elements that point toward Malayre, particularly some of the latter's coachwork produced for BNC. Both firms are roughly equidistant from Clemont-Ferrand, so one cannot assume that one would have been more convenient than the other. The speculation regarding which carrossier bodied the car is included in an appendix to the historical report and makes for interesting reading. Regardless of which coachbuilder can claim the work, what is clear is that the coachwork fitted to '40557' is the original.
A listing of the known owners is contained within the report and can be supplied upon request. The car spent all of its life in France and from 1932 onwards remained in and around Paris. During 1986, work was carried out on the car by the French Bugatti specialist Jean Novo, and a photograph on file shows '40557' in his workshop. The Type 40 was purchased by the current British owners some 20 years ago from the outskirts of Paris. Since then '40557' has enjoyed regular maintenance, mostly carried out by Bugatti specialists Gentry Restorations of Worminghall, Buckinghamshire. The engine was completely rebuilt to original specification between 2003 and 2005 with a refresh of the top end carried out in 2015. The gearbox bearings have been replaced and further general maintenance carried out where necessary, including king-pins, bushes, etc. The current owners have greatly enjoyed owning '40557', competing with it on numerous national and international rallies. These have included the International Bugatti Meetings in Europe; the Great Australian Bugatti Rally in 2014; a Bugatti rally in New Zealand; and the 2016 La Festa Mille Miglia in Japan. Much loved by its owners and the Bugatti Owners' Club, this highly original and well-travelled Type 40 tourer is offered for sale only to make way for another Bugatti project. As well as the aforementioned historical report, the comprehensive history file also contains FIVA papers that require renewal with any change of ownership. '40557' is a fine and correct example of Bugatti's Type 40 and ready to be enjoyed by the next custodians on the many international historic events for which it is eligible, including the Mille Miglia.
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By the early 1930s Ettore Bugatti had established an unrivalled reputation for building cars with outstanding performance on road or track. Indeed, the world's greatest racing drivers enjoyed countless successes aboard the Molsheim factory's products and often chose them for their everyday transport. Although Bugatti is best remembered for its racing models, most of the 6,000-or-so cars produced at the Molsheim factory were touring cars of sporting character. Ultimate expression of Ettore Bugatti's original design, the Type 49 debuted at the Paris Salon in 1930 and was produced from then until 1934. The Type 49 would be the last of the maestro's eight-cylinder, single-camshaft touring cars and is considered by many to be the finest of all 'real' Bugattis. The new 3.3-litre model featured twin-plug ignition, an enlarged radiator, ball-change gearlever and (later) very pretty cast aluminium wheels among many other improvements. Total Type 49 production amounted to 470 cars, of which it is believed that around 76 exist today.
![]() ![]() ![]() A civilised Grande Routière to match those of rivals Delage and Delahaye, the Type 49 attracted coachwork of the finest quality executed in a wide variety of styles by both the Molsheim factory and by other coachbuilders throughout Europe. The four-seat open tourer body carried by this example is in the style of Van Vooren's Weymann-type coachwork as fitted to the 1931 Le Mans cars. A vintage car enthusiast for over 65 years, Paul Roberts purchased this Type 49 in 1979 from H H Posner. Paul and his wife Sylvia are very well known in international Bugatti circles, and this car is a former stable mate of the Roberts' Type 23 Brescia, which was sold by Bonhams at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2014 for an above-estimate £438,300.
The engine was rebuilt by S Longland-Hart in Suffolk and the body by Keith Hill. The engine incorporates new blocks from Eric Koux; a reground crankshaft; new white metal bearings; Stellited valve seats; and new pistons, valves, and valve springs. In addition, the oil and water pumps were rebuilt and the original inlet manifold exchanged for a superior Miro item. Fitted to accommodate the needs of a disabled driver, the four-speed gearbox is of the Cotal electromagnetic type, which allows gear changing, even under full throttle, without any interruption in the drive. (The Type 49 gearbox number '24' has been retained with the car and is for sale as Lot 208A) Marque specialist Ivan Dutton supplied a stronger crown wheel and pinion, while the new half-shafts came from Tom Dark. The final drive ratio is 3.63:1, giving 24.15mph per 1,000 revs (ie: 5,000rpm = 128mph on Blockley tyres).
Ownership of 'PSJ 609' was transferred to Paul's wife Sylvia in 2000, since when she has driven the car on Bugatti rallies in Holland, Sicily, and Portugal; made frequent visits to Prescott garden parties; and attended VSCC events at Silverstone and elsewhere. In 2019 'PSJ 609' took part in and successfully completed the Bugatti Centenary Rally in Ireland. Presented in good running order throughout, this well sorted Type 49 is only sold on account of the vendor's advancing years.
More info on the Bonhams website
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June 14 - 20, 2021 International Bugatti Meeting Germany 2021 Bavarian Alps, Germany
UPDATE:
International Bugatti-Meeting Germany 2021 - date changed to: September 27 to October 3
Prologue “Crossing the Alpes” - date changed to September 24 - 26
Before the IBM, there will be the Prologue „Crossing the Alpes“, from June 11 to 13
From the organisation:
"Dear Bugatti friends,
more than half of an incredibly eventful year is already behind us and yet we still have the feeling of stepping on the spot and not really making any progress. The world, our life as we knew it, has gone off the rails. The virus, which does not stop at any borders, means for each of us a hitherto unfelt insecurity and fear – the fear of what may happen to us personally, to our family, to our friends and their family.
Certainly none of us has ever experienced such a crisis, and we in the Bugatti community will only be able to overcome it all together and then go back into a positive future with renewed strength.
However, it is also a reality that nothing can be properly assessed, that it is difficult to make binding plans. And yet we would like to invite you to the “International Bugatti Meeting Germany 2021”. We can assure that we will continue to work hard and with dedication to ensure that the international community of Bugatti enthusiasts will be able to welcome you in Bavaria next year as planned."
June 15, 2021 RM Sotheby's Milan auction Milano, Italy
![]() Chassis No. 46491, Engine No. 345 Estimate: €500,000 - €700,000
Customers received the best of both worlds: a superior conveyance that provided supple motoring at grand touring car level, with the exceptional road manners for which the Molsheim marque had become justly famous. Small wonder then that Bugatti achieved well over 400 sales despite the car’s introduction coinciding with the Great Depression. Some called the Type 46 “La Petite Royale” in reference to the titanic Bugatti Type 41; the moniker aptly captured the essence of this expansive chassis and the grand bodies with which it was fitted. This was reflected in an enthusiastic review in the British magazine The Motor when a Type 46 was road tested in 1930: "A really solidly built, beautifully sprung, comfortable saloon car with exceptionally rapid acceleration through its speed range; that is the 32.5hp or 5-litre Bugatti. It combines the luxury of a large limousine, the flexibility and top gear performance of a thoroughbred town carriage with the perfect road holding, the speed and acceleration of the best type of sports model.” High praise indeed.
