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New: Book about de Dobbeleer (December 29)
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Diecast Cars mDiecast - the best online resource for model collectors - an online store and diecast model encyclopedia.
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New: Bugatti: 100 years of Innovations and Excellence at strongly reduced price. (June 25)
New book: Silver Clouds: The 1934 Grand Prix Season by Paul Chenard. (June 25)
New: Another movie with "Katherine Hepburn's" Murphy bodied T38A see the updated page in the Bugatti revue (June 18)
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New: Bugatti Miniatures Bugatti Page is giving away a free Bugatti Veyron Super Sport! (May 10)
New: Bugatti "Baby" wanted (April 26)
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New: Bugatti Veyron Pur Sang for sale (February 9)
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Browse thousands of used cars for sale including the bugatti veyron for sale at UsedCar.co.uk.
New book announcements:
Picture Sheets of the Bugattis, per Catagory
Information on the Bugatti types is also included!
This site was missed since 2001, I put it back on line, thanks to Pascal van Mele, the version is of January 2001!
Especially the the Hunting for Bugatti Information, "Everything Bugatti" (articles) and the Bugatti cars database are of the most interest, but you will find much more!!!
However, of course Jacob does not respond to mails anymore, some older links may not work, the Pim Faber books, models and stamps databases do not work, and the Hunting Bugatti Questions are not followed up. As a service, I will post all answers to his existing questions on my pages, new questions will be published on my site also!
Get a quote for temporary car insurance online today. You could save
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Books
The following 13 models are amongst Bugatti’s most famous and well loved, ranked in no particular order. If you can find these models outside of museums you will be lucky, but getting temporary car insurance to cover you for a quick drive is not going to be easy.
Veyron
This has been a headline grabber ever since it was launched in 2005, first for its insane price point and second for its even more insane top speed of
253 mph. The original Veyron lost its title as the world's fastest production car to the SSC Ultimate Aero TT, but the 1200 horse power SuperSport version of the Veyron soon reclaimed the title, hitting 267.85 mph.
EB 110
Produced in the early 1990s, the EB 110 had a top speed of 213 mph which at the time was very impressive. Its design may be very reminiscent of the period in which it was made but it is an undeniable classic of the supercar world.
Type 57
A healthy production run of the Type 57 and its S variant during the 1930s made it popular at a time when temporary car insurance was not a concern.
Type 73C
In the post-war period this vehicle was seen as a potential resurgence for Bugatti but the death of its designer Ettore Bugatti meant it never really got off the drawing board and only a single one was completed with the rest being dismantled.
Type 13
Considered by most to be first true production vehicle, this model eventually morphed into various other types up to 23. Production of the Type 13 ran well into the 1920s, with 16 valve engines being introduced into this and all ‘Brescia’ types after WWI.
Type 32
The Type 32 was nicknamed the Tank, in part because various experiments with aerodynamic designs gave it a look that was more militaristic than racy. It competed once and was put out to pasture because of shoddy handling, but it is nevertheless a testament to the innovative nature of Bugatti vehicles.
Type 43
A supercharged engine taken from the racing type 35B pulled the Type 43 120bhp to 60mph in under 12 seconds, which was a seriously sporty performance for the time.
Type 101
This vehicle was used to reboot the brand in the 1950s and it is thought of by fans of the manufacturer as its last official launch. With only six ever produced, do not expect to get temporary car insurance to cover this or any other model.
Type 35
Perhaps the most famous and successful of all Bugatti’s racing models, the Type 35 won over 1,000 races and claimed the 1926 Grand Prix World Championship title. The phenomenal success of the model helped to establish Bugatti’s arch-shaped radiator as a trademark feature that would be forever associated with the manufacturer.
Type 41
Known as the ‘Royale’, the Bugatti Type 41 emerged in 1931 with only six ever completed. The model was Bugatti’s largest in terms of both length and engine displacement and featured a dramatic, sweeping fender that helped make it one of the most desirable cars in the world.
