Bugatti related questions

Maintained by Jaap Horst , E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

Olav Glasius posed the following question:
Who knows when Bugatti changed the emblem dots from square to round?
What I found was that it must have been around 1926, but maybe somebody has a more accurate date.

I would like to add another question to this: The most ancient logo (on the type 10 for example) had little triangles on either side of the "EB". Interestingly, this had round dots! So, until when was this "first type of logo" used? Before WW1 only?

Of course there is the possibility that logo's were mixed up, and different badges were used during the same year(s)

First type of logo: round dots and triangles (on type 10)

Intermediate logo: square dots

Final logo: round dots

Update:
Flip Klopper and Olav Glasius each own an original Bugatti from 1928 (Type 44, September 1928, respectively a Baby), that have the emblem with square dots. Anybody knows of Bugattis of later date (1929?) with square dots or with round dots?

Please send any information, and or further questions or better pictures to:
Email: glasius@euronet.nl

8-12-2011

Kjeld Jessen poses the following question on behalf of a friend of his (David Katz): perhaps you can help me identify an item I bought at a flea market in Buenos Aires in 2004. As the attached photos show, they are 3 small brass medallions (for lack of a better description), each one measuring 25mm wide; 50mm high; and @1mm thick. The images appear to have been etched in a pattern that is stippled, like an enlargement of newspaper print. If you run your finger across each one, you can feel the texture of the etching. The reverse side of each medallion is covered with maroon velvet and they are held together by what appears to be fine lace material, which, I suspect, is unique to these pieces and was probably applied by one person who acquired them at some point.

I've never seen anything like them before and bought them as a curiosity. If you don't recognize them, I'd very much like to find out whether any of the members of the Bugatti world have ever seen them and know what they represent, why they were made, when and by whom, what they might be worth today, etc.

Email: jessen@wol.be

5-11-2011

Jamie Simmons' Bugatti 44660 is under restoration, he contacted Mr David Sewell who has found out that his Bugatti T44 had a Gangloff body drawing number "144G"

Jamie would like to find anyone with this drawing and purchase a copy as to rebuild this Gangloff body style, This was a four door saloon configeration.

Email: sarah.jamie@blueyonder.co.uk

5-11-2011

Looking for wire diagram for T40 bugatti for ground up restoration.

Glenn at Competition Motors Ltd.

Please send any information to compshop@competitionmotorsltd.com

29-10-2011

I usually do not re-publish questions here, that I found on other websites (this one I found on Prewarcar through BugattiBuilder), but this one is so intriguing that I would not keep it from you:

Thomas Erler found this interesting mystery photo which recently sold through the Austrian auctioneers Dorotheum.at . We see a massive chaindriven racing machine with a Bugatti like radiator with enlarged top tank. We can only speculate about the machine depicted. The thick as a leg, high mounted exhaust manifold is attached to a colossal 6 in-line which suggests an aero engine or something of similar size.

Does anybody have a clue? The radiator may be from a 5-litre Bugatti, as well as the chain drive. The chassis looks like what Bugatti designed for Deutz, before starting for himself.

Please send any information to J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

29-10-2011

Lothar Bärz is looking for info about Armand Esders, famous first buyer of a Royale, the "Esders Roadster".

Some info is known; he was born in 1889, and died in 1940. Apart from Business man, he also spent his money for the public good, like the construction of the Deauville station, as well as the enlargement of the church and airfield of Saint-Gatien. Info from www.ouest-france.fr

That he was interested in flying as well as cars, can be read in an issue of "Flight" from 1933:
ARMAND ESDERS, the well-known Paris drygoods merchant and member of the Board of Governors of the Aero Club of France, has presented cash prizes to the amount of 200,000 francs, together with an organisation fund of 20,000 francs, for each one of three races, to be termed " the Grand Prix of the Aero Club of France,"
Read the full article here

We also know that he owned more cars than the Bugatti, like the Hispano that was often mentioned to follow the Royale, carrying the headlamps, he also owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom II Letourneur & Marchand from 1932 (which was auctioned in 2004)

Does andybody have more info, or maybe a complete biography?

Please contact Lothar Bärz

Please send any information to baerz@hotmail.com

23-10-2011

Werner Gradisch is looking for Hans Wolfgang Schemke, who is thought to have rebuilt his Type 43 in 1969. Werner hopes to receive more info from him about his car, 43174.

Please contact Werner Gradisch, Tulln, Austria

Please send any information to di.gradisch@live.at

21-9-2011

Richard Shuttleworth collected cars and aeroplanes in the 1920s and 1930s. Today that Collection--considerably expanded--is owned and managed by the Shuttleworth Trust in Bedfordshire, UK, with the help of a "supporters club", The Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society (SVAS). The Collection is open to the public and well worth a visit.

Richard Shuttleworth owned and successfully raced two Bugattis in the 1930s--a Type 35 between 1932 and 1934 and a Type 51 between 1933 and 1935. The SVAS, of which I am a member, is trying to establish the current whereabouts of these cars (not to buy them--it doesn't have that sort of money!--but to fill in historical gaps for the interest of both the Collection and the current owners of the cars). The location of the Type 51 (51140) is now known, but the Type 35 is so far more elusive.

Can anyone tell me the chassis and engine numbers of the ex-Shuttleworth Type 35 and its current location? Any other information about the car, or suggestions as to where I might further research these questions, would be much appreciated.

Roger Young

Please send any information to ryoung44@hotmail.com

18-9-2011

Unknown Bugatti part

The current owner of this Bugatt made part searches more information as to what it was intended for

The prevous owner had indicated that it was part of the Bugatti 100P airplane, recent communications with Bugatti Aircraft Association members however, show that such a part probably does not belong to the airplane. Also, the part does not seem to come from one of the known automobiles.

Reaction from Wolfgang Fischer, Zurich:

I thought I couldn't trust my eyes when I saw this question concerning the unknown Bugatti part: I own a similar part, only there are grease nipples fitted, and I have been wondering what it is. See pictures below. I got this part with one of my Baby Bugattis I bought some time ago.
This really confirms that the part is in fact Bugatti.
Wolfgang sent me the dimensions:
Overall length: 49.5 centimeters
Maximum width (in the middle) 6.5 centimeters.

Does anybody know what this part, which seems to be a worm-wheel drive, is intended for? Maybe somebody has seen drawings or recognizes it from a patent drawing.

Please send any information to J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

31-8-2011 - 18-9-2011

As we know, Ettore Bugatti originally resisted the use of superchargers on racing cars. In fact he is understood to have spoken out publicly against their use, in hopes of having them banned. So…does anyone know of any such early public statement by Bugatti about superchargers?

Karl Ludvigsen, who is writing a book about supercharging, hopes to know the arguments that he made against their use. Of course he later changed his mind but Karl hopes to find out what objections he raised at first.

He can be contacted at kel@ludvigsen.com

27-8-2011

I received this photo from David Villalovos, of what he calls a 1937 Bugatti T-57 with a Lagonda chassis.

Anybody know the history or have more pictures of this car? this picture was taken in the early 1970's.

This reminds of a question on this page from 2008, by Todd Liem:
Ventoux body on Lagonda LG45 chassis I am conducting some Bugatti research, I do know that there were other cars built with non-Bugatti chassis's.

One example is a T57 Ventoux body on a Lagonda LG45 chassis. I am still trying to learn more about when the coach was switched and where it was done, also by whom and what happened to the original Bugatti chassis (if there ever was one).
Does anybody have more info on this Bugatti-dressed Lagonda?

Answer by Paul Hinton:

I am writing in regards to the question regarding the Bugatti bodied Lagonda. The car is owned by Bob Ohnstad, Clancy Montana. He has owned the car since early 70's. He is a Bugatti enthusiest and multiple Lagonda owner. He thought that this would be as close as he would ever get to owning a Bugatti. I helped work on the car through the early seventies and saw the car about 5 years ago. Still under tarps. still gonna get to it after the next project etc. Bob is a perfectionist and I don't think he can see it to the end. I hope for him and the car I'm wrong. The story at the time was that the car was built for Bugatti's banker. The banker wanted a reliable car with flair. We took it down to the frame and I personally hand sanded 50 yes 50 coats of primer, paint and sealer. Then we dropped it. Bob decided he wanted to try out this new imron product anyway... so it went. He had the wire wheels redone and new tires. 500 a piece for the wheels alone back in 1973. At last visit it appeared in the same general condition, I think he had some motor work done.

Bobs personal favorite car is the type 55. When I last visited him he had fiberglass molds for a type 55. Another project.

Over the years Bob has owned what would have to be a thousand cars. He was a Subaru distributor which put him in contact with everbody that had an "unusual car": Isseta, Messerschmidt, Crossly, Mokes, Fiat Abarth Zagato, Glas, Delage, Delahaye, Daimler, you name the car and he has owned it. I never knew when he didn't have 20-25 cars and, he'd turn over a couple a month. He is a briliant man and has breathed cars his entire life he kept me out of trouble and taught me a lot about cars.
A few years after we had moved away i came back and worked one summer in high school for him and got to pick a car, I chose a 1955 Arnolt Bristol. serial number 6. it was just a rolling chassis. needed money in the mid eighties and sold it for 5000. just saw one on line 295,000. I didn't want to be rich anyway.

Email: davmtnvw@hotmail.com

3-10-2010

Salvage-1: the Bugatti Treasure

Over 10 years ago I was contacted by a gentleman who was asking details about the Bugatti in an episode of the US TV-series "Salvage 1", broadcasted on March 5, 1979.

The episode was called "the Bugatti Treasure", because of a treasure map which was found in a Bugatti. The Salvage 1 team finds this16th century map that supposedly points to the location of Cortez's treasure in the Mojave Desert. Most famous actor in the series is Andy Griffith.

At the time, nothing could be found about it, now recently I remembered this old request of which I can not find any details, no e-mail (I must have switched e-mail system several times since that original request), nor can I find the name of the gentleman who pointed me to the TV series in the first place.

Of course, searching for the episode now was easy, there is a lot of stuff on YouTube! Clicking the picture above will show you a small trailer. (Nobody uploaded the full episode yet!)