A TRIBUTE TO THE STUNNING SUPERPROFILÉ It is commonly accepted that after World War II, a number of unfinished chassis existed in various states of assembly in and around the Bugatti works. The ownership of four of these is believed to have been assigned to Roland Bugatti, son of Ettore. As documented in the bulletin of the American Bugatti Club (Pur Sang, Vol. 21, No. 3. Fall 1980), two of these chassis were discovered by Richard Baudens, a close friend of Roland Bugatti, in Roland’s garage sometime in 1952: chassis 46482 and 46491. Neither had ever been bodied or run, and both came with an unused and crated Type 46 engine.
With this aged but original chassis—still displaying unmarked paint and body mounting pads—serving as the starting point, a 10-year restoration commenced; first in the shop of the famous Bugatti author Barrie Price, and later transferred to the premises of the distinguished Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations, operated by Keith Bowley. The inspiration for chassis 46491’s coachwork was well-chosen: A Gangloff-bodied Type 50 coupé of astounding proportions. The star of the Bugatti stand at the 1932 Paris Salon, its resplendent black and blue colour scheme and flowing lines were accentuated by a contrasting sweep panel inspired by the Le Baron phaeton designs first seen on the Duesenberg Model J in 1929. Subsequently called the “Superprofilée,” this stunning design featured a steeply raked windshield, an elegant fastback rear and flowing front fenders that swept back in an unbroken line to include the running board, before connecting with an elegant upsweep to the skirted rear fender. For once, breathtaking was no exaggeration. The Type 46 and Type 50 chassis share their wheelbase and other basic dimensions; in fact, the period Superprofilée body found in the Cité de l'Automobile, Collection Schlumpf in France is itself presently mounted on a Type 46 chassis. Small wonder then, that this spectacular design statement was chosen to be replicated on chassis 46491. The result is a car of sublime symmetry and startling modernity, especially considering that its lines are nearly 90 years old! Presented in wonderfully maintained condition, chassis 46491 presents a unique opportunity to acquire an irresistible homage to this striking design—an exquisitely crafted motorcar of which Jean Bugatti himself would no doubt approve. This car, chassis 46491, was offered on auction by Bonhams' in their Scottsdale auction, on January 17, 2019. The estimate then was: € 660,000 - 880,000, and the car was not sold |
June 20, 2021 Bonhams' Bonmont Sale - Collector's Motor Cars Cheserex, Switzerland
By the early 1930s Ettore Bugatti had established an unrivalled reputation for building cars with outstanding performance on road or track. Indeed, the world's greatest racing drivers enjoyed countless successes aboard the Molsheim factory's products and often chose them for their everyday transport. Although Bugatti is best remembered for its racing models, most of the 6,000-or-so cars produced at the Molsheim factory were touring cars of sporting character.
![]() ![]() Produced in February 1933, Bugatti Type 49, chassis number '49562' is one of the last to be manufactured and was not delivered until 4th August '33, invoiced to Daste. The current owner bought the car as part of the bankrupt Friderich Garage's stock in 1962. A qualified mechanical engineer, Ernest Friderich had worked alongside Ettore Bugatti during the latter's spells with Mathis and Deutz before establishing an agency for his friend's new marque in Nice, France in 1909. The vendor was able to purchase all the available parts plus five cars.
Offered with a Type 44/49 parts catalogue and a Swiss Carte Grise, this handsome Type 49 is described by the private vendor as in good restored condition, with excellent engine, transmission and body. (It should be noted that the chassis plate stamped '49445' was attached erroneously.)
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By the early 1930s Ettore Bugatti had established an unrivalled reputation for building cars with outstanding performance on road or track; the world's greatest racing drivers enjoying countless successes aboard the Molsheim factory's products and often choosing them for their everyday transport. Although Bugatti is best remembered for its racing models, most of the 6,000-or-so cars produced at the Molsheim factory were touring cars of sporting character. Produced from 1934 to 1940, the Type 57 exemplified Bugatti's policy of building fast and exciting touring cars possessing excellent handling and brakes.
Nothing further is known of the car's history until it surfaced in the ownership of Monte Carlo resident Mr Michael Glass, who took the Bugatti with him when he moved to the USA. Mr Glass sold '57815' to Bob Seiffert of Boulder, Colorado, who in turn sold it on to Bill Hinds. Its next owner was Bill Jacobs of Joliet, Illinois. Having stood outside in the cold Chicago winters for many years, the original Galibier body became unusable. Owner of a sizeable collection, Bill Jacobs wanted to built a Gangloff Aravis body for the car (like those on '57749' and '57678') but never got around to doing it. After a negotiation that went on for three years, the vendor eventually bought the Bugatti, unseen, over the telephone and eight weeks later the car arrived in Rotterdam, packed in 17 crates with a detailed inventory of the hundreds of parts. The vendor is the seventh owner.
In addition to having a new body constructed, the chassis, engine and transmission were totally overhauled by Klopper Engineering in Holland and the interior re-trimmed in leather. Some two years later the restoration was duly completed (at a cost of some CHF600,000). Simon Klopper did an excellent job and on completion the car ran instantly; it remains in excellent condition today.
The vendor advises us that the difference in driving between the Type 57 and the 57C is enormous. No doubt the supercharger plays an important role, the Type 57C's blown engine producing 180 horsepower compared with the Type 57's 130. Also, most 57s have heavier steel four-seater bodies, further increasing the performance gap. Another improvement is the blown car's unique hydraulic brakes. Boasting a matching chassis, engine, gearbox and rear axle, '57815' has featured in numerous publications, including the Swiss, Netherlands and American Bugatti Registers. The car comes with an extensive history file containing numerous photographs; email correspondence between the vendor and its restorers; a Swiss Carte Grise; and an inspection report from the Swiss authorities identifying no problems. Because of its rarity, the supercharged Type 57C is one of the most sought-after of all Bugattis, not the least because of its superior performance, courtesy of that race-developed blown engine. Unquestionably one of the most elegant cars of its era, this rare and desirable 'Aravis' is all the more remarkable for having had only seven custodians, the last two owning it for a combined total of 40 years. It is eligible for numerous prestigious events, including those of Bugatti clubs on both sides of the Atlantic, and thus represents a wonderful opportunity for aficionados of the marque to acquire a unique car with a fascinating history.