Type 55
Featuring the Type 51’s 2.3l straight-8 engine, the Type 55 Supersport Roadster benefitted from Jean Bugatti’s masterful bodywork, making it a legendary model. The wide, strong ladder frame chassis taken from the type 47 was ideal for this high end supercar, which remains capable of fetching seven figures on today’s market.
On the AutoXY.co.uk search engine, ads of new and used cars currently on the web can be found with just one click!
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries sustained during a car accident and can be painful and reduce functionality of the neck, for more info especially if you are looking for advice on whiplash claims, visit Irwinmitchell.com.
The 3rd annual Greystone Mansion Concours d'Elegance on May 6 attracted a sold-out crowd of 3,000 people Sunday, with more than 150 vintage automobiles and motorcycles on display.
The event's director, Cindy Brynan, said she was "trilled" with this year's turnout.
"As the Greystone Mansion Concours d'Elegance has a policy of never displaying the same car in successive years, an entirely fresh concours field greeted those in attendance," she said.
This year some of the rarest cars available for viewing were featured, including a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Short Chassis Zagato Spyder and four Bugattis, among them a 1939 Bugatti Type 57C Coupe. Vintage Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, Rolls-Royce/Bentley and Corvette cars were also showcased, along with dozens of classic motorcycles.
The Best of Show Concours d'Elegance was presented to a 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300. Best of Show Concours de Sport went to a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ. Mayor William Brien selected a 1936 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet as the winner of the Mayor's Choice Award.
There were 5 Bugattis on display, one of them being Peter and Merle Mullin's Type 57C Atalante, which won the preservation award as it was still in it's original paint. One of the other cars was the 1939 Bugatti type 57C, coachwork by Vanvooren, wedding gift to the Prince of Persia. Exquisite, and now in the Peterson Museum collection, further a 1939 Bugatti Galibier Type 57c and of course the winner a 1936 Bugatti Type 37 Cabriolet by Graber.
Most pictures are from justacarguy.blogspot.com
Bonhams Auction, 'Les Grandes Marques à Monaco', Monaco, Musée de Voitures du Prince Monaco, 11th May 2012:
Lot No: 240: 1938 Bugatti Type 57C 'Cäsar Schaffner Special Roadster' Chassis no. 57.584/57.577, Engine no. C15,
Estimate: €320,000-440,000 - £260,000-350,000 - US$ 410,000-570,000, Not Sold
Lot No: 223: 1992 Bugatti EB110GT Coupé Chassis no. ZA9AB01E0NCD39012, Estimate: €200,000 / 240,000 -
£160,000 / 190,000, US$ 260,000 / 310,000, Not Sold
RM Auctions, Monaco, The Grimaldi Forum, Friday, May 11, 2012 - Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lot 327: 2006 Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 #VF9SA15B36M795015, Estimate: €690.000-€790.000, Not Sold at €650,000
Lot 368: 1994 Bugatti EB110 GT #ZA9AB01EOPCD39052, Estimate: €220.000-€260.000, Not Sold at €200,000
Coys Auctions, Legende et Passion, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Saturday, May 12, 2012
Lot 152: Bugatti Type 35B by Pur Sang Chassis Number: '4711', Estimate : €200 000 EUR - €250 000, Not Sold
From the auction catalogue: Chassis no. 57.584/57.577 (see text)
Engine no. C15
The car offered here is an example of the Roots-supercharged Type 57C competition model. Chassis number '57.577' was delivered on 8th October 1938 to Monestier, the Bugatti agent in Lyons, and first owned by industrialist Emile Glaizal. Its original body was made in standard Stelvio cabriolet style by Gangloff. After the war, in April 1947, Glaizal moved to Geneva, Switzerland, taking the Type 57 with him. The car was registered 'GE 12549', at which point it is noted that the car had hydraulic brakes all-round which it retains to this day. The registration changed to 'GE 11982' when Glaizal sold it to public works contractor and Bugatti collector, Gaston-François Riondel. Eventually the Type 57 ended up in the warehouse of the Geneva Bugatti agent, Jean Séchaud, and was purchased by Cäsar Schaffner, together with several others, after Séchaud sold up in the mid-1960s. Bizarrely, Séchaud had sold his cars for scrap!