Question remains: Can anybody identify this Bugatti, to more detail than a T57 Ventoux??

Answer by Julien Dubrulle:

This car must be 57594.

Answer by Charles Fawcett:

The Bugatti shown here is definitely 57594.
It was owned by a gentleman who lived in Malibu, CA who was working in the movie industry, which probably accounts for it being used in the film..
There will be several pictures of 57594 in my Jean De Dobbeleer book that is scheduled to be published later this year.

BTW; 57594 is currently for sale at Graber Sportgarage , for those who want to make their own epsiode.

Email: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

12-7-2011

The photo on the right was taken on the "Pere lachaise" cemetary in Parijs, does anybody know who is actually burried here?

There is no further name on the stone, just the inscription "27 - PA 1942"

Update: I get reactions that Ettore Bugatti may have been burried in Paris first, and was only burried in Dorlisheim later. However, of course Ettore was far from dead (much more busy becoming dad!) in 1942....

Bart de Vries,
Email: bart7415@bartvrijevormgeving.nl

13-4-2011

Update 2: Of course after publishing the initial question, I started looking myself also a bit, and found the sculpture shown below, which is Rembrandt Bugatti's tomb, at the same cemetary in Paris. Rembrandt was of course burried in 1916.

Source: www.cbx41.com/article-35120967.html

We are now working on our 1939 T57 Galibier 57 752 and have a question:

Being outfitted with telescopic shocks perhaps you know of a schematic and/or instructions as to how to dismantle same as our intention is to re-build them in-house; we believe they are original.

Can you kindly comment on if you think they are original as well, see pictures below.

Would you also happen to know which manufacturer Bugatti used and the original proper color and finish.

Robert S. Piltch
Scottsdale Automotive Museum
Scottsdale, Arizona USA
Email: rspiltch@gmail.com

1-4-2011

For my study of Dutch Drivers competing with Bugatti’s in Dutch motorsports events I am currently researching Dutch hillclimbs.

From 1953 there was an annual hillclimb event in Vaals on the Camerigerberg. I have found data of 2 Dutchmen competing 3 times in the events during 1953-1960. Does anybody know more ? Does anybody have pictures of the Bugatti’s and their drivers competing in these events ?

Bart Oosterling
Email: (bartooah (at) home.nl)

30-3-2011

From Andrea Capra of Switzerland I received the picture on the right, which he shot from a movie. Supposedly, it is a Bugatti designed prototype for the Michelin railcar (with rubber tires on the rails!). The visible wheel seems to be of Bugatti design, though with 6 spokes, not 8.

Searching a bit on the internet gives a lot more information about the Michelin railcars, called "Micheline"'s. Surprisingly, on various occasions the name Micheline turns up in combination with the name Bugatti! Especially for the ones below (one of which is in fact in a museum in China!), which are from the early 30's.

Apart from the 4-axle bogies there is no apparent relation with the Bugatti AutoRail (It may in fact be that Michelin had to pay license rights for this to Bugatti, as the multiple-axle bogies were heavily patented).

I can find no further details linking these Micheline's to Bugatti, the motorisation of these Micheline's are Hispano V12's. The above type of Micheline (there are others, which look much like a truck with a passenger-trailer) seems to be type 22.

Apparently there was another connection, with the firm Budd in the USA, that made Budd-Michelin railcars in 1932-33, one being called the "Silver Slipper", using Michelin rubber tire technology. This is powered by two gasoline 240HP engines, supposedly from France. However, further digging gives that these engines were in fact American - LaFrance 12 cylinder engines. The trailing car of this Budd-built double railcar, had 4-axle bogies, just like the Micheline.

If anybody has any info as to why these Micheline railcars are sometimes connected to Bugatti, or about the prototype in the upper right picture, please contact Andrea Capra and myself.

Email: acapra@bluewin.ch and J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

22-3-2011

Does anybody have the original of the above picture (or a big scan)?

(more details lower down on this page)

Not really an answer: Jan Cohen sends the new picture at the right, probably taken the same day. It shows Ettore Bugatti with Leopold of Belgium seated on the same car, an Auto Red Bug. The picture was found in a book on the Belgian royal family.

Please contact Philip Kantor with an answer to the original question, Email: philip.kantor@skynet.be

27-2-2011

One of the regular customers was a prominent architect named Donald Parkinson who had recently had a Bugatti restored. He was very proud that they’d been able to use all original parts. He was using the Bugatti as a daily driver. Several times he came in after “celebrations” and had my father in law or another attendant drive him home while another followed in the Bugatti. Those drives in the Bugatti are still high points in my father in laws automotive history.

Working from pictures with my FIL, the car was probably a T35 or T37 although he remembers it as a single seater???? It was painted green.

Donald was a partner in the Architecture firm with his father John Parkinson who died in 1935. Donald passed in 1945. Their joint projects included the LA Coliseum, several buildings on the USC campus and more.

Does anyone know what this car was and where it is now?

Is the owner interested in talking to someone who drove the car in the 30’s?

Paul Grisanti

Email: pgrisanti@netvip.com

30-12-2010

Dennis Barrat's T35B Bugatti

Dennis Barrat's son Robert is interested in the whereabouts and history of the Bugatti his father owned in the fifties, probably a Bugatti T35B.

Dennis Barrat at the time was living in The Grange, Holcot, Northants. The car may have seen some Silverstone racing.

Robbert Barrat

Email: rsb@richardsbarratt.co.uk

14-10-2010

Ventoux in USA in 1959

I received this photo from Bob Rush, USA. The person in the photo is his father, Wilson Rush. The picture was taken in Texas, probably.

The owner of the cars was a man named Hugo Buergerlll, who was a close friend of Bob's father. Hugo was an automobile dealer in Golden, Colorado. At one time he had been the Colorado importer for Jaguar. That would be early 1950's.

Mr. Buerger took a number of trips to Europe during the 50's. During these trips he bought several cars and had them shipped to the US. I know of two occasions when he and my father picked up the cars at a port and drove them back to Colorado. The trip that relates to the photo was when the cars were shipped to Houston, Texas. On another trip he had a Rolls shipped to New York and he and Wilson drove it back to Colorado.

The Bugatti was stored at a building that my father owned for some time. I never have been able to find where the car went after Hugo sold it. It was probably sold in the early 1960s.

Reply by Simon Ireland
The car is a late 1935 Ventoux coach, chassis 57344, with engine 265. It had several owners in France before being owned by Gaston Docime. Hugo Buerger purchased it from Docime in September 1958. After 3 more owners in USA, it passed to Bruce Murphie in UK. He kept it for 6 years then Sotherbys auctioned it and the purchaser was Romano Artioli. It has been undergoing restoration at Gianni Torellis.
As far as I know it is still in Italy. Picture of the car in it's current condition.

Info from HGC Register 1965. UK register 2nd edition and the newly produced Italian register.

original question: Anybody knows where this Ventoux went? The registration number should give a clue!

Bob Rush

Email: bob_rush@hotmail.com

28-9-2010 - 14-10-2010

Type 40 Differential

Does anyone have access to a drawing of the inner workings of the type 40 differential?

We broke a tooth on the pinion on the American Bugatti Rallye and need to see a view of how the differential is assembled.

Rudy van Daalen Wetters, USA

Email:

3-10-2010

Firing order of EB110

Who has info on the firing order of the EB110 engine?

JAMES MCCROCKLIN

Email: jameswmcc@att.net

7-9-2010

Unknown part

Some time ago I acquired this lever.
Apparently it came from the Bugatti factory and I can see a similar lever on the T51 dashboard that is pictured on page 213 of Conway's book Grand Prix Bugatti.

Does anybody know what it actually does?

Paul Hicks, New Zealand

Answer
I saw your question on Bugattipage.com concerning the lever you have.

It operates a bronze three-way air valve on the firewall side of the T51 and T43. I've made some new in the past for several T43 rebuilds. Don't have the drawing number of the valve at hand at this moment because I'm on holiday, but can look up for you if you wish as soon as I have returned at home.

Ruud Leenen, Netherlands.

Email: hicks.family@xtra.co.nz

28-8-2010

Bugatti at the 1935 RAI autoshow in Amsterdam

Does anybody have good pictures of the Bugattis at the RAI, in 1935, for part 3 of the Dutch/Belgian register?

Kees Jansen

Email: keesj@rdgg.nl

13-8-2010

Bugatti T35B workshop manual

Does anybody have such a manual, a copy would be OK.

Serge Poppes

Email: spoppes@pegamento.nl

13-8-2010

Bugatti Type 44 chassis 44660

My name is Mr Jamie Simmons and have just become the owner of a T44 which is requiring a full rebuild, if you can help find out if there is any one who has photographs during the years the old lady was being driven. As far as I'am aware it was owned in France and at some point was stored during WW2 and left in a barn until 3 months ago, I will be looking for a replacement chassis and various parts again original if possible.

Chassis number is 44660 and 17hp.

I have often looked and dreamed about owning a Bugatti and now it seems I'am in one of the lucky ones, I'am not rich or have a well paid job but hope to one day drive this car with or without a body.

Jamie Simmons,UK

Email: sarah.jamie@blueyonder.co.uk

10-8-2010

Info on Antonio Caliri (Picture on the right of Caliri in the 1926 Targa Florio

Dear Jaap: I wanted to tell you that the descendents of the famous italian driver Antonio Caliri, who raced Bugattis in the twenties in Europe and afterwards came to live in Chile (where he also raced for several years), have given me the attached pictures of his grandfather and his Bugatti. I thought yo might be interesred in this man and his car, as I understand he was quite famous in Italy, and he raced in well known place like the Targa Fiorio, Mille Miglia, Circuito Montenero, etc.

Mr Antonio Caliri arrived in Chile in 1929, he got married, and lived here in Santiago until he died. His Chilean son and grandsons (who live in Santiago and Miami) have been in touch with me and gave me all the photos and clipping of Caliris races and victories, both in Europe (during the twenties) and in Chile (during the thirties). I wrote an article on Antonio Caliri that was published in a web site and also on a paper magazine here in Chile.