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June 21, 2021 Osenat Automobiles de Collection auction Fontainebleau, France
The car presented for sale is in the Type 35A configuration derived from the 1924 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix.
The engraved chassis plate 4627 is new.
According to the owner, the mirror and the windscreen are two original parts. The chassis is new and of English origin.
It is true to the model, equipped with the front brake cable exit hole, behind the spring articulation, as on the pre-1928 Bugatti eight cylinder Grand Prix frames. It is fitted with new ventilated drums.
The letter A is not in the Bugatti factory style of engraving, and on this rear flap of the engine lower casing should be engraved the chassis number 4627, which is not the case. It is fed by two bronze Solex carburettors. The car is fitted with a hand pump on the left-hand side rail to top up the oil level and a tank under the passenger seat, as on the Type 35 and later racing models. The steering box is marked with the owner's initial "Y" as is the front axle, which is a new part, as per the model. The gearbox is new and of English origin. Its cover receives a starter. A cardan shaft transmission connects it to the axle. The rear axle is new and not numbered. It is fixed by three bolts to the strut. The strut may be old, as it is very worn and has an unreadable two-digit number on its upper side, which may be related to the number of the axle it was paired with. The trumpets and brake flanges could be old according to the owner. The dashboard has the manual fuel tank pressurisation pump on the left, an original Jaeger "8 day" watch, and oil and fuel pressure gauges. To the right of the beautifully crafted steering wheel is an optional 5,000 rpm tachometer on a black background. The vehicle under examination conforms to the Type 35A model, of which 139 were produced between May 1925 and September 1927. It was built around 1990 using mostly new parts purchased from reputable British and Argentinean suppliers. The model is in very good condition, it is supplied with a normal production registration and does not require any modification for immediate use. Pierre-Yves Laugier
Production of the 2-litre Type 38 lasted from April 1926 to the end of 1928. 337 examples were assembled and almost all of them were delivered as chassis to coachbuilders. A final series of 49 compressor engines produced a few Grand Sport Torpedos with Bugatti bodies on Type 38A chassis. Of the total of 386 cars built of this model, only about 40 vehicles have been preserved. The Grand Sport body ¾ placed on the type 38 chassis presented for sale is not anachronistic, even if this chassis was to carry a body made by a Parisian workshop.
The selling price in the shop for chassis 38325 and the seven other chassis is 43,050 ff each, invoiced on 9 December 1926 and paid in February 1927. The history of the car is not known to us before the war as the vehicle seems to circulate in the Seine department for which no records have survived. It is possible that this type 38 arrived in the Rhône before the war as it was re-registered before 1955 under number 3481 AJ 69 in the new system at the beginning of the fifties.
The mechanics were entrusted to the workshop of an Aurillac engine manufacturer.
Once back on the road, the car was registered on 4 June 1974 under the number 254 FS 15 in the name of René Ville in Aurillac.
The latter will have it fitted with a Torpedo Grand Sport Bugatti style body. An examination of the vehicle in April 2021 confirms the originality and identity of the car. The plate "chassis N° 38325 11 HP Alsace" is original.
The engine is of recent manufacture, as well as the chassis number engraved on the left rear lug of its lower casing. It is equipped with two bronze Solex 30 carburettors. The original engine was number 186. The old steering box, bears the assembly number 8. According to the owner, the crankshaft is the original one, mounted on three bearings. The aluminium apron that supports the dashboard is original as is the engine side of the firewall which bears the trace of at least twenty unused holes. It is more rounded than the current shape of the body that covers it. The exhaust is from C.Y. Weymann. The dashboard may be the one the car was equipped with when it was running on the Saône, but several counters seem to have been added since the R.Ville period.
The actual aluminium body has never been painted. It has only one door on the passenger side like the Grand Sport torpedo with Bugatti bodywork on type 38A, type 40 and type 43 chassis from which it was inspired. The old stone guard is made by "R Le Tellier à Levallois". The shock absorbers are Repusseau. The originality of the vehicle presented is indisputable and the identity of its rolling chassis equipped with its axles is indeed that corresponding to the number 38325. Very few Type 38s have survived, less than 40 out of nearly 400 cars built. The car offered for sale has a rebuilt engine and a Grand Sport body, the most classic design for a Bugatti that is both a road car and a sports car. It would benefit from being enhanced by cosmetic work. Pierre-Yves Laugier
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June 23 - 27, 2021 A Bugatti Brescia Celebration at The London Classic Car Show London, UK
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“It was the Brescia and its deified four-car sweep at the finish of the 1921 Brescia Grand Prix that really put Bugatti on the motoring map,” confirmed Mark Woolley, Show Director. “That was the game-changing result that really cemented Ettore’s reputation for building incredible cars with outstanding performance on road or track… and thus a major centenary in automotive history that we are delighted to be toasting at The London Classic Car Show.” To ensure this remarkable centenary is honoured in style, the special display in Syon Park is being organised in conjunction with both the Bugatti Owners’ Club and The Bugatti Trust – both are understandably enthusiastic to be supporting the celebration.
Nick Upton, Chairman of the Bugatti Owners’ Club, is delighted to be given this prestigious opportunity of exhibiting a parade of Bugatti Brescias from within the Club Members’ ownership. Hugh Conway, chairman of The Bugatti Trust Museum and Study Centre, enthused: “The Bugatti Trust, the centre of research into the history of Bugatti, is delighted to join into the celebration of the centenary of the Bugatti 4-cylinder Type 13’s race victory at Brescia in 1921 in which it took the first four places. It and its longer wheelbase derivative thereafter have been known as ‘The Brescia’ and was one of Ettore Bugatti’s most successful models, 2000 being made in the years to 1926.”