Schaffner decided to restore '57.577' in the style of '57.593', the Corsica-bodied Type 57S sports roadster first owned by Colonel G M Giles, a former chairman of the Bugatti Owners Club. Based in North London, Corsica was a relatively small firm that allowed clients considerable freedom in determining their cars' final appearance – surely the ultimate in 'bespoke' – an approach that endeared it to wealthy sporting motorists. The body of the Colonel's car was designed by his brother, Eric Giles. Registered 'GU 7' and known as 'La petite Sézanne', the ex-Giles Type 57 currently resides in a private collection in the USA and in 1993 won 'Best of Show' honours at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Élegance.
Schaffner removed his car's original Stelvio body and had the chassis frame professionally shortened to a wheelbase of 2.6 metres (from 3.3 metres). This is much shorter than the standard Type 57S wheelbase of 2.98 metres. The engine was sent for reconditioning to the firm of Bereuter (Heinz and Kurt). Copies of photographs of the rebuild, held in Bereuter's archive, are included in the sale and show the conversion to downdraft induction.
Using photographs of 'La petite Sézanne' for guidance, Schaffner made the aluminium body himself with assistance from professional craftsmen. The Bugatti was finished in 1967/68 and painted in pale blue with tan upholstery. Using trade plates, Schaffner exhibited it at various classic car meetings around Switzerland before selling it on to Rolls-Royce collector, Matti Schumacher. Within a matter of days the Bugatti had changed hands again twice, leaving Switzerland for Germany circa 1972. From Germany the car went to the UK, was sold via a London showroom to Robert Yung, an American collector from Hawaii, and exported to the USA. The number currently stamped on the car - '57.584' - is believed to date from around this time when, coincidentally, the real '57.584' was returning to Europe from the USA. '57.584' currently belongs to a Bugatti enthusiast in the Netherlands.
Yung kept the Type 57 for some 30 years but it seems he did little with it. In 2004 the car was sold via a London-based intermediary to collector Gene Ponder from Texas, USA following some cosmetic attention from Gomm's Metals. Back in the USA, '57.577' underwent a thorough mechanical rebuild (engine, transmission, brakes, etc) at the hands of award-winning marque expert Jim Strandberg of High Mountain Classics.
In April 2007 the Ponder collection was auctioned in the USA and the Type 57 where it was purchased by Mr Paul E Andrews. In August 2009 a new Certificate of Title was issued in Texas for the next owner, Panther City Classic Autos of Fort Worth, Texas. The Bugatti was then sold at auction at Scottsdale in January 2010 to an intermediary organisation who sold it to the current owner. The current vendor then despatched the Bugatti to Jim Strandberg for preparation prior to participation in the 2010 International Bugatti Rally in California. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons, he was unable to attend.
The history of '57.577' is recounted in detail in the accompanying 11-page report researched and compiled by noted Bugatti authority and Swiss Bugatti Club Registrar, Hans Matti. In his report, careful study of which is recommended, Mr Matti quotes the American Bugatti Club registrar, Sandy Leith, who had this to say about the Type 57: 'There seems little doubt that the frame, engine and rear axle assemblies are all derived from the same car. It is therefore very likely that this car represents the continuous history of the chassis no. 57577 with engine no. C15 and gearbox no. 248 with all numbers having been verified in a physical inspection.'
Hans Matti viewed '57.577' at Malcolm Gentry's workshop in February 2011 and his findings with regard to the serial numbers visible on various components are listed on pages 7 and 8 of his report. He concludes: 'For me, there is no doubt left, that this is the original, matching numbers chassis of 57.577/15C, shortened, restored and clad with the Cäsar Schaffner special roadster body, as inspired to him by the pictures of the ex-Colonel Geoffrey Morgan Giles Corsica roadster "La petite Sézanne."'