Caliri in his Bugatti T37, and on the Esterel Plage Circuit in France.

Articles (in Spanish):
Antonio Caliri. Un legendario piloto italiano avecinado en Chile.
La increíble historia del “Caliri special ”, Un automóvil chileno de leyenda.

I hope you enjoy these pictures and maybe you have more information about this Italian/Chilean driver and his Bugatti.

Rodrigo Velasco, Chile

Email: rvelasco@alessandri.cl

10-8-2010

Bugatti Part

This seems to be a Bugatti brake cross shaft part, but for what type ?

Daniel Scherb, FRANCE
Email: daniel.scherb@aliceadsl.fr

2-6-2010

Bugatti Part 2

Were these Fuel filters used on Bugattis, and if so, on what type ?

Ross Keeling
Email: rosskeeling@btinternet.com

2-6-2010

Thomas Steuart Fothringham's Bugattis
I am the youngest son of Thomas Steuart Fothringham, who raced at Brooklands until 1935 or 1936.
He owned two Bugattis, one of which he had bought from Malcolm Campbell. I believe that the Campbell-Fothringham Bugatti may still exist and I wondered if you were able to tell me where it is now. I last heard that it belonged to someone living in Gloucestershire, but that was a good many years ago now and I was never able to establish contact.

I am gathering material for writing a biography of my father and I wanted to include his time at Brooklands, and with Thompson & Taylor, for whom he worked for a time, designing and building Railtons. My researches have been confused by finding another person of the name of Fotheringham (spelt with an "e" in the middle) or Fotheringham-Parker, who is no relation at all, and about whom I do not need any information.

I would be grateful for any information you can give me about my father and his cars, and for any contacts who might be useful in my researches. Especially, if anyone has more information about my father' Bugattis, and if these still exist.

Reaction from Graham Little, author of a book about all Bugatti personalities, including all owners
Here is my entry for your father:

FOTHRINGHAM, Thomas Steuart.

The second UK owner of a type 35 (4564) which he purchased from G.T.Wilkins. He used the car at Brooklands and won a race on the Mountain circuit in 1931. He sold it to Kay Petre in 1933 for £150. It was later owned by, amongst others, Rivers Fletcher, Hugh Bergel and Hugh Conway. The car had been upgraded to type 35T specifications and now carries the reg. no EB 1926. He also owned, around the same time, one of the 1927 factory team type 39s (4896) which he acquired from Malcolm Campbell and had converted to type 35B specification by Brooklands engineer Robin Jackson in 1933. He lent the car to Kay Petre and she took the Ladies’ lap record at 124.14 mph. He used the car to win the Esher Lightning Long Handicap race in 1934 with a best lap of 123.28 mph. In 1935 he started in two Mountain handicap events with a best lap of 74.95 mph. At this time it was painted green and ran on aluminium wheels. The car later passed to R.Vickers and is now owned by Julian Majzub in the UK where it has been very successful in VSCC events. It is presently dismantled after a crash at Monaco.

Both cars have survived.

Please contact Henry Steuart Fothringham, O.B.E.:
Email: henryfoth@hotmail.co.uk
17-4-2010 - 22-4-2010

I understand from my late aunt from Munich, that Alphonse was friends with Ettore and Jean Bugatti. I would like to find out if his name appears anywhere in your records as a previous owner of a still-existing Bugatti and if it does, I would like very much to see and touch the car and possibly even buy it if it were to become available.

I am also related to Jean-Pierre Munsch of Alsace who owns a very large car collection in France. I’m planning to go visit with his family in the next year or so.

Any information you could supply would be very greatly appreciated!

Please contact Ray Munsch:
Email: porschevert@hotmail.com
11-4-2010

The pipe is conected with the leaf spring eye. I believe it is for lubrication , but from where is the oil comming ?

Inside the brakes there are 2 cylinders cast together with the aluminium plate, these 2 cylinders have again a steel pipe connecting the 2 cylinders. But there is nothing to see how to put the oil or grease into this system. I can not see how this system works at all. How many Bugattis have this system?

Answer from Greg Morgan:
The question answers itself- On the photo you posted on the Bugatti page showing a close up on the Park Ward Royale you can see the pipe connects onto the back plate with a grease nipple, on the other side of it is one of the cylindrical reservoirs. On the old photos that you have probably seen from when the Binder car was being restored, the piping has not yet been refitted.
Question remains why Ettore put the reservoirs inside the brake (not very safe if a reservoir fails!) and if these reservoirs are fitted with a spring-backed plate to ensure that the grease is released continuously, or with some other system??

And: does only the Royale have this system, or also others like the T46?

Please contact Udo Joerges:
Email: ujoerges@aol.com
29-3-2010

The splined piece is beautifully machined and has MH2 stamped on it.
I wonder if it was built for a hill climb car but never used? Does anyone have any ideas?

Please contact Paul Hicks:
Email: hicks.family@xtra.co.nz
28-3-2010

The actor in the Bugatti is Fernand Gravey (actually Fernand Maurice Noel Martens born in Belgium in Ixelles in 1904 or 1905) in the Paramount studios near Paris (Saint Maurice, near Joinville le Pont) in 1932. The film title is Passionnément by René Guissard. Fernand Gravey worked for Paramount at that time. more info on Fernand Gravey

Note the plaque d’immatriculation on the car: 1178 RE 5 (French)

The car is obviously a Type 43, who has more info about this car??

Please contact Jean-Paul Michel:
Email: jean-paul.michel695@orange.fr
21-3-2010

Steve Vermillion put up this question back in 2003; we are now trying to locate him, as he does not react to his old e-mail address. Steve; can you contact me, or also anybody who has Steve's new contact (e-mail or phone), please react!

Steve Vermillion bought on Ebay a postcard, sent December 30, 1915, in Paris. it is signed Bugatti (see picture), though it is unclear who this would be. It could be Rembrandt Bugatti, does anybody recognize the signature?
Please contact Steve:
Email: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
6-3-2010 - 22-3-2003

Is this the same Vijay Mallya of Force India fame?

May this be the Type 40 sold by Elisabeth Junek ?

Frederick Nakos, E-mail: fredericknakos@tlb.sympatico.ca

21-2-2010

Bugatti Rifle

The firearm was manufactured in Germany in the late 1920 's by a master Prussian gunsmith. Possibly a one off for LePatron's hunting or competitive target shooting outings.

Having been involved with many restoration projects of Bugatti orgin over the years both passenger and competition, this very much has the "feel" of Bugatti design. Simple elegant function with just the most perfect balance, eye appeal with minimal tasteful engraving, mechanical excellence in the trigger release system (double set touch triggers) with an innovative shell in chamber indicator.

The wood is Euro Walnut that is finely figured and slender to the shouldering. I am in the process of trying to find more information on this beauty.

This was a WW2 "bring back" from an Army M.P.who was stationed in France in 1945.

Any information or photos you can direct me to, would greatly be appreciated. In the long distant past I remember seeing a photo of EB standing in riding pants, boots and shooting jacket next to a table with what was more than likely lunch as both wine and rifles were in view.

This rifle is really special and I would like to know the whole story, it shoots excellent and is extremely accurate, yet so light to the touch ,like caressing a fine woman.

Chris Tyler, E-mail: tylermotorsports@att.net

15-2-2010

The crank on the pictures is according to various Bugattistes from Bugatti.

However, it is unknown for which type, it is at least not for: Brescia, 35, 37, 43, 44, 57. It was suggested that the crank may be for either T59 or T73, as these are cranked from the side

Does anybody have some info?

Ronald Beckers, E-mail: prototypet64@gmail.com

14-2-2010

I received the following mail from John M. Morch:
My father designed a body for bugatti some time in the early 20's. I once saw a picture in a magasine but can find no records of it, the car is similar (maybe even the same) as the picture above.
My father had been the Bristol Aerocraft plant manager during the war and had studied aircraft design so I expect Bugatti wanted to get some features from aircraft to reduce drag.
Guessing from the sparse notes I have of my father's career which did include racing at the Brooklands track in England, I would think that he did the design sometime between 1920 to 1930.

Reaction from Bob King:

This racing Bugatti in the picture was delivered to London on 06/11/1923 and was already competing at Aspendale track, where the photograph is taken, as early as 22nd February 1924.

The picture depicts Carlo Massola with 'Sporting Cars' 16 valve Bugatti - believed to be chassis number 1869.
We do have a photograph of it taken at Aspendale with a Bristol Box kite(see picture on the right: Massola and Gregory with George McCarey's Bristol Boxkite), which is a curious coincidence, given John Morch's fathers connection with Bristol aeroplanes. Could the body have been designed by Morch? Whether designed in England or Australia, there seems to have been little time to build and fit it prior to its first competition appearence here. Photographs suggest a very professional body.
- it is unlikely that the car was bodied by Bugatti.

Has anyone more info on the "Bugatti Morch" car?

E-mail: John Morch

16-11-2009

Here in Scottsdale Arizona, USA we have the Scottsdale Automotive Museum which is a fine Collection and we are proud to have Type 57C #57736, which is driven regularly.

Taking the liberty to paraphrase, the RM Auction Catalog of 2006, when the car was purchased by us, "Sold new to Canadian Industrialist Orr Lewis by the Bugatti Agency in Nice. Shipped to England in 1939 and notes that Lord Doune who became the Earl of Mourney bought the car in 1952 and owned her until 2000. He could have been a cousin of Orr Lewis."

We believe that the rear of the body of the car may well have been modified from her original design spec and construction as there are indications somewhat evident to our coachwork experts that the rear treatment has been modified.

While we believe that this exquisite T57C Aravis is done by Gangloff, we have as our objective to locate a photo of the rear with perhaps an "original" treatment, as if the car had been damaged in the past and modified to her current disposition.

Please see attached photos. Thus I seek an older photo of this machine that may help us in our quest of bringing the coachwork up to spec. While the car may be correct, we have had some "experts" visiting this past week who have expressed a theory that the rear could well have been different and perhaps not Gangloff at all.

Any assistance that can be provided would be appreciated.