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May 19, 2021 Bonhams Bond street Sale auction London,UK
![]() Chassis No. BC43, Engine No. 137T Estimate: € 350,000 - 580,000
By the early 1930s Ettore Bugatti had established an unrivalled reputation for building cars with outstanding performance on road or track; the world's greatest racing drivers enjoying countless successes aboard the Molsheim factory's products and often choosing them for their everyday transport. The principal building block of this success
The Type 35's debut gave little indication of what was to come, as the factory team of five cars was plagued by tyre
This Type 35B was assembled as a car in the 1970s by a UK collector using many correct components and a reproduction chassis frame from Alan Wragg. Subsequently the car was purchased by Martin Johnson of Cumbria, who sold it to the
Since 1991 the Bugatti has been used extensively by the enthusiast owner and is a very well known example. A highly successful car, it has won many trophies at Bugatti Owners Club hill climbs at Prescott, the best times achieved being The Bugatti has always been maintained regardless of cost, the most recent expense being a replacement clutch in November 2020. The car is correctly registered with the DVLA and comes with a V5C document and MoT certificates for the period 1990-2011 (now exempt). Also on file is a letter dated 1992 from, David Sewell, then Registrar of the Bugatti Owners Club, confirming the authenticity of front and rear axles and the gearbox. A stunning car to use on the road, it is currently fitted with its Zenith (petrol) carburettor, while the methanol carburettor is included in the sale. The Scintilla magneto has recently been rebuilt and performs brilliantly. A rare opportunity to acquire a very well sorted and prepared Type 35B.
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May 20, 2021 Bonhams Amelia Island auction Fernandina Beach Golf Club, Amelia Island, USA
Estimate: Refer to Bonhams'
According to a report by Bugatti expert Pierre-Yves Laugier, 57127 was ordered new through Paris Bugatti distributor Dominique Lamberjack and delivered as a bare chassis on the fourth of July, 1934 with an invoice of 50,400 Francs billed to the purchaser. The savvy individual ordering this bare chassis for custom coachwork was none other than Hella Hartwich, a wealthy German movie star and ski champion who had recently starred in the 1932 film Slalom opposite Walter Riml. Dating the up-and-coming and soon to be multiple Oscar award winner Billy Wilder, the two had recently moved to Paris following Hitler's rise to power in Germany in 1933.
Hartwich registered her new Bugatti in late July 1934 to her 16th arrondissement apartment with the registration number 1544 RJ2. Pictures of her with her new car show it in a dark, single shade with black painted wire wheels and a chromed radiator shell. A jaunty, slightly vee shaped front bumper set the car apart, as did the long tail with a large trunk It is believed that Hartwich retained the car in Paris throughout WWII, although the war years had no doubt taken their tolls as a photo of the car from 1952 or '53 show the cabriolet in complete, but somewhat worn condition having had its louvered hood sides replaced with vented ones from a Type 57S, its unique bumper switch with a standard straight one, its big Marchal headlights exchanged for more modern units, with the whole car painted a lighter color and a rather sizeable dent in the left front fender. In the care of Garage Aubert owner Pierre Proust of Montrouge at this time, it was next registered to Mr. Di Vincenzo Salvatore of Paris—a mere 5.5 kilometers from where the car had originally lived—with the plate number 3913 DN 75. Retaining the car only briefly, on May 15, 1956 the Bugatti entered the collection of Jean Rouch. Much like the car's first owner, Rouch was deeply involved in cinema. Considered the father of cinéma verité in France, Rouch had already made a career for himself filming ethnographic films in Africa—mainly in what is now Nigeria—when he began transitioning to filming 'ethnofiction' films in the Niger Valley in the early '50s. While he spent much of his time between France and Africa, he would retain the car nearly half a century.
Still in its late 1960s restoration when it was acquired by the Clem and Mary Lange Collection in 2011, it was sent to Sparingly used since the restoration, the Bugatti still presents beautifully. Retaining its original engine, cambox, and transmission, the rear axle is a slightly later unit—no doubt switched out in period as the early axles were plagued by their fragility. A well restored, one-off Bugatti cabriolet from a famed coachbuilder is not something that comes up every day. With largely known history from new with just a handful of owners in the last 65 years, this Bugatti is primed to be coveted by its next, lucky keeper.
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Private Omnibus by Million & Guiet
According to its provenance, it was formerly in the collection of Baron Casier, who was well known as one of the more prolific collectors of carriages, housed at the Chateau Nokere in Belgium. Part of this collection was acquired in the 1980s by John Kluge, the legendary billionaire and once richest man in America.
The Omnibus is listed in the reference work Horseman Bugatti by Andres Furger as reference "EB22", and illustrated in a paint scheme perhaps more readily known to Bugatti collectors of a black over yellow, and with an 'EB' in the oval panel below the driver's seat. Interestingly, Ettore Bugatti's association with Million Guiet extended to his ownership Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost bodied by this house for most of his later years.
The Casier collection of carriages was something of legend in this community, and Bugatti's fondness for both horses and carriages runs deeply through the aesthetic of all his automobiles. It is easy to imagine friends being collected from the railroad and delivered to the Chateau St. Jean in Molsheim in this regal conveyance.
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April 29, 2021 Bring a Trailer online auction Virginia, USA
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Chassis number 38470, Engine number 209 This 1927 Bugatti Type 38A Grand Sport is a four-place touring car that wears chassis number 38470 and is said to have been ordered new by London dealer Colonel Sorel before going on to L.G. Bachelier and several other British owners in the 1930s. The car was reportedly shortened into a two-seater and its original inline-eight replaced with a non-supercharged version while in England, and it is thought to have been exported to the US in the early 1960s. Following time spent in several US collections, it was returned to its previous long-wheelbase, four-passenger configuration with a supercharger in the early 1990s before reportedly winning a class trophy at the 1993 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The seller acquired the car in 2016 and states that he has since spent approximately $60k on a reproduction supercharger as well as additional sorting for the purpose of attending Bugatti driving events, including the 1k-mile 2018 International Bugatti Rally USA. This Type 38A is offered in Virginia with recent service records and a clean Montana title in the name of the seller’s LLC.
This example was reportedly shortened into a custom two-seater prior to being imported to the US, where it was returned to its previous configuration during a 1991-1993 restoration. The car features Marchal headlamps, a beige folding soft top, and a louvered hood with a centerline piano hinge. A dent was repaired in the lone door in 2018.
Beige leather upholstery covers the folding front seats, rear bench, and cockpit walls. The driver’s seat was moved back and made adjustable under current ownership. A wood-rimmed four-spoke steering wheel is mounted on a custom spacer fabricated in 2021.