The ex-Schaffner Corsica-style roadster remains in excellent condition, its mechanical preparation and overall quality being quite exceptional. Although he only had photographs to work from, Schaffner achieved an accurate copy of the ex-Giles car's Corsica body and this most attractive lightweight coachwork is sure to command attention. With some 160 horsepower available courtesy of the Grand Prix-derived, 'blown', twin-cam straight eight, performance should be more than adequate and close to that of the original. Constructed on a genuine, professionally shortened Type 57C chassis, '57.577' 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.
Thanks to: Christophe Chanterault
This new French police thriller includes some unusual deaths. That a certain Isabelle Royer is strangled and cut into 15 pieces is not very typical for this site, what is interesting is that the billionaire Sergeï Constantin explodes inside his classic Bugatti. The police and especially the detective Lassalle (Jacques Gamblin) goes after finding what is the connection between the two murders. The only info he has leads to a blind piano-tuner, a very unlikely killer, but giving the title to the movie (l’aveugle = the blind man)
Of course I went searching which Bugatti it must be, and found out that it is in fact a T57S Atlantic, or of course a replica. The pictures were found on the site of a certain Guillaume Roche, who seems to be the one who set-up the after-explosion scene. Note the dead billionaire, still behind the wheel of his burnt-out Bugatti.
It seems to be an interesting psychological thriller, and maybe somebody who saw it, can inform me as to what the pre-explosion colour of the Bugatti was!
Wolfgang Dürheimer who had been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley Motors and President and Chief Executive Officer of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S from February 2011 (having come from Porsche) will become chief of design for Audi.
It's not known yet who will take his position at Bugatti.
Bugatti presents second teaser video of the Galibier
It has been silent for a while about the Galibier, Bugatti's second model and a luxury 4 door saloon, however, recently a teaser video was presented. The general shape of the car has not been changed, as it seems. More details are shown though in this video, which is also quite a bit longer than the first one from October 2009(!)
A good friend of mine "owner of 37124 & 43305" was burglarized two days ago.
We can fear that these two titles will be offered on the market soon.
May 17, 2012 
The Van Vooren T57C
The Galibier
The winning Graber cabriolet
The Atalante with original paint.
May 16, 2012 
Description of 1938 Bugatti Type 57C 'Cäsar Schaffner Special Roadster'
Coachwork in the style of Corsica
May 16, 2012 
May 5, 2012
April 5, 2012
French titles (or carte grises) stolen
His two french title or carte grise were stolen with some other items.
If you get any info please contact the french club at
clubbugattifrance@gmail.com
March 31, 2012 After long negotiations between many of the parties involved, like the Bugatti Family, Bugatti SAS, the many national Bugatti clubs, like the Bugatti owners club and the Bugatti Identification Group (BIG), it has been finally decided that from tomorrow the badge which decorates the new Bugattis (Veyron, Veyron Grand Sport, Supersport, Grand Sport Vitesse and also the future Galibier) will be changed. Especially the Bugatti Clubs found the initials "EB" unappropriate, which will be now changed, so that the men who developed the new Bugatti range will be finally honoured!
Long negotiations were necessary, as the Bugatti clubs preferred the use of the initials "VW", not the logo. At which point Bugatti SAS threatened to continue using the original badge. Finally, this compromise was agreed upon. After tomorrow, all Veyron owners can go to their local dealer, where a new badge will be fitted.
After this considerable succes, the Bugatti Clubs and BIG have a new goal, the Argentinian Pur Sang Bugatti replicas (or look-alikes as some prefer to call them). A new logo has already been designed, and is shown here.