Robert S. Piltch

Scottsdale Automotive Museum

Please E-mail any reactions to: rspiltch@gmail.com

27-1-2010

Luca Malin is an italian writer. He is writing a book about Maria Antonietta Avanzo, an italian female car driver between 1919-1940.

Talking about this with the curator of the Indianapolis Museum Don Davidson he discovered she was near to enter in the De Vizcaya team at Indy 500 in 1923, the first with the 122 c.i.d.formula. Obviously all the cars in the De Vizcaya team were Bugatti.

Does anybody have any info about this? Did Maria Antonietta maybe ride any of the Bugattis?

Please E-mail any reactions to: Luca Malin

14-1-2010

Does anybody have info on the Bugattis that Louis Chiron used, and especially if he had a Type 44? Maybe even some pictures?

Also; I heard rumours that somebody was writing a book about Chiron, can anybody conform this, and if yes, who is the author?

Please E-mail any reactions to: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

14-1-2010

I am hoping someone out there may have photos showing the Bugatti Jarvis bodied cars at the 1926 olympia motor show or indeed for that matter any information on the cars and specifically torpedo bodied type 40 that Jarvis created.

Ted Sterner

Jarvis bodied Bugattis, from Sandy Leith
Below are brilliant pictures of three Bugattis with Jarvis coachwork which were at the 1926 Olympia Car Show. I am 99.99% sure the T40 torpedo is the same car as my friend Michael Gans' as his is an very early T40, not the chassis 40384 it has been called for 50+ years..

I had a chance to look it over carefully and the frame and running gear all have single digit numbers, so it if one of the first T40's produced. The previous owner, the late Tom Melahn, fitted HRG fenders as he was a big HRG devotee.

Above left: T23 Brescia, right a "1927" T40 (shown in 1926). Oddly the Brescia is slightly more expensive at 140 pounds, and the T40 at 135.

3 views of another T40, also shown in 1926, with the designation "1927". This one would have been yours at 150 pounds.

Jarvis bodied T40: Chassis 40384

Michael Gans shows photographs of his Jarvis - bodied T40: Chassis 40384

Jarvis bodied Bugattis in Australia
Answer by Bob King:
The only one I know of is 40114 - see Bugattis in Australasia p159.
37160 was also Jarvis bodied. p 109

E-mail: Ted Sterner

18-1-2009 = 14-6-2009 = 6-7-2009

The old man that lived there had died and his son was removing several antique cars from the garage.
The dusty little Bugatti has stuck in my memory for all these years. I don't remember much about the car or the model but it was a single seat or two seat, open wheel car that looked like it may have been raced.

I would love to know what happened to the car.

I'm sure it was restored at some point, the guy was being very careful about transporting it.

Thanks in advance for any information.

Doug Ayers - Tampa, Florida.

E-mail: artboy2(AT)tampabay.rr.com
27-6-2009, (Change the (AT) into a "@" before sending!)

I recently purchased (last year) 37265, which is a Bugatti T37A (converted to compressor by Bunny Phillips in 1960s.

I am trying to track down it's history before the 1960s. It started off as a T37 roadster (bugatti blue), and in the 1960s, Bunny Phillips converted it to a T37A grand prix car (US racing white color). The roadster tail, fenders and lights went to Erik Koux, who refitted them to a replica T37A, which his son has now.

Previous owners were: Jan Voboril (usa), Mike Gertner (usa), Willet Brown (usa), Joe Ricketts (usa), Otto Zipper (usa), Jean de Dobbeleer (belgium), Paris Showroom.
Another owner seems to have been Jacques Buson

There is a big gap between the paris showroom and going to de Dobbeleer, so this is some of the history I'm trying to fill in.

Would you have any possible history that you might know of?

Andrew Larson

E-mail: andrew.larson(AT)galarson.com
20-6-2009, (Change the (AT) into a "@" before sending!)

Also clearly recognisable is the shortened Type 43 (43303) which belonged to Guillaume Prick at the time, photographs below.

The following info was provided by Jan Cohen:
Pictures were taken in May 1957 at the occasion of the first outing of the BCN which went from Ede to Eibergen, starting at the home of dr. E. Lautier

• BCN 1 (top right). The car behind the big 46 is 44637, at that time belonging to Eggy de Flines
• BCN 5 (between text) 46293
• BCN 2 (top row left). 43303 with Guillaume Prick and alongside a Baby Bugatti belonging to the daugher of Sebo ten Cate
• BCN 6 (top row right) 43303 the person with his head above the steeringwheel is Alex Paul, father of Jacques. The man next to Alex Paul is Guillaume Prick (with leather cap)
• BCN 3 (middle row left) 35b chassis 4955, then owned by Bob Laming and fitted with a BMW engine
• BCN 4 (middle row center)ten Cate´s daughter
• BCN 7 (middle row right) before the start of the above trip,in the garden of dr. Lautier.Car are from left to right 1: het Kanon (49391), 2: 44920 Willem Pieters, 3: 40172 Jan Sontrop
• BCN 8 (lower row left) 4955
• BCN 9 (lower row right) Dr. Lautier at work on the above engine

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
6-6-2009

Can anyone identify which type 55 it was, and who might have brought it to New Zealand? Where did it go to from here, and where is it now?

Daniel Hicks

E-mail: daniel_hicksnz(AT)yahoo.co.nz
6-6-2009, (Change the (AT) into a "@" before sending!)

Was this Associated with a death? (as with Lotus and 'black badging' after Jimmy Clark was killed)

John Mellberg, USA

E-mail: john.mellberg(AT)daimler.com
21-5-2009, (Change the (AT) into a "@" before sending!)

However, the car in the picture is most probably not one of his Bugattis, might have been of a friend or relative.

Does anybody have any info on this Bugatti, with it's very characteristic body? the car seems to be a late type Brescia. Several readers commented that the car has no front brakes, and a Brescia front axle and radiator (late type radiator). The red fenders have been coloured later, probably true to the original, but not necessarily.

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
10-5-2009

Unfortunately, there are no more pictures or documents left, but M. Flum has kept the plate (BS 28963) on his actuel modern car, the same plate his Brescia was registered with 1952 in Basle. So I asked for more informations, especially for the chassis-number and the "Motorfahrzeugkontrolle Basel-Stadt" had to dig in its archives. The police was friendly enough to send an new "carte grise" with the datas from 18.05.1953. Mister Gilbert Hirlemann must be the guy who owned the car after M. Flum who had given the car back to the dealer in 1953 (M. Pulver in Basle).

Fernando Flum has never been a member of a Bugatti Club during his very short ownership of 2586, and he doesn't know much about his car, but he remembers that the colour was dark red (metallic) and that the interior was "pied de poule". And he told me that the car had three front-lamps when he bought it. He had to remove one (the central lamp) because the police didn't tolerate this at that time. M. Flum still owns this third lamp. Of course, I asked for the name of the coachbuilder. He just could explain that the Brescia has been bodied (I suppose "rebodied" in the fourties or late thirties) by an unknown swiss artisan in the area of Zurich, not by a great coachbuilder like Graber or Worblaufen... M. Flum tells that the body was very well done; the rear wings had not been separately applicated, they were made of one piece with the body. Chassis-number 2586 is totally unknown to me, but the car must have been delivered in the middle of 1925, original engine-number near 980...

If you could help me in getting more infos about this car, which, I'm afraid, has disappeared, I would be very happy. Thanks in advance. M. Flum, too, of course, would be very interested.

I will found out if Mister Hirlemann is still alive, and if not, I will try to contact some of his descendants and I have also sent my request to other Bugattists, like Roland Saunier, the "BIG", the Swiss Bugatti Club (Matti, Jordi, Gantner, Aeschlimann, Burckhardt, Grell), David Sewell, Philippe Bergmann, Pierre Monaco, Claude Taconetti and Pierre Yves Laugier.

Benny Graf-Saner, E-mail: bennygrafsaner(AT)sunrise.ch
5-4-2009 (Change the (AT) into a "@" before sending!

The engine had been replaced with a Ford 60 V8. I also remember it having crossed struts in front of the radiator for bracing the clamshell fenders.

The owner was an artist living in Philadelphia, Penn. USA (where the car was).

So far I have not seen any Bugatti pictures of this configuration. Does anybody know about this car, and if it still exists??

John Allen, E-mail: skipperjon(AT)shaw.ca
28-3-2009

Answer, by Bart Rosman
Hi, the T51 (is not and never was a T51A) chassis number 51122 is currently owned already for many years by Hans Matti from Switzerland.

Original question:
I am beginning to research the three Bugattis owned by my late uncle 'Tiny' Hindle in South Africa until the very early 60s.

I have photographs of him and his daughter with three cars, a type 37, a type 51A blown 2.3 litre and a type 59 (which I believe was the Lord Howe car.)
I would like to meet the cars as they have long gone from our family, Tiny died in 1960.
I have some information from CAR, the motoring journal of South Africa of February 1961 and some information from Bugatti by HG Conway relating to the cars but I don't know where they are now.
Can anybody help?

Question from Andrew Middleton

Answer by Michael Muller
The Lord Howe car #59123 was in fact in South Africa.
The car is owned since 975 by Neil Corner, who afaik still has it today.

My father bought the 1927 type 37 from tiny hindle in the early sixtie’s, I suspect just after his death.

The same car is now owned by Mr Rob van zyl, he lives in Bryanston. North of Johannesburg.

The type 59 went to the USA.

I don’t know about the 51A.

Partial answer by Jack Lester

If you have more info, please contact Jack Lester: E-mail: randcarpetlayers(AT)telkomsa.net
1-3-2009

Senechal / Bugatti

I am writing the story of how Robert Senechal became the Paris agent for Bugatti. He placed a bet with le Patron that he could drive from Paris to Nice on a Bagatti in under 10 hours. And he did!

Does anybody have any pictures of Senechals garage showing the name Bugatti or even a picture of Senechal in a Bugatti?

The story was written in French and I have translated and it will be in Our Amilcar / Salmson Register Magazine in a week. The story was kindly sent to me by Glen, and is reproduced below, top right is an advert for Senechal's garage.