A varnished wood dashboard houses a clock with roman numerals, an ammeter, a Bugatti oil pressure gauge, The 2.0-liter inline-eight used in the Type 38A combined a Type 35-style crankcase with the supercharger from the Type 37A. This example is a replacement engine which was previously fitted with a factory non-functional supercharger. The blower assembly was replaced with reproduction Roots-type Brineton supercharger and a modified wastegate in 2018. Engine bay details include a machine-turned firewall. fabric-covered spark plug leads, and a polished radiator expansion tank. An electric fan was added and the carburetor disassembled for cleaning in 2016. Further carburetor work was carried out and the spark plugs replaced in 2018. Helical drive gears for the supercharger were installed in January 2021.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Several exhaust holes were repaired in 2018. The solid front axle features semi-elliptical springs and Andre Hartford shock absorbers, while the rear rests on reversed quarter elliptical springs. A selection of service records from 2016 onward can be viewed, including those showing approximately $20k spent on the reproduction supercharger and its subsequent modifications. The car took part in the 1k-mile 2018 International Bugatti Rally USA, additional photos from which are provided below. Events attended under previous ownership are said to have included:
![]() Note that the same car sold in June 2016 for $440,000, and failed to sell in 2020 at RM Sotheby's - Amelia Island Auction of March 6 - 7, 2020 at an Estimate of $350,000 - $400,000.
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"Bugatti 35B at Caramulo Hillclimb" (2015) is an original work by João Saldanha based on the author´s own creative concept (made from several pictures of this car and the actual road) resulting in a original new work.
Ever since it was built in 1930 this Bugatti has always had Portuguese ownership and was raced in most of the motorsport events in the 1930´s with great success. Since 1956 it belongs to the Caramulo Museum in Portugal.
João Saldanha was born in Lisbon in 1974, he has an academic degree in Product Design from the Lisbon Fine Arts School (1998). Since an early age drawing cars has been his true passion, specialy regarding the 50´s and 60´s motorsports legends and now João works as a classic and sports car illustrator for Portuguese and international private collectors.
April 17, 2021 Stanislas Machoïr auction Château de Lasserre, 31380 Montastruc-La-Conseillère, France
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Bugatti T49 Cabriolet, Chassis 49481, 1930 The Type 49 was produced in 470 units until 1934, under various body models: closed similar to the Type 44, 4-seater convertible or roadster. Most of the Type 49 cars are bodied by GANGLOFF, the Bern coachbuilder, who bought Widerkehr in Colmar. The type 49 is renowned as one of Ettore Bugatti's best achievements, it was a great commercial success after its presentation at the Paris Motor Show in October 1930. It has the advantage of having two sides of use, quiet in town or sporty on the road. The presented car was acquired more than 20 years ago by our collector from Tarn, a remarkable amateur. This car, with its elegant bodywork produced by Gangloff, is in remarkable condition. All the elements testify to sobriety and refinement, color, interior. An icon of radiant France from the 1930s. Estimate on request. Mido for Bugatti, Ettore Bugatti's personal watch Ettore Bugatti's personal watch / yellow gold grille on yellow gold bracelet n ° 261492, circa 1930 Original watch ordered by the owner of the eponymous automobile brand Etorre Bugatti and which was produced by the jeweler Pierre Blanc in Paris. He gave these extremely rare watches to his best pilots and mechanics of the time as well as to his son Jean. All the watches were on leather straps, there is only the one from "Ettore" which has a yellow gold strap.
750 thousandth yellow gold case in the shape of a horseshoe grille typical of Bugatti automobiles.
750 thousandths yellow gold bracelet with adjustable jewel clasp. Movement: Mechanical manual winding caliber. Dim. 22.5 x 34 (with crown) mm. Condition: Good condition (Case reported) (Gross weight: 27.20 g) By the way, the same watch was sold in 2008 for €10,058, but then it was not yet Ettore's personal watch.... Statement by Caroline Bugatti and Cyril Gautier on this watch - 9-4-2021
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April 23, 2021 Bonhams auction: 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco' Monte Carlo
![]() CHASSIS NO. 57119, ENGINE NO. 34 Estimate: € 350,000 - 450,000
"The car sped along at 80mph with the comfort and quietness one associates with the Type 57... We were quite willing to believe that Jean Bugatti has achieved the 435 kilometres to Paris in just under 3½ hours in the Type 57 - an average of 77mph..." - Motor Sport, May 1939.
This original Series 1 Type 57 closed coupé is the first Ventoux ever made and the only T57 equipped with a factory-fitted sunroof. '57119' has a continuous provenance and comes with a fully documented inspection and provenance report compiled by Kees Jansen. A highly respected Bugatti expert, Kees Jansen is the author of several Bugatti Registers: the Dutch/Belgian Registers (four volumes) and the fourth volume of the American Bugatti Register. Included with the car is a FIVA identity card and Belgian registration papers.
As stated above, this Type 57 was sold directly from Bugatti to Jerome Wagner, the sale being dated 2nd June 1934 in the factory record books. Wagner had already registered the car in Strasbourg as '7372-NV2' on 14th May 1934. He drove the Type 57 for five years until 1939 when it was sold on 11th July to Dr Pierre Muller in Strasbourg, so keeping its license plate. In 1949 the Bugatti was sold to Garage Waeffler, also in Strasbourg. It was then sold to Henri Meurdra in 1950, an enthusiastic Bugattiste and trader in Bugattis. Henri Meurdra's family used the car for a wedding in 1950 or '51.
In 1984 the Bugatti was sold to France and registered as '6967 TL 67'. The Type 57 ended up with Bernard Merian, a successful French entrepreneur who also owned the Bugatti Atalante '57432'. He embarked on another restoration and enlisted the help of the first owner's son, Roland Wagner, president of La Fondation Bugatti, in order to have it restored to its original specification and colour. In 1993 Merian sold the Type 57 to Patrick Friedli, a staunch Bugattiste, who registered it as '967 ZM 67'. When Friedli moved to Beaune in the Côte d'Or in 2008 he registered the car as '1738 XV 21'. Patrick Friedli used the car on many occasions, one of the most important being to drive François Rinaldi to the church for his wedding with Caroline Bugatti in 1998. Patrick owned the Type 57 for almost 20 years before selling it to Bugatti specialist Bruno Vendiesse, who sold it to the present owner. Bruno Vendiesse has known '57119' for many years and Bonhams would like to thank him for his assistance in preparing this description.