Though changing the badges on the Pur Sang "Bugattis" may seem considerably easier (in fact, these cars are delivered without a badge, but with a separate badge to be fitted by the owner himself), especially the BIG suspects that for these cars, where the owners are much more keen on showing the similarities to the original Molsheim Bugattis, it may be very difficult to convince owners to change the badge on their Pur Sang. However, especially for these cases the right badge is important, so that future generations will continue to be able to distinguish between what came from Molsheim, and what from Paraná.
Please inform me if you are interested in one of these badges. If sufficient demand exists, I may arrange to have a series made.
The engines were from the start not to be the Bugatti T50B engines, at the beginning 6 cylinder in-line BMW's were in view, now the high performance Radical Performance Engines RPE 1500T of 260 HP is the definitive choice. Derived from a motorcycle engine, the 4 in-line is extremely powerful for it's 1500cc.
March 14, 2012 RM Auctions' Amelia Island sale, March 10:
1930 Bugatti Type 46 Superprofile Coupe at $1,017,500 (Chassis 46208, Estimate: $1,250,000 - $1,750,000 )
March 14, 2012 A 1938 Bugatti 57C of the Off Brothers Collection of Richland, Mich., and a 1962 Ferrari 330 LM owned by Jim Jaeger of Cincinnati, Ohio, were named Best in Show winners on Sunday at the 17th-annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in Amelia Island, Fla. (March 8 - March 11)
Amelia gives two Best in Show awards, one for elegance and one for sport.
March 7, 2012 Molsheim/Geneva, 6 March 2012 – Following the success of the Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, Bugatti did not have to wait long before it received the first inquiries about an open-top version of the Grand Sport that could also deliver 882 kW (1,200 hp). “We were instantly electrified by the idea of transferring the power of the Super Sport to the Grand Sport, which previously delivered a maximum of 1,001 hp, and thus taking the roadster to a new level,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer. The President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. continues: “Our team has managed to transfer the world’smost powerful car engine to the open-top sports car while taking all vehicle dynamics and aerodynamic parameters into consideration. We are proud to present the fastest roadster ever at the Geneva Motor Show with the world premiere of the 1,200 hp Grand Sport Vitesse.”
Dynamics in figures. The new Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse boasts a remarkable maximum torque of 1,500 Nm (at 3,000-5,000 rpm) from the 7.9-litre capacity of its W16 engine. The maximum output (1,200 hp) is reached at 6,400 rpm. These figures allow the car to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) from standing in unbelievable 2.6 seconds. The top speed of 410 km/h (255 mph) makes the four-wheel drive (like all Veyrons) Grand Sport Vitesse the fastest production roadster ever.
Drive system. The 199 hp increase over the Grand Sport has been mainly achieved by using four larger turbochargers with new intercoolers. Furthermore, Bugatti has extensively reinforced all drivetrain components in order to safely transfer the immense forces at all times. As a consequence of the larger turbochargers and the overall reduced back pressure, it was even possible to reduce the fuel consumption slightly despite the increased output.
Chassis. In order to put the unrivalled power onto the road absolutely safely and masterfully, the engineers have reconfigured the chassis of the Vitesse. Thanks to the quick-responding dampers that have been adapted from motor racing, the control of the vehicle has been further improved and perfectly balanced. In addition to the incomparable lateral acceleration of up to 1,4 g, the precise interaction of the tires (on all-new, lighter 20-inch “Vitesse”-type alloy wheels), together with the intelligent all-wheeldrive system, ensures extremely good handling. Since the reconfigured ESP kicks in slightly later, for example when you accelerate out of corners, the Grand Sport Vitesse also provides a more dynamic performance in these situations. It goes without saying that Bugatti has adapted the brake-cooling system to account for the even higher engine output. The brakes, which are unparalleled in terms of stability and performance, now have additional and larger air intakes.
Body. Bugatti has developed a new roof spoiler for the Grand Sport Vitesse that significantly reduces wind noise and buffeting in the interior. Furthermore, there will be a new windbreak for the roadster that can be stored away compactly in the luggage compartment when not in use.