Glen Robb, Editor of the Amilcar / Salmson Register UK , although we cover all French cyclecars.

E-mail: Glendalerobb@aol.com
1-3-2009

Answer
The first one from left is a type 25 in the thirties rebuilt as a racing car. The owner is Mr Seda in Prague.
The second one belongs to Mr. Ernest in Ceske Budejovice is a type 13 of the year 1913. The third one I don't know, it is not a Czech one, and the last was owned by Mr Podubecky in Prague and it is now in the Schlumpf Museum.

Photos are from Munich 1965. See Pur Sang from American Bugatti club vol 6, no.3 Fall 1965.

Petr Volf

Original question:
This picture was taken at a bugatti ralley in Germany in the mid 6o`s.
On the left (in the frame), there is a pre WWI , 1913 T13 racing two seater.
This car came from Czechoslovakia, and was seen in some other events in the 6o`s. The photo comes from Erwin Tragatsch' "das Grosse Bugatti Buch".

Can anybody tell where it is now ?? Michael Hortig

E-mail: Michael.Hortig@unicreditgroup.at

23-1-2009 - 1-2-2009

Type 50 - 4382 RL1

Type 49 (left) and Type 57 - 7719 RN3

Type 57C - Letourneur et Marchand, Chassis 57726, registration 3543 J75.

The cars above belonged to the father of the person who sent them to me, these Type 50, 57, 49 and 57c were bought by Pierre Couturier, the question is what became of these cars. Only the last one, the Type 57C seems to be known (well, the chassis number), does anybody have more leads?

Some more details and recollections from Pierre Couturier's son; the type 50 was bought in 1949, it was black. Mr. Couturier had it repainted grey and black. The exhaust note could be changed using a lever on the dashboard. In 1952 the T50 was sold to buy the Type 57C - Letourneur et Marchand, which was very beautiful light grey, with a Cotal box and hydraulic brakes. The car was later repainted blue and grey. However, one week-end the engine broke down, while doing a 160kmh on the autoroute. (crank through the carter).
Henri Novo repaired the engine, we were living near his garage in Montrouge, after school I used to go there to see him work. The reparation takes a lot of time, meanwhile the Type 49 was used. I am on the picture, in the dickey seat. I learned how to drive in that car. It was sold after the Type 57C was repaired.
At the end of 1963 my fater sold the T57C 57726. It seems that the owner of the T57C before us was a Mr. Brossette (an Industrial), and before that the Bugatti family.

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

25-1-2009

The pictures show a type 57s chassis in the workshop of J de. Dobbeleer, Belgium in the 1950's.

I recently found these pics that I have had for approx 25 years.
On the back of one pic it says ........... tyres are old ones I had because there was no tyres on the wheels when I bought the car....................

Questions are what is the chassis no.? and who was the person who bought this chassis ?
Can anybody help?

Brian Swann, UK

Answer
The dismantled type 57s is chassis number 57471, a very nice Gangloff Atalante that is now in the Schlumpf collection.

Greg Morgan

E-mail: Brianswann01@aol.com

7-1-2009 - 23-1-2009

Was there a “standard” top material for the Type 43/43a Bugatti?

We have an inquiry about the proper material for this kind of car but as makers of Haartz top materials in the USA and Sonnenland materials in Germany, we do not have information with which to answer the question, except to generally suppose it is a canvas material of some kind (either heavy waterproof cotton canvas of the period, or more likely, a three-ply composite with black exterior cloth).
If anyone can advise, feedback is welcome via e-mail.

Eric Haartz

E-mail: jonarts22@haartz.com

21-1-2009

Ben Speak

Hi, according to the USA 2000 register the car is in The States. More info from the ABC.

Simon Ireland.

E-mail: benspeak@castlesportscars.co.uk

6-1-2009 - 21-1-2009

I am investigating all the Bugatti Patents, which will hopefully culminate in a book. I have currently over 750 patents, from many different countries (Germany, France, GB, USA, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, Canada, Switzerland, Spain). Most patents are of course by Ettore, quite a few by Jean, but there are also patents by Carlo and Roland.

Now, my question is the following: I have difficulty finding especially the early German (also the very early French) patents. The early German ones I have are:
DE158066 1904 Zerlegbarer Kurbelarm
DE167618 1905 Innenradbremse für Motorwagen
DE170691 1905 Ventilsteuerung für Explosionskraftmaschinen
DE203453 1907 Andruckgetriebe für Bremsen und Kupplungen
DE273247 1918 Lagerung der Motorwelle von Kraftfahrzeugen
DE332778 1921 Vergaser mit doppelter Regelung des Lufteintrittsquerschnittes

Early French ones:
FR461836 1914 Jonction de chassi monté sur ressorts d´avant
FR473605 1914
FR474536 1914 Dispositif de coussinets supportant l'arbre moteur dans les véhicules à traction mécanique
FR503441 1920 Dispositif permettant l'aménagement dans un carter de moteur, d'une bouche à feu tirant à travers un arbre porte-hélice

However, I know that there were quite a few more, especially German ones before WW1 (so up to 1914).

Does anybody have more info about these? What I basically need are the numbers only, but of course more info would be very welcome!

Jaap Horst

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

8-1-2009

Mike Talbot's father has written a letter to the Bugatti Club Nederland on 9 April 1958 asking whether there would be interest in this car as he was too big for it; he did not fit. As far as we know although Mr. Talbot had bought it he left it in Paris for sale. It was then sold to Jean de Dobbeleer who in turn sold it to Gene Cesari.

Kees Jansen and Simon Ireland

Original question: Does anyone know if Bugatti type 40, nr 40.801 of 1926 still excists? My father bought the car in 1958 from Henry Novo and imported it to the Netherlands.

Does anyone have photographs of the car?

Mike Talbot

E-mail: m.talbot@planet.nl

3-1-2009 - 6-1-2009

What "car" is Roland Bugatti driving?

I recently found this photograph, which I believe is published also in some of the books

I wonder however, if anybody has more info on this "buckboard" design. Roland obviously is too big here to fit in a T52 "Baby" anylonger. The "car" is very simple of course, but has a rear-mounted box, probably hiding the drive mechanism. Knowing Ettore Bugatti, this construction is probably Bugatti-made (or not), and could be using maybe T52 parts? Does anybody have any information?

Answer 2

The "car" is a "Auto Red Bug".

Red Bugs are small, two passenger, wooden buckboard cyclecars that were produced from 1914 to about 1930. Early Red Bugs where powered by a fifth wheel with an integral motor. The Smith Motor Wheel and the Smith Flyer were first manufactured by the A.O. Smith Co. of Milwaukee in 1914. Five years later, Briggs and Stratton bought the manufacturing rights and produced the little woodie for several years.

The rights were sold to Majestic Engineering & Manufacturing Co., later known as Automotive Electric Service Company of North Bergen, New Jersey in 1924. Now called Red Bug or Auto Red Bug, production of the car continued. For a while, the Red Bug was powered by either the Motor Wheel or a Dodge 12 volt electric starter motor. The Motor Wheel was ultimately replaced with a five horsepower Cushman engine with chain drive to the rear wheels. The company was renamed Automotive Standards and in 1928, and an amusement park version featuring a wrap-around bumper was announced.

In March 1930, a news report indicated that the Indian Motorcycle Company in Springfield, MA was to build the diminutive vehicle on a "cost plus" basis. Little is known of the Red Bug after this date. After all, it was the depression and a new Red Bug sold for more than a used Model T Ford.

Specifications --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Wheelbase - 62 inches
• Track - 30 inches
• Weight - 150-240 Pounds, varies with motor and batteries
• Chassis - Ash wood
• Top Speed - 12-25 MPH, Gasoline; 8-16 MPH, Electric
• Wheels - 20 x 2" clincher (early non-drive wheels 20 x 1-5/8")
• Price - About $150 in the late 1910's, $300 in 1928

provided by: Manuel Barje, Alabama, USA

Answer
The picture was published in Bugantics Summer 1966 vol.26 Nº2 Page 8, with the comment that it was Roland Bugatti on an American-built electric vehicle in the mid 1920's, and that this probably inspired Ettore to build the Baby Bugatti (T52). However, this seems doubtful, as Roland seems older in this picture than in the known pictures where Roland is shown in a T52. Seems the problem is not totally solved yet.

Julio Gonzalez

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

8-9-2008, 6-10-2008, 3-1-2009

John Sime

E-mail: sime_john@hotmail.com

28-12-2008

I'm the owner of the Bugatti Type 57 cabriolet Vanvooren 1937, n° 57529. which first owner was Ettore Bugatti.

The car was sold in 1938 to Mr Plegat, by the Bugatti Showroom in Paris who commissioned the building of the Vanvooren body. Even if Vanvooren was a famous french coachbuilder, settled in Courbevoie, near Paris, I have not found many archives about it.

Therefore I'm looking for informations, registers, and all documents about Vanvooren.

Patrick Meney (from Paris, France)

Answer
In response to the Bugatti 57529 owner's, about the coachbuilder Vanvooren, there are some documents about Vanvooren at the bookshop "Librairie & Documentation", in Paris (75008). The Vanvooren coachbody of this car was commissioned by the boss of the Bugatti Showroom in Paris, Mr Benoist, in 1938. The car was registered by Ettore Bugatti as "ex-demonstration Benoist" (See The Dutch Bugatti Registry). Vanvooren made several Bugatti 57 cabriolet (one on them was burnt some years ago in Switzerland, see the pictures in the Bugatti page).
E. Jouanneau.

E-mail: pmeney@magnoliatv.fr

7-7-2008 - 27-12-2008

Dean Wankel

E-mail: wankels@msn.com

13-12-2008

Answer from Bill Clarke
Bill Clarke from Ireland was offered the T23 in 1956, for 125 pounds, but could not buy it. It was bought by a friend of him, later sold through, and also through the hands of Hugh Conway (who used this T23 to write the "Brescia Overhaul Manual") ended up in the Söderström collection. When the collection was broken up, Bill finally bought the same T23, 18 years ago. However, not for 125 pounds!