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Artwork by Philippe Charbonneaux, also a famous designer of automobiles and more
Le Mans 1931 - 17h27 passage of the three Bugatti 4900 at the Mulsanne bend
I had a reproduction of this artwork on the wall of my room for years, so it is very familiar to me. I had bought it at the Bugatti Exhibition in "Museum für Kunst u. Gewerbe" Hamburg, Germany in 1983: Die Bugattis: Automobile, Möbel, Bronzen, Plakate.
March 4, 2021 Bring a Trailer online auction USA Bugatti Type 55 Gangloff replica project
This Bugatti Type 55 re-creation was assembled over the course of several years beginning around the late 1980s as a replica of a Gangloff-bodied two-door roadster that had been destroyed during World War II in Switzerland. The car originated as a “bitsa” in the hands of Michigan Bugatti restorer Ray Jones, combining various reproduction and Bugatti components assembled on a replica frame. The project was carried forward for several years by a Bugatti collector in Pennsylvania, who installed the current sheet metal in favor of previous German bodywork, and was acquired by the seller approximately eight years ago in an unfinished state with a reproduction powertrain consisting of a supercharged 2.3-liter DOHC straight-eight and a four-speed manual gearbox. Bugatti components are
The Type 55 was built between 1931 and 1935 as a road-going version of the Type 51 race car, and only 38 original examples were produced. Most wore factory Jean Bugatti-designed roadster or coupe coachwork, while 11 were provided as chassis to select coachbuilders. The styling of this replica is inspired by that of a two-door roadster with bodywork by Swiss/French coachbuilder Gangloff that was sold to Liechtenstein. That car, chassis 55209, is said to have been destroyed in Switzerland during the war.
According to a 2016 report by Kees Jansen for the Bugatti Registry, this replica was first recorded as an unfinished assemblage of original and new parts in the 1988 edition of the register as 55219B. It was referred to as such due to the belief that it contained parts from the original 55219, the dismantled remains of which were co-owned by Ray Jones and an associate. It is noted in the 2018 American Bugatti Register that the frame of 55219 now exists in another car and was not used in this replica, which appears in its current register entry instead as 55209R. This car’s reproduction steel frame is said to have been constructed by Ron Clark circa 1990 and is painted blue, with chipping of the finish exhibited on exposed surfaces.
The unfinished cabin does not have seats or door panels, though door handles and latches are in place. Controls A wooden dashboard houses a Jaeger 210-km/h speedometer and a 7,200-rpm tachometer as well as gauges indicating coolant temperature, oil pressure, amperage, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 95k kilometers, though the replica has not been driven.
The engine is a reproduction version of the 2.3-liter straight-eight that powered the original Type 55 and was
The four-speed manual gearbox is a unnumbered reproduction, though it retains what is said to be a factory cover The chassis plate is described in the Bugatti Register as a Molsheim piece from car number 49513, a Type 49 saloon that was destroyed after a crash in 1952. A patent plate mounted on the firewall is a noted as a modern reproduction with a typographical error in Allemagne, and is covered in a peeling plastic sheet.
Thanks to Lance Baumberger!
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Ettore Bugatti's third race, April 30, 1899, on the 100 km circuit Turin-Pinerolo-Avigliano-Turin.
He wins the race (Tricycle category) with an average of 54.214 km/h, on a Prinetti-Stucchi tricycle.
The drawing was made by the count Carlo Biscaretti di Ruffia, representing Bugatti overtaking the winner in the "automobiles" category, Gras on Peugeot, who would finish at an average of 45.220 km/h.
Illustration in the article: "Bugatti, Le "Magicien" de Molsheim", in the French "Selection du reader's digest", June 1969. (Probably appeared in other languages as well)
February 5, 2021 Artcurial “Parisienne 2021” Auction Paris, France
1932 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster par Vanvooren Estimate 4,000,000 - 6,000,000 €
The first Parisian Bugatti Type 55
Vladimir had graduated from the military school in Belgrade. He married a wealthy American, Anne Heyward Cutting, from New York, whose family had made their fortune in the railroad business. Through his love for her, he converted to Protestantism. Following the premature death of his wife in November 1921, he remarried a French woman from the North, and they moved between her apartment at 170 boulevard Haussmann and his château " La Dûne aux Loups " in la Somme, and le Touquet Paris - Plage. Vladimir conscientiously frittered away the family fortune, aided by his mistresses, Bugatti (37A, 57C) and Hispano (32CV 10403 and a Type Sport 12056). Constantinovitch bought his cars new, as evidenced in the Hispano and Bugatti sales registers. It is logical to assume that he bought chassis 55204 new and had the car transported to Courbevoie by his friend Lamberjack. The subsequent owner recalls that our 55 was originally grey with burgundy stripes. At the time it was sold to him, Lamberjack spoke of " The Admiral " as the previous owner of the car.
- The first Lyon-Charbonnières Rally (From 21 to 23 March 1947) For this new race, the dentist asked a certain Monsieur Molla, a metal worker employed at his Continental Garage, to modify the body of his Bugatti Type 55, and make aluminium panels to fit onto the wooden structure of the Vanvooren cabriolet. The central section of the metal body remained unchanged. The doors were cut down and sports wings replaced the original longer wings. The race took place in three stages in a loop :
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- The Xe International des Alpes Rally (from 11 to 15 July 1947)
The Mulhouse car is chassis 55202, complete with its original engine and body, coupé Jean Bugatti. Just two numbers 55204 were re-engraved over the original 55202 on the engine, and the chassis plate for 55204 was screwed onto the firewall, an operation carried out to make the car conform to the registration document 55204 that Pierre Proust had put in his name on 3 July 1958 with the number 5838 HD 75. And so, both cars found themselves in Pierre Proust's garage on 41 rue Racine, a cavern dedicated to Bugatti, where Henri Novo, a defector from the Teillac garage, was in charge. We know of a photo of the coupé 55202 with the number plate 5392 CL 75. This corresponds to the registration document :" Bugatti Type 55 CI 2 places châssis 55202 ". A little later, this number and the corresponding paperwork was passed to 55204. The registration document was put in the name of Pierre Proust on 11 February 1954. Pierre Daligand remembered seeing his car " under a pile of scrap metal " in this garage during this period.