Both details will also be available for the Grand Sport. Together, they allow extremely relaxed, open-top driving even at speeds of around 200 km/h (124 mph).
Numerous aerodynamic measures at the front and rear that appeared on the Super Sport have been adapted for the Grand Sport Vitesse. The front end is therefore characterized by larger air intakes; the two central air intakes to the left and right of the Bugatti radiator grille are divided horizontally by a bar.
The bottom air vent stretches sideways into the wheel housing and gives this exceptional sports car an extremely masterful appearance. Immediately below this air intake, you will see a new, visually refined front spoiler that has been designed in a similar way to the splitters used in motor racing. The rear end, which is also derived from the Super Sport, is characterised by a double diffusor and a centrally positioned twin tailpipe.
Interior. Carbon fibre is (along with stainless metals such as Aluminium and Magnesium) also the dominant material in the interior of the Grand Sport Vitesse. Numerous interior parts are now made from carbon fibre in the 1,200 hp roadster. This includes the centre console extension, a cover with EB logo in the rear-bulkhead leather trim (between the seat backrests) and the belt outlet covers on the seats.
The décor on the centre console, the door inserts and the adjoining trim on the instrument panel are also made from carbon fibre. The bicolor black trim parts are also new in the Grand Sport version, and so is a special seat design for the Grand Sport Vitesse.
Configuration of the show vehicles. There is no end to the individualisation options for the Bugatti.
Each one of the 350 Veyrons built is therefore unique. This also applies to the two Grand Sport Vitesse models that Bugatti is exhibiting at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show. The blue version of the new roadster is finished in visible carbon fibre. The second Grand Sport Vitesse is painted in dark “Jet Grey”. In both cases, the aggressive, dynamic look of the vehicles fits in with the positioning of the new Grand Sport Vitesse. The classic Grand Sport, a sports car with an elegant, artistic orientation, will, of course, remain in the range. In Geneva, Bugatti is presenting a version of the roadster in visible carbon fibre in a brownish finish for the first time. To create a contrast, the side parts on this Grand Sport, right up to the rear air intakes, are made from polished aluminium.
Bugatti Grand Sport Vitesse specifications
February 27, 2012 Ebay Auction, Ebay France, February 26, 2012:
Bugatti oil can: euro 10,500.-
And, not even in a good condition!
I can see at the pump everyday that the petrol and oil is getting more and more expensive, but this....
Update: Concerning the Bugatti oil can for 10500 Euro: I get the impression that the owner has tried to push the price artificially with fake biddings. I hear other reports about bidders who offer high prices, and then do not pay, which is also possible.
Actually this was the second can in 2 weeks’ time which was going up to that price and strange enough both of these cans are now again offered under “petites annonces” on Ebay.fr by the same person for a sales price of 3500 Euro each.
February 11, 2012
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. is set to unveil the most powerful roadster of all time at the 82nd International Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March.
With an increase in power up to 1,200 HP, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse has entered a new dimension of open-top driving. Optically aligned to the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, which holds the current world speed record of 431 km/h, the Vitesse also impresses with its dynamic driving characteristics.
Bugatti’s engineers have developed the current Grand Sport, with its 1,001 HP and 1,250 Nm, into an even more powerful vehicle. The Vitesse’s maximum torque is now an impressive 1,500 Nm. The increased power of the new roadster’s 16-cylinder engine is made possible by the four enlarged turbochargers and intercoolers. The chassis has also been modified to support the power increase.
The Vitesse therefore also ensures the supreme range of excellent features one would expect of a Bugatti super sports car, from precise driving dynamics to extraordinary acceleration and braking.
“The rapid success of the Super Sport convinced us to increase the performance of the Bugatti roadster. Once again our engineers worked hard to demonstrate that Bugatti is able to constantly redefine the boundaries of what is technically feasible,” reveals Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer. “We gave our all to transfer the achievements of the Super Sport over to the Grand Sport, thereby turning open-top driving itself into an extraordinary experience at high speed.”