Also the other cars were sold, ended up in different places. One of the other cars in the collection, a T30, ended up with a friend of Mr. Clarke in France.

Original question from Michael Hortig

E-mail: Michael.Hortig@unicreditgroup.at

24-4-2008 - 8-12-2008

After we have finished our book about the Dovaz-collection, we are investigating the Schlumpf-affair. Although, according to European Laws, the records of the legal proceedings against Fritz Schlumpf had to be available, the French justice is doing very difficult to hand them over to us. We have two specific questions:

• Does anyone know the exact dates of the cases against Schlumpf and the dates of the judgments
• Does anyone have anything of the cases or something of other importance to us.

Ard op de Weegh
E-mail: ard@opdeweegh.net

2-12-2008

Above two addtional photographs of Juillerat's T44 (also below, but with front bumper), 44923

I received two more photographs from David Juillerat. His father owned several Bugattis, though I'm not sure if these were his.

Does anybody have info about any of these cars, maybe chassis number, current owner?

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

51129

The GP is 51129.

The car was produced in May 1931 with engine 11 and delivered to the Bugatti Agent Dominique Lamberjack in Paris on June 18, 1931, rendering the story, which was told by later owner H.K. Dale that it was a Louis Chiron works car and winner of Monaco 1931 probably wishful thinking.

Lamberjack had ordered it on June 10, 1931 and he had paid the full price of Frs 117.000.- for the car, highlighting that it must have been an unused, brand new car. In December 1932 in was registered in Paris as 6203-RG for an unknown owner. On Oct 16, 1945 it was registered as 8860-CB3 in the Département Bouches-du-Rhône close to Marseille, possibly for Mr Pfenninger or mr Loyer (the first mentioned as owner by Antoine Raffaëlli). On 20 December 1950 it got the French plate 3569 AG 78 for Robert Morra, a grocer living on 104, Boulevard Roger Salengro in Livry- Gargan in the Seine-et Oise area. With this plate it was sold in 1954 to Henry Dale, an Australian in wool merchandise, at that moment living at Casella Aperta, Biella, Vercelli in Italy and who also had lived in Egypt. He had it rebuilt with a new engine block, pistons, rods, crankshaft etc. It was blue with beige leather seats. All parts had been chromium plated which in fact is an anachronism: Chrome plaiting had been invented in the USA but only came to Europe for factory cars later in the thirties as an accessory option. In 1954 it was for sale and it was bought by L.S. Juillerat, box 482, Highland, New York in the USA. It was sold to Tunick, who in turn sold it to the trader Bill Serri in Merchantville, New Jersey. He became a long-term owner from1973 onwards. In 2002 it was sold at the Christies auction at Pebble Beach when it went to the present owner in The United Kingdom and when it got the British plates 303 UXK.

57604

The Ventoux with plate EXH 6 is 57604.

The car was produced in October 1937 (no 8) with engine 439 and the optional Lockheed hydraulic brakes. The body was an all black factory made coach Ventoux made from December 1937 onwards. The car had been ordered on Nov 22, 1937 by the London Bugatti agent Sorel in a batch of two cars (57604 and 57605) and the chassis was finished on 22-12-1937. The factory had promised the car for the beginning of February 1938, and it kept its promise: It was delivered on Feb 7, 1938.

Its sister car 57605 had been delivered earlier on Dec 16, 1937 as a chassis, which was an urgent delivery. This chassis was used for the production of a green drop head coupé by the coachbuilder Corsica.

The first owner of 57604 was a company of the name Watkins Ltd. It was registered n May 5, 1938 as EXH 6 (GB). A next known owner was Ivan Carr, and in 1954 the car was owned by Berry Bamberger, Queen’s Gate, Cookham Dean, Berkshire in the UK. It passed on to Dr. T. Black, the Nine Elwes in Knowsley in the UK. He sold it to James Berry, who had the engine completely reconditioned with new cylinder blocks, pistons, reground crank etc. He offered the car for sale in the winter issue of Bugantics in 1957. for the magnanimous sum of GBP 425.- (which was after the rebuild of the engine!). The car participated at BOC meetings as can bee seen on pictures of the Trust (53A, 67A and 68A) when it was a two tone (possibly yellow).

The car came at some point in the ownership of the Dutchman Dries van der Lof when it got the plate 04- 52- AZ and it is mentioned on page 248 of the first Volume of the Bugatti Register The Netherlands- Belgium. (Two future volumes of equal size will follow with each over 250 additional cars).

We have no record of the ownership of Juillerat! Can David tell us maybe who are the people on the picture, where and when the picture was taken??

Kees Jansen, The Netherlands, 25 June 2008
On behalf of the BIG (Bugatti Identification Group)

19-6-2008 + 25-6-2008

I received these photographs from David Juillerat. who's father sold his Bugattis (he had 5 or 6) many years ago and David doesn't know much about them. David is the boy in front of the top right photo. Several of the cars were sold to a Mr. Tunik in New York circa 1970.

Does anybody have info about any of these cars, maybe chassis number, current owner?

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

35 4752

The purple GP is Bugatti 35 chassisnumber 4752. The car was produced in February 1926 with engine 69 as a Course Imitation 2 litre with a Grand Prix body. It was ordered by the Bugatti agent Matarazzo in Sao Paolo in Brazil on March 23 and shipped on March 129, 1926. He paid Frs 76.500 for it.

The car stayed in South America: In 1931 it was in Buenos Aires in Argentina where it was bought by Paul Ivanos, a cameraman for early sound pictures from Hollywood and taken to the US. He swapped it for a Chrysler '75' roadster with Bunny Phillips in 1932. Bunny Phillips overhauled the engine and sold it thereafter to Tom Ince later that year. The next owner was Tetze and then before the war- still on the East Coast of the US- it went to Al Crundall. It was a well known and often seen car there where it participated in many competitions.

After the War it went to the East coast where it was reportedly raced at Linden Airport in the fifties and where it was owned by Bob Morgan, Larry Kulack, Harry Gray en Bill Wonder (Glen Cove, New York) before it came into the hands of Steve Juillerat, the father of David. The next owners were Art Jacobs, then Bill Serri (Merchantville, New Jersey) and Edward Gilmour after which it came into the hands of thye present owner in Philadelphia when it enjoyed a leasurely retirement in his collection for the last 20 years or so. The car is described as 99 % original; still has its original engine; a very unusual feature for Grand Prix types 35! The only main deviation from original is that it has non- standard needle bearings in the big ends.

It is used as a model for the Franklin Mint 1:24 die cast model down to the same eccentricities of the same car.

30 4209

The second blue and black car is type 30 chassis number 4209

The car has engine # 210, and was ordered on April 3, 1924. When new it had an eight cylinder engine 60 x 88, 1 Zenith carburateur, Delco ignition, rear axle 12 x 54 5 Rudge wire wheels with Dunlop tyres 765 x 105, electric lights, front wheel brakes (so 4 wheel brakes instead of 2 wheel brakes just on the rear), 4 shock absorbers and extra equipment. It got a 3/4 seater open touring body by Lavocat et Marsaud. It was ordered by Roger W. Kahn in New York and sent to him straight from the factory. The bill was paid on Sept 30, 1924.

In 1954 it was mentioned as being owned by J.L. Juilleret, Rocky Point, L.I., New York. In 1962 it was mentioned L.S. Juillerat, Box 482, Highland, New York. The engine had already been rebuilt with major parts from engine 224 ex 38348. The original engine except the lower crankcase was later sold to Peter Williamson whilst the lower crankcase with the numbers stayed with the car for eventual later refitment. It had a tubular front axle fitted. Steve Juillerat sold it to Ace Parker, then it went to Cory Parker and Cos Cobb in Connecticut. In 1988 it was owned by the latest owner in Greenwich, Connecticut 06830, who supposedly still owns it. The plate in 1953 was D- 71-24 in the state of New York.

40469

The blue type 40 with clear engine hood is 40469.

The car was produced in May 1927 with engine 264, ordered by Fred Elbs in Metz on July 18, 1927 and delivered as a chassis on July 18 for Frs 32.850.- The first body in unknown.

In 1962 it had a 2 seater roadster body with Dickey seat; the engine had been replaced by engine # 2 (which was an A, the later version of the engine with Double Ignition, a bore of 72mm and a displacement of 1627ccm (half engine T49) instead of the 69mm and 1496 ccm (half T44 engine) of a T40. Addition by Ralf Scholz) ex 40903 and the owner was L.S. Juillerat, Box 482, Highland, New York. He had imported it from France- probably from a mr Bouchier- into the USA in 1959/1960 together with a type 49, chassisnumber 49369 , also owned by Juillerat (now Gene Cesari's car) . 40469 was sold to David Tunick in Greenwich, Connecticut, then travelled back to Europe- the United Kingdom- and from there it was sold to Mr Korreman in Denmark. In turn he sold it to Mr Sorrenson in Denmark, who in turn sold it back to the UK, to the present owner in 1990. He removed the body and replaced it with a Grand Sport body, as happened so often in those days

44923

The 44 is 44923.

44923 was produced in February 1929 with engine 636, It was ordered as a chassis by the Bugatti Agent Colonel Sorel on Brixton Road in London in a batch of four cars (44923, 44924, 44925, 44926) on April 10, 1929 for a price of Frs 29.290.- each and delivered on 23 April 1929. As known this was an exceptionally low price; Ettore had a high esteem and appreciation for sales to the UK. A 4-seater open tourer body was made by the coachbuilder Harrington of Brighton in the South of England. It was made of fabric covered aluminium; double side mounts and rear trunk, painted maroon with black wings and bonnet.