V. Maurice Liandier (1896 - 1990), Fontenay/s Bois : registration 9 April 1955 Born to a father of independent means and a mother who taught art, the young Maurice had always lived in a privileged environment. He had a string of Bugattis, from the 1920s through to his return from the Second World War, from which he returned with the Médaille Militaire and the Légion d'Honneur. He enrolled to study Fine Art but took on a career managing the fur factories for the company " C et E Chapal Frères et Cie, Teinturerie de Pelleterie et Fourrures ". His father had sold land in Montreuil, in rue Kleber, where " Chapal " had built one of its many factories. Maurice lived in Sen, at 20 boulevard du 14 juillet, near one of the five French factories and was responsible for the company's machinery. Jean Bardinon, a former pilot, had married a Chapal daughter. He was the godfather of José, Maurice Liandier's son, and the father of the great collector Pierre Bardinon. Liandier was a long-standing Bugattiste, having owned a 1924 Type 35 Grand Prix de Lyon and a Type 30 Indianapolis, before the war. Liandier kept his Type 55 for nearly ten years. It was serviced by Novo at Teillac in 1954-1955, as noted in the latter's records. Liandier took his Bugatti to his property " L' Escapado " that he bought in Chateauneuf-de-Grasse in 1962. The car was parked there next to a Type 57 with a Simca 5 coupé body.
La Bugatti 55204, tired but complete, made its way from Grasse back to Paris in the spring of 1965. Pierre Bardinon subsequently asked Henri Novo to take out the twin-cam engine to put in an original, unidentified, Grand Prix car, that the mechanic was assembling for him in 1965. Since this period, the ex-55204 engine has been in the ex-Bardinon, ex-Frédéric Chandon de Briailles " Type 51 ", that is part of a French collection today. Chassis 55204, without its engine and belonging to Pierre Bardinon, remained with Novo waiting to be resurrected. This would happen 40 years later.
Cabriolet versions of the Bugatti Type 55 are now very rare: one bodied by Figoni, one by Gangloff, another by Billeter et Cartier and two Vanvooren cabriolets are the only other examples in collections. Charles Robert spent a lot of time driving his Bugatti and other Ferrari. With a view to taking part with his wife in various rallies, he asked Laurent Rondoni to build a powerful and reliable engine for 55204. The renowned mechanic, who ran the " Ventoux Moteurs " workshop in Carpentras, built a highly competitive engine that produced close to 200 bhp. This new engine was duly installed and run in by Laurent Rondoni who was also responsible for restoring the entire car, from the chassis up. There is no better guarantee ! Charles Robert saw the finished engine but sadly passed away before witnessing the car scale Mont Ventoux at full speed on its first trial run.
VIII. In search of the origine He decided to restore this car to its exact original configuration, including the colours : the 1932 2-seater Vanvooren Roadster. He noted that the bonnet, the bulkhead, the wooden frame of the body and a large part of the bodywork (including the lower part of the doors to seat level) were original. This made it possible to re-create the rear body exactly as it had been when it left the Vanvooren workshop in period. Extensive research and study of photos of the car in its 1932 configuration resulted in the faithful reconstruction of the body from the bulk of its original frame.
Pierre-Yves Laugier It is exceptional to find a Type 55 with absolutely all of its original mechanical elements (100% matching numbers) and the majority of its original bodywork. Adding to this, the car has an impressive performance, capable of nearly 180 km/h. Photos by Rémi Dargegen |
February 19, 2021 Bonhams' Legends of the Road auction London, UK
Click here for more info on the Bonhams' site
That Bugatti is nicknamed “Dulcie,” because of its registration number, which reads “DUL 351.” “Dulcie” has been with the same owner for 51 years, the late esteemed Bugattiste Bill Turnbull, but his estate has agreed to part with it.
This 57S, chassis no. 57503, is in highly original and excellent condition. Turbull was not its first owner but he was the one to try and repair and restore it, as the video at the bottom of the page can confirm. Until just recently, he kept it hidden in his North Staffordshire workshop.
The 57 Surbaisse has a 3.3-liter twin-cam Bugatti engine and original body by Corsica Coachworks. The It has "nearly perfect" black paintwork (In the article referred to above, it was not painted black yet), cream leather interior, and the original coachwork. It sells with certification and a well documented history file, including Turnbull’s correspondence with the previous owners, conducted as part of his efforts to restore it.
“This really is an extraordinary example of one of the most valuable and desirable pre-war motor
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1933 Pau Grand Prix, held on 19 February.
The picture shows Guy Moll in a Bugatti T51, he came in 2nd, after Marcel Lehoux.
January 22, 2021 RM | Sotheby's Auction Arizona, USA
1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica Chassis No. 57512, Engine No., Gearbox No., Differential No.: All 19S
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THE IDEAL EXPRESSION OF ‘PUR SANG’
This potent combination added up to a significant increase in both horsepower and overall performance over the typical Type 57 engine and chassis. The 57S now boasted 175 horsepower versus the standard Type 57 output of 135 horsepower, and when adding the available “C” specification Roots-type supercharger power output was raised to 200 horsepower. This enabled a top speed of some 120 mph, making Bugatti the fastest French production car of the period and further burnishing the marque’s reputation for thoroughbred performance. The Type 57S soon proved itself in competition, claiming three victories during 1936 (the French Grand Prix, La Marne Grand Prix, and the Comminges Grand Prix). Bugatti’s greatest success on the track was soon to come when a groundbreaking aerodynamic version of the 57S called the 57G “Tank” won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1937. Overall victory at Le Mans was later repeated by a second incarnation of the Tank in 1939, among many other competition successes. If there is one further quality shared by all Bugatti automobiles, it is the unusual passion they have inspired in those who have pursued them. This as is true of those who first commissioned their construction at Bugatti’s Molsheim works—a process that more closely resembled the classic artist/patron relationship than it did the typical automaker/client transaction—as it is of those later enthusiasts who have gone to great lengths to preserve the Pur Sang legacy. This special dynamic is evident in the story of the car presented here: Chassis number 57512, a 1937 Bugatti Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica.
Corsica Coachworks was established at Kings Cross, London, in 1920 by Charles Stammers and his brothers-in-law, Joseph and Robert Lee. A relatively small operation, the firm claimed not to have employed designers, preferring instead to directly carry out its customers’ devices and desires. Because Corsica was small and could intimately cater to its customers’ whims, the workshop attracted many of the sporting crowd. While little is known of the early 1920s Corsica output, a good deal of it is believed to have involved Bentley.