Bonhams Auction, The Paris Sale, La Halle Freyssinet,France, February 2, 2012:
Lot No: 221: 1921 Bugatti Type 23 Brescia Chassis no. 1339, Engine no. 911, Sold for €101,200
Lot No: 256: 1928 Bugatti Type 35B Re-creation by Pur Sang, Chassis no. "4878", Not Sold
Thanks to Christophe Chanterault
Auction resultThe Scottsdale auction, January 20-21, 2012
1928 Bugatti Type 38 Tourer, body by J. Figoni. Sold for $495,000. Just short of the estimate of $500,000 - $650,000
Peter Mullin's Bugatti Type 64 chassis gets a bodyIn a workshop north of Detroit, craftsmen have been at work for months pounding pieces of aluminum into panels. The panels will eventually cover a Bugatti chassis that has been bodyless for more than seven decades.
Three Bugatti Type 64 Coupe chassis were built in 1939 by Jean Bugatti, and two of them got bodies before Bugatti was killed while testing the Le Mans-winning Type 57 C “Tank” in August 1939. The third, chassis No. 64002--with its gleaming riveted duraluminum frame rails, cast duraluminum firewall and suspension pieces--was never bodied.
Until now. Noted Bugatti collector Peter Mullin bought the rolling chassis, with a 3.3-liter DOHC straight-eight engine, in 2003 after the chassis won an award at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2002. He began a process to create a body for it, with the goal of displaying the finished car at his Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, Calif.
“The thing I thought a lot about was the approach,” he said. “Do I make a modern, avant-garde-shaped design? Do I make an evolution of the Atlantic?
“It's impossible to put yourself in Jean Bugatti's shoes and make the car he would have made. But what we have tried to do here with this design--like using the original sketches for the papillon [French for “butterfly”] doors--is paying respect to Jean Bugatti and his attention to art and engineering.”
Enter Stewart Reed, head of the transportation design department at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and principal of Stewart Reed Design. He has a long history of automotive design, having worked for, among others, Jeep, Chrysler and Toyota.
“Peter has a wonderful idea about preserving and teaching people about art deco design,” he said. “At the outset, I didn't know that much about the Type 64. It's really quite a transition from the Type 57 Atlantic. Peter has exercised some real scholarship and study in terms of what was being done in this era at Bugatti and what Jean Bugatti was doing.”
Eight Art Center students, selected by Reed, were asked to submit ideas for the body. “They came up with quite an interesting range of solutions,” he said. But ultimately, Mullin decided to make the body more evolutionary to the Type 57 Atlantic. Students made their presentations to Mullin and several of his invited friends. He decided to have Reed proceed with the project. As for the cost, Mullin shied away from a total, saying it is, “in the ballpark of a very expensive restoration.”
Reed said special attention was paid to a couple of engineering elements that Bugatti employed. Bugatti was working on a plane in the late 1930s, so the company was expanding its use of aluminum; the chassis and several major components were made of the material. It was decided the Type 64's body would be made of aluminum and, in some places, would have exposed rivets, as on a plane. The windows would be acrylic, also planelike.
Jean Bugatti, company founder Ettore Bugatti's son, designed the doors, which are hinged at the top of the body. They predate Mercedes-Benz gullwing doors by more than a decade, and Reed's design incorporates this feature. Then Mullin began looking for a coachbuilder.
“We visited half a dozen shops before deciding on Mike Kleeves,” said Webb Farrer, director of automobile restorations at the Mullin museum.
Kleeves owns Automobile Metal Shaping and has more than 30 years of experience restoring exotic sports and race cars and bringing Detroit Three concept cars to life. Kleeves has a reputation for being able to fabricate body panels that are no longer manufactured or available. For the Bugatti, Kleeves and his staff are using a 1940s-vintage hammer press that he salvaged from the General Motors Tech Center.