The car was exported to the USA before 1960 when it came into the hands of William W Marden jr. In 1960 it was sold to John Mc Gill Jr. In 1962 the engine was rebuilt by Basil Scully and in 1964 the owner became John King. King woned the car very briefly, before 1979 it came back into the ownership of John M. Gill, in East Dennis, Massachusetts. It got the plate Antique Massachusetts 1996. It stayed almost completely original. Gill sold the car to Judge John North who claimed he had always wanted to own the car. This longing lasted all of a month or two before it was sold to Ed Hubbard in the UK in 1988. He sold it to P.F. Parkinson in 1989. The car was still original and remained so, but was restored again. The engine was rebuilt by Taylor of Birdham and a complete historically correct restoration was performed by Mike Thomas of Birdham. It got the plate UL 4703 (GB) and it participated in at the Bugatti Meeting in Prescott in 1997 and the Bugatti Drive in May 2003, passing the house of photographer Tony Baily who took the opportunity to take pictures, which now can be seen on his website and on the Wiki.

Remains unsolved the T57 with typical English style 4-seater tourer body.

Kees Jansen

8-6-2008 + 16-6-2008

Whereabouts of T32 - 4059

In an article in "the automobile" 4th issue in the first year 1983, I found an article by famous british collector, paul foulkes-halbard, about his aquisition of the remains of bugatti tank T32 # 4059.

He tells the story, that nearly half of the original tank parts had been incorporated in a postwar bugatti special, another quarter of parts were genuine bugatti. He also writes , that the tyres were the original ones from the french GP. as you can see in the pic, a replica body has been made.

but, where is it now ??????

Michael Hortig
E-mail: hortig78rpm@gmx.at

27-10-2008

Australian Type 38

Around 1959 in Toowoomba Queensland Australia we used to see an old absolutely worn out 1926 Type 38 Bugatti tourer come into town from a tiny town called Nobby some 20 mile from Toowoomba. The car had no lights and had a 1947 Chevrolet motor fitted. At the time I was about 16 and was intrigued by this car and wondered just how bad a car would have to be and not go. I did some research on the car back then, and the first or maybe second owner was a Dr. Feather in Roma Queensland. When we used to see the car the owner was a Mr. Ben Free. I always wondered what became of the car and was wondering have you any records on the car. I got out some of the 1959 letters I got from the maybe second owner of car and he said when he sold it he never ever got paid for it. The new owner went on to win many hill climbs around the Brisbane area.

Anybody knows more about the history or current whereabouts of this car?

Answer: 38195

From the book 'Bugattis in Australasia' by Bob King, the car in question is 38195. See the book for more info.

Simon Ireland

From the Wiki I get the following info:
Owner: Mrs M. Gillies (chassis) (AUS) and Harry Hagan (engine) (NSW)
Former Owners: Ben Free, Fred Laing, Dr Feather,
Type 38 Torpedo, body by Compton
http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/index.php?title=38195

E-mail: robyngodfrey@bigpond.com

19-10-2008

Dave Ohrman

Answer
"Carrocerias Vert" was founded early last century by the family Vert-Planas near Girona in Catalonia, and devoted to horse carriages to turn soon afterwards, as most of those artisans, to the new horseless carriages. Vert specialized basically on lorries, buses and commercial vehicles. During starved period following the Spanish civil war, Vert and others carrossiers were asked to turn many former exclusive cars such H-S, Delahaye or Bugatti, into humble transport vans and pick-ups. Later on, some of those aristocrat chassis were fitted with apropiate special bodies again.

There is a book about "Carrocerías Vert" written in Spanish by J. Vert Planas I do not know the story behind # 44725 with plate nº A-2944, bodied by Vert. Have heard it was seen in Norway some time ago.
If you are interested, I do have a list of the most Bugatti plate nos. sold in Spain until 1927.

Manel Baró

E-mail: ibocquarterley@homecall.co.uk

17-1-2008 and 6-10-2008

I'd like to know the design / development history of the Tanks (T31, T57S45, T57G and T57C). Who was responsable for the projects and/or for the design? Were any (windtunnel?) tests done, was any aerodynamics specialist called in for help??

Marc De Rijck

Email: marc.de.rijck(AT)pandora.be

5-10-2008

I am researching Berlin Automobil History and in the latest edition of the German car magazine Motor Klassik was an article about the swiss Bugatti rally. And on page 49 is a small foto of a Bugatti and the caption says that Alexis Kellner of Berlin made this body on a T44 chassis. As I am researching especially Alexis Kellner it would be very interesting for me to get more information about this car and to get in touch with the owner.

Also I would be interested what happened to the T23 with Berlin built Baer body which Hamish Moffat had for sale one or two years before his death?

Anybody has the answers?

Thomas Ulrich
Email: IsettaUlrich(AT)aol.com

25-9-2008

I am trying to find out were there any Bugatti’s in Croatia. Since the communists took over in 1945, the only possibility for someone to own a Bugatti was before that year. 1918-1940 Croatia was part of Kingdom of Yugoslavia, and 1941-45 it was independent. My first question is:

1. Does anybody have any information about any Bugatti sold to Yugoslavia or Croatia?

Second question concerns the photo above (same as in the question from Helge Hauk):

2. I have bought this photo recently in Zagreb. With the photo I the information that it was taken in northern Croatia (Medjimurje) on the estate of count Fodroczy, who was the owner and a gentleman in the car. Family Fodroczy had estates in that part of Croatia. Car is Bugatti Type 40 with Gran Sport coachwork. Registration plate is Austrian, which is no surprise because Habsburg nobility considered themselves as Austrian’s after Austro-Hungarian empire has fallen apart in 1918. Does anybody have more info?

Daniel Tomicic
Email: daniel(AT)@danieltomicic.com

25-9-2008

The pictures above show 2 unidentified cars, which belonged to an Austrian Family called 'Schuh'. Nothing else is known (who is able to identify the type?).

The T40 on the photo below is said to have been owned by Count Fedroczy (of Hungary, the car also has been registered there), who left his homecountry, lived for a short time in Croatia and then is said to have moved to Austria.

Perhaps somebody has an idea, which cars we see on the photos and what has happened to them!

Email: dr.hauk@chello.at

25-9-2008

Mario Saviano sent me this very nice picture, which he just bought (the photograph that is, not the car!). He asked me to identify if it is a Bugatti, it is of course a Bugatti T57S Atalante, but can anybody identify the car and the lady?

Mario: I sent you an email with the reply, but it bounced back. I could not reach you, hopefully you read this!

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

8-9-2008

Comment from Julio Gonzalez

I heard sometime my father and other bugattiste, E. Carmona currently living in Brazil (Owner of an original 35 TC with Original 35B engine) say that some (with Le Patron permission as Mr. Carmona thinks) works mechanics used to mark the engines they worked on to identify them and that way avoid the posibility of that engine to fall in other hands or to be changed with another engine or parts. This seems to be a very probable explanation.

Does anybody know of another explanation for this feature, what these initials signify, or is there anybody who has seen this before, maybe on another car??

Martijn and Jan Smits, E-mail: carlein-martijn@chello.nl

25-6-2005 + 16-6-2008

Answer! Raul Franco Reinoso

From Ramiro A. Fernandez , who is writing a book on photography in Cuba, I receive the solution to one of the photographs that were posted on this page earlier (see below).
The driver is Raul Franco Reinoso which was written on the back of the photograph of which Ramiro sent me a scan. He knows the date to be around 1932-34. It really is the same car, compare the two photographs: The wheel nuts (front and rear) are in the absolute same position, and the background is the same! It is clear that the Bugatti carries the number 4.

The Bugatti is probably a T35 Tecla (cheaper version of the regular T35 with a more simple engine and lacking the aluminium wheels), or a T37 (4 cylinder). Difficult to tell the difference.

Comment from Julio Gonzalez

I´m sure that car is a type 37. we need to thank the "Blessed Photographer" because it´s almost a side view and we can see the bottom of the crankcase. which is short as on a four cylinder engine, in any case of an eight cylinder engine the crankase should finish almost "tangent" to the back of the front wheel (there is a beautifull photo of the prototype which can be used to compare apart from others). other way to know that, is by looking at the osition of the bolts in the engine front arrangement. They are almost impossible to see in that photos but I think the crankcase is enough.

Do you have any ideas as to the history of Raul Franco Reinoso, the event, or the car?

Below the picture from the original question! (Click any picture for an enlargement)

The photograph above was provided by Terry McGrath.

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
21-4-2006 / update 16-1-2007 + 16-6-2008

Pedro Duarte de Castro e Silva

E-mail: peducassi@gmail.com

21-5-2008

Michiel van den Brink

E-mail: michiel@vandenbrinkdesign.com

7-4-2008

Ton Stoffelen

E-mail: ton-stoffelen@hetnet.nl

24-3-2008

Louis Garnier lived in Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, France, where he owned 3 Bugattis. This one is presumed to be a 35B, 2.3 litre engine with mechanical compressor. Bought in Molsheim as a chassis with engine around 1929, equipped with a closed 2 seated coach made from unpainted aluminium in the south of France. Not too nice a design, apparently. Rather cubic.

This car was sold due to bad business results of Louis Garniers company to the United States, around 1962, and was reported by the mysterious caller from Reims to André being seen in or near Maastricht, Netherlands. The caller was aware of the chassis-number of the car and had traced the car down to Andre Garnier, being the nephew of Louis. Andre promised to look into his archives, the caller should call back within a week and never did. However, he rose the curiousity of Andre who would like to know if the car was back and also would be curious to see it once again in his life. He personally would not be surprised if the coach was replaced during the stay in the US.

Is there anyone who can make sense of this story, who has knowledge of a Bugatti in the Netherlands or Belgium coming from the states? Or who does know somebody in or near Reims who might be interested in these cars, a private person or somebody from a classic-car museum near Reims?? Be aware that all indications are not more than that, it was a long time Andre has not seen that car. He is sure about the aluminium coach and the engine with compressor, not too sure about the type 35B, only 80%. So if you think to know some story that holds only for half, let us know please.

If anyone has a clue please contact stefan.wolfrum@borgwolfrum.com who will contact Andre Garnier immediately.

24-3-2008

Does anybody have any information on this car?

Helge Hauk

E-mail: dr.hauk@chello.at

28-2-2008

Does anybody have any information on this car?

Helge Hauk

E-mail: dr.hauk@chello.at

25-2-2008

One example is a T57 Ventoux body on a Lagonda LG45 chassis. I am still trying to learn more about when the coach was switched and where it was done, also by whom and what happened to the original Bugatti chassis (if there ever was one). Does anybody have more info on this Bugatti-dressed Lagonda?