Corsica built a total of only eight bodies on the Type 57S chassis, including four two-seat roadster bodies (including the Sir Malcolm Campbell and La Petite Suzanne cars), two closed car bodies (of which one example no longer survives), and two four-seat tourer bodies. Chassis 57512 was the second four-seat tourer commissioned, with each being uniquely constructed to show obvious variations from one chassis to the other. The first chassis, no. 57503, abruptly ends the curve of the fenders just behind the wheels, while proudly displaying the oil tank just behind the left front wing. The example offered here extends the length of the fenders front and rear to gracefully hide the oil tank and visually lengthen the car for a dramatic finish to the rear profile. The configuration of the side-mounts was also treated differently for both examples, with the spare suspended mid-flank on 57503 rather than carefully crafting the side-mount into the extended driver side fender as is seen on this car.
Mr. Maurice Fox-Pitt Lubbock was a close friend of Jean Bugatti, who frequently drove him along the tight vineyard roads in Alsace at a very high rate of speed each time Mr. Lubbock visited the factory. Perhaps due in part to Jean’s driving inspiration, Maurice also enjoyed exercising his new Bugatti in a spirited manner, even when carrying the family at speeds of 100 mph or better. One can imagine the heartbreak Maurice Lubbock experienced when he was forced to sell his prized Bugatti after being elected president of Rolls-Royce, approximately 10 years after he first took delivery. It is around this period that a photograph was taken of the car surrounded by eight other Bugattis including three additional 57S models in front of the Continental Cars Ltd. garage in Surrey.
The car was sold once again by a London garage called “Speed Models,” as was reported by The Autocar magazine dated 24 February 1950. The car was shipped to a Mr. Thomson in New York, who administered the sale to an advertising executive named Walter Stocklin. While in the hands of Stocklin, 57512 was raced at Long Island, Bridgehampton, and Watkins Glen during the early 1950s. By 1955, Stocklin apparently decided he would like for his Bugatti to possess all of the characteristic of a Grand Prix race car and had the original Corsica coachwork removed and replaced with a simple two-seater racing-style body constructed by Hiram Hillegas. Stockton used the car sparingly after the modifications took place and the car was sold five years later in 1960 to the esteemed collector Judge John North of Easton, Maryland. Judge North discovered the car listed for $3,800 in a classified advertisement while reading the New York Times. Thankfully, the original Corsica four-seat Tourer coachwork was included in the purchase. Judge North recalled that the body still carried its original Corsica plates on the coachwork and under the doors. However, he owned a number of Bugattis and other classics and decided to keep the Hillegas Grand Prix-style coachwork on chassis 57512. North sold the Corsica coachwork in the mid-1960s to Allen Henderson, who intended to install the body on a much later Bugatti chassis with longer dimensions than what the Corsica body was designed to accommodate. As such, Henderson resold the coachwork to Walter Weimer after buying two more Bugattis from North. Weimer in turn sold the body to Ray Jones of Michigan, long known for collecting Bugatti chassis, bodies, and spare parts. Jones passed the body to Lynn Steele from North Carolina, who ultimately sold the body back to Judge North along with a modified Bugatti chassis and a spare 57SC engine, no. 23S. Judge North assembled a complete Bugatti 57SC using the original Corsica coachwork from 57512, the modified chassis and 57SC engine purchased from Lynn Steele, and a number of spare components sourced from Ray Jones. The “replica” was then sold to Count Hubertus von Donhoff of Germany in 1986. Judge North reacquired the assembled 57SC from Count Donhoff in 1998 and reunited chassis 57512 with its original Corsica coachwork after 43 years of being separated. North sold 57512 to General Lyon soon thereafter, who in turn passed the car on to the Blackhawk Collection. In the hands of the Blackhawk Collection, a restoration was performed, and the car was displayed on the lawn at Pebble Beach in 2003 to much fanfare, after being exhibited publicly for the first time in nearly 50 years with its stunning original Corsica coachwork.
Notably, the frontend design was modified by removing the inner fender structure that surrounded the signature V-shaped grille and concealed a portion of the front chassis. It appeared as such under Hillegas’ ownership, which included the installation of the custom multi-louvered hood that it carries to this day. The original Corsica hood design featured an impressive single row of elongated louvers on the hood sides and a solid non-louvered hood top. The original firewall and inner front cowl section under the hood were both replaced, though the outer cowl that the windshield is mounted to and leads up to the edge of the hood is believed original. The oversized “Stephen Grebel” headlamps and single spotlight that the car featured during Mr. Lubbock’s ownership were substituted with more modern and efficient exterior lights by around the time it was shown at Continental Cars in the late 1940s. The original set of wheel discs were eliminated in favor of exposed wire wheels that were chromed during restoration, and the convertible top was removed at some point.
Equal parts elegant and athletic, this Type 57SC Tourer by Corsica embodies everything a Bugatti and sits at the very pinnacle of pre-war motoring; it benefits from well-documented history, along with the retention of its important original components. Worthy of a commanding position in any serious collection, chassis 57512 affords its next owner almost limitless opportunities for further restoration, touring and events, and exhibition at the highest levels. |
Until January ?, 2021 Bugatti is exhibiting La Voiture Noire Molsheim, France
Maybe not for everybody, but if you are in the neighbourhood: Bugatti is exhibiting to the public La Voiture Noire in the Centre of Molsheim!
I have seen this car from nearby, and I must say that the shape is unique, in fact much better than the Chiron.
January 1, 2021 21st Annual New Year's Day Antique Auction Ross auction house, USA
If you think an original T57S may be slightly over your budget, then this "Bugatti" Pacific kit car may be something for you! At least will be enough to annoy all real Bugatti experts when you show up in one, at an event or rally! 1937 Type 57S Bugatti Delahaye Kit Car
1987 Jaguar 6cy Six Sedan engine, rebuilt with 12.000K Miles. More info and on-line bidding - Bidding was (December 22) at $ 9750, Sold for: $32,500.00.
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January 18 - 22, 2021 Gooding & Company Scottsdale Auction Geared Online Scottsdale Edition, "USA"
![]() Chassis 37227, Engine 137
Purchased in the Mid-1950s by Four-Time Tony Award®-Winning Broadway Set Designer Peter Larkin
The Type 37 Grand Prix is the 1.5 litre four-cylinder model based on the famous Type 35 intended for voiturette racing. Like the Type 35, the Type 37 provided excellent overall performance, plus it offered an increased level of user-friendliness for road-based events and rallies. Type 37s quickly became known as race-winning machines and were entered in all the great road races of the era including Le Mans, the Mille Miglia and the Targa Florio. Given its mechanical robustness, the Type 37 was the rare car that one could drive hard all day long and then drive home, with space for a passenger as well.
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