The process began with the chassis being shipped to Kleeves's shop, where it was placed on a surface plate--a large metal base with a computer-controlled measuring device--and the suspension preloaded with the approximate weight of the new body. Reed's drawings were transferred to a water-cut mahogany buck constructed on an adjacent surface plate, so that at any point, precise measurements could be made to make sure that all of the parts fit.
The body panels are moved from the hammer to the buck, back and forth, making sure the fit is correct. “If someone was to design and build a body today, it would be done based on a foam-core structure,” Farrer said. “It was very important for us to tell the story the way it would have been done back in the day.”
The buck will become part of the display at the museum. The body will be able to be removed, in one piece, to display both the chassis and the body.
“We're doing it by the exact same method that coachbuilders have done for years,” Kleeves said.
“The one thing that is really out of the ordinary is that the body is going to be raised off the chassis three feet in the air. Normally, you fit the body to the chassis. But the body has to be raised in order to display the chassis. That's presented some engineering challenges that we're working on now. It has to be very durable.”
If all goes well, Kleeves and crew will complete the body this spring, and the car will debut to the public at Pebble Beach in August.
“Peter's whole goal is to shepherd these cars for this century and to leave them in better shape than when he received them so the next generations can appreciate these cars as much as he has,” Farrer said.
The car is not going to be finished completely. The interior will be left much the way it is now, and the aluminum body will not be painted. “It's like an unfinished symphony,” Reed said. “It will always be a work in progress.”
Autoweek video showing the design and design process
From www.autoweek.com, by Roger Hart
Bugatti Barnfind presented in Maastricht!At the current event in Maastricht, Interclassics & Topmobiel, Bruno Vendiesse from France is presenting a genuine Barnfind type 40. It can be seen there until tomorrow (January 15).
The body is by Louis Wiederkehr from Colmar, no further info yet.
Info from PrewarCar.com
June 10 - 16, 2012 Austria Historic 2012 Austria
With a 1933 T50 Roadster and a 1934 Bugatti Type 57 Gurney Nutting taking part.
More information, dates and locations where you can see the cars passing through in this PDF file
June 10 - 15, 2012 International Bugatti Rally 2012 the Netherlands
More information: www.ibr2012.nl
More information: www.brooklandsmuseum.com
June 29, 2012 Bonhams auction at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Chichester, UK
Ettore Bugatti's personal 1938 Type 57C
The car is expected to sell for more than GBP1,000,000 - approx US$1,570,000.
More information: www.bonhams.com
" La Coupe du Centenaire" is a weekend in memory of the Grand Prix de Boulogne and the Coupe Boillot taking place from 29th June to the 1st July : a rally on the coast, gymkhana and demonstrations in the famous and luxury sea resort.
To this date we have already 65 entrants among them :
August 12, 2012 RM Auctions Aalholm, Denmark
Sale of the famous Aalholm Automobile Collection by RM Auctions
Bugatti 57C Stelvio Drophead Coupe by Gangloff 1938
# 57716 (57265 according to RM)
1931 Bugatti Type 40A Tourer
by Carrosserie Moderne
# 40905
AUCTION LOCATION (the old museum):
Aalholm Godskontor
Aalholm Parkvej 7-11
Nysted, 4880 Denmark
More on these cars: www.rmauctions.com
The 1912 Type 16 chassis number 471 (the personal racing car of Ettore Bugatti) will be on show.
More information: www.newcarnet.co.uk
September 7-9, 2012 Festival Bugatti Molsheim, France
The Molsheim Festival is a constant in the beginning of September, this year special attention to the type 37A.
September 18-19, 2012 The Pebble Beach auctions Pebble Beach, USA
By Gooding & Company
Pre-announced ia a 1938 Bugatti T57C Cabriolet by Gangloff
Formerly owned by HIH Prnce Louis Napoleon
More info www.goodingco.com
I can be reached by email at J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com.