Todd Liem

E-mail: tliem@sbcglobal.net

25-2-2008

I have visited the Schlumpf Museum three times and have many photos of the Shakespeare Bugattis on display, and I would love to have photos of them covered in dust before they were moved. Thanks very much for your help .

Doug Mayhew

E-mail: douglasm@mayhews.com

21-2-2008

I've been told that the Carter BB2 carburetor works well for the 35C, also a Schebler carburetor, both of which work better than the original Zenith (48K?).

Can anyone comment, preferably from experience?

Replies

I have used Solex 46 AVDP on both 43 and 35C with great success, but they are tough to find.
Zenith 48K are no good for traffic and Sunday outings, only for racing.
Guy Huet

The best carburator (for street use) for the 35B/C and 43 is the Solex 46AVDP but hard to find. We have severall cars running with it and it does everything you want. The starter device we don't use and I can help you with the correct setting if you can find one.
With some luck I might be able to help you with one but you have to be patienced.
Simon Klopper

On the right a picture of the Solex 46 AVDP

Cordell H. Bahn
Tacoma, WA
253-564-8201

E-mail: cord@u.washington.edu

10-2-2008

Ch No 41100, from its days as a prototype until it was hastily removed by Fritz Schlumpf in 1977. Now replaced with a copy.

Ch No 41111, Fitted from its time of delivery to Esders, and the only car with the genuine article. At least this was true when the car was sold to William Lyons, I examined it closely at Goodwood last year, and thought it looked considerably different to photographs I have of it from twenty years ago.

Ch No41131, Initially fitted with a Rolls Royce 'Spirit of Ecstasy,' subsequently replaced by Bugatti's Elephant while still in the ownership of Captain Foster, its original owner. Also removed by Fritz Schlumpf in 1977 and now replaced with a copy.

Ch No 41121, 41141 and 41150 left the factory unadorned, and gained them much later.

I believe that the idea of the 'Rubies For Eyes' came about because they are painted red on the Berline de Voyage.

The 'genuine' mascot was silver plated bronze, made at the Valsuani Foundry.

When the Weyman coach had its accident, the elephant was snapped of at the knees. These parts were kept in the Bugatti Family until L'Ebe Bugatti loaned them to the Bugatti Owners Club in the 1970's to be repaired and a short run of castings made for club members. It then vanished...

Greg Morgan

The original question was:
We all know that this elephant is based on a statue by Ettore's brother Rembrandt. However, there are a few things we don't know: Rumour has it that the Royale elephant was solid silver, is that correct? Also, it is said that the elephant has inset- purple ruby eyes. These seem to be visible on some of the photographs of the elephant, and on others not. (see both pictures!)

So, the question is: Were the elephants of solid silver, and did these have ruby eyes or not. Other possibility is that there were different elephants. Maybe some elephants were later modified by an owner??

Dave Ohrman

E-mail: fhunlimited@adelphia.net

28-1-2008

Dave Ohrman

E-mail: ibocquarterley@homecall.co.uk

17-1-2008

Were they lower than 57?s as the pictures would imply ?, Or was the Aravis closer to the Grand Raid, which had a longer steering column, which was fixed lower to the dashboard?

Thank you for any comments,
Guy Huet

E-mail: ghuet@huet.ch

12-12-2007

I can tell you very little except that it looked like either a Type 35 or 51 in light blue. I do not remember if it ran or not but it appeared to be in totally original condition and in very nice shape. The car was for sale in a small used car shop where I bought a more conservative Volvo 122. The shop was in Darien, CT, USA. The area around Darien and including Darien were very wealthy so I assume the car was owned locally.

So, what I'm hoping is that there is a place where I can find a history of a car bought in CT around 1972 or so. If you can help, I would be very grateful.

Bob Espinosa

E-mail: bespinos@yahoo.com

8-12-2007

Unidentified Bugatti / race

I have a photograph of two cars racing: No. 58 P.Gaskill 1929 Bugatti. No. 66 J.F. Barker 1927 Frazer Nash.

The above information is written on the reverse of photo. Perhaps as a Bugatti enthusiast you might perhaps have some knowledge of the race, year or details on the car.

GASKELL, Peter J. A UK enthusiast born in 1928 who became bewitched with the Bugatti magic after seeing Peter Stubberfield competing at Shelsley Walsh. He joined the UK BOC in May 1954 when he was listed as owning a “Type 23/30”. He formed the “Bugaires” team with Mike Hatton and David Vickers Jones using a type 37 and a 35A, mainly in hill-climbs. He ran at Prescott between 1955 and 1957 in the 37 with a best run of 53.57 seconds. He later moved-on to a more competitive Cooper-JAP “V”- twin with which he had some success but his large build did not help the power to weight ratio in a class dominated by Boshier-Jones. He appeared to enjoy all aspects of his life until his death in 2005. He left a wife Arlette and daughters Rebecca and Rosanna. (See obituary in “Bugantics” 68 / 2 page 6).

The above info was provided by Ivan Quarterely. It is very probable that this Gaskill is in fact the same Peter Gaskell, which would place the pictured event in the fifties.

The car is now in France owned by a keen Bugatti enthusiast details of which may be available through the French Club and regarding the Frazer Nash it would probably be useful to contact Mark Joseland (a Frazer Nash owner) at the Midland Automobile Club where the Shelsley hillclimb is situated.

The above info was provided by David Morys.

E-mail: sibley@paine28.fsnet.co.uk

27-11-2007

Bugatti - Invicta

This special was built in 1953 by Air Commander Scroggs, using a Bugatti chassis (of unknown type), with a army surplus 6 cylinder truck engine, plus an Invicta transmission and radiator. See the specifications

Does anybody have more information on this car?

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

3-11-2007

From memory the car is a GP type either T35 or T37 with a Maserati rather than Bugatti radiator.

Original Question
I am looking for information about a Maserati engined Bugatti that was driven by Guido Barbieri in 1500cc Italian sports car racing in mid to late 1930s. The information is for a short bio about Barbieri for www.historicracing.com.

I can find no record of chassis number or type. Any ideas?

Richard Copeman, E-mail: rcopeman@dv3.net
5-9-2007

Question from John Barton, E-mail: jarbarton@hotmail.com
27-7-2007

Answer:
The K&N filter RU-1350 fits directly to the Stromberg carburettor, there are no futher conversions necessary. Simon Klopper

Send answers to E-mail: prototypet64 at gmail.com
15-6-2007, update 24-6-07

Brian Swann sent me this interesting picture of two Bugattis, it reads Paris 1937, Au temps des "Bug´s". Click the picture for an enlargement.

The car on the left was recognised by Kees Jansen, and is a T35, chassisnumber 4392. In 1927 this had the license number 6902 U 1, but in 1929 it received the number 6054 RB 6 (on the picture). First owner was Christiaan Dauvergne, Paris, sold on 21-06-1928 to Sylvain Barrierre, le Vezinet. The car does not exist anymore;

The car on the right has now also been identified by the BIG (Bugatti Identification Group) of which Kees Jansen is the founder / chairman. It is a highly modified T40, chassis number 40171 with a narrow radiator, probably in order to make it look like a real GP. It can be seen from the starter handle that this is too high for a real GP. The car was registered on June 30, 1937 (unknown owner) after being bought from Gaston Languille in Maisse (Seine et Oise) who had it for only two days (so probably a merchant).

In case this new answer for the car on the right gives you new inspiration, please mail comments to: Brianswann01@aol.com
3-5-2007 / 25-3-2004

We all saw how this 1939 Bugatti T57 Convertible Coupé ended up after a fiery incident, see also the news section. the owner is convinced that it will be possible to bring this car back to life (The body will have to be rebuilt, in fact), but various is needed:

Are there any drawings for the original body by Van Vooren, Paris?
Does anybody know if there is an Archive of Van Vooren (Paris) plans, drawings and other information? Apart from the overall plans for the body, we would need drawings for various details.
One of the details that is needed is the window frames, and winding mechanism. these were of aluminium and the same mechanism was used for different manufacturers. are these still available??

details of the car:
1939 Bugatti T57 Convertible Coupé
S/N 57287
body by Van Vooren, Paris
the car was since the early 50's the property of the family. We need all information that could help us with the restauration!

Hansheinrich Leuthold and Grover Berryman (the sad owner, with new hopes) E-mail: berryman@rockisland.com, hhl@gmx.ch
26-3-2007

We are interested in knowing any information of the private yacht which Ettore Bugatti had had built for himself in 1938. The photo of the boat is from a couple of years ago.

We are the current owners of this boat now, but we do not know anything about the original design and interior which Bugatti had foreseen for it. It might be very interesting to receive any information which you might have on that yacht in your archive such as photos and construction plans. Furthermore, I also do not know the original name of the boat.

Info: The Hull of the boat was finished to Bugatti's design by 1939 - 1940, and was shipped to England at the beginning of the war. After the war the ship went back, but was not finished by Bugatti, who had a lot of innovative ideas for all the sailing-equipment on board. The hull was finished in a regular fashion, and finally ended up in the caribean, where it is today

Bjorn Arp

E-mail: arpbjorn@hotmail.com
26-3-2007

Can anybody help?

Andrew Middleton, E-mail: nottledim@btinternet.com
27-2-2007

So far so good, but this same car she entered for the voiturette race at the 1931 Circuit du Dauphiné (Grenoble). Some of the wellknown race statistics say it was a T37A. A picture of her at Grenoble clearly shows the registration 2066RD9. So could it be that the "unsupercharged T35" was in fact a T37? But all other entries for 2066RD9 had been in the GP class, also at events whith a parallel voiturette race. A T37 would explain the narrow radiator, but to make it more difficult, 2066RD9 was fitted with T35 alloy wheels, which as I understand could not that easily fitted to a wirewheeled T37 or T35A.

The car is reported to have been sold to Charles Brackenbury at an unknown date, but I believe this is wrong, because Brackenbury from 1934/35 onwards raced a T35C which is said having been the Hellé Nice car.

Is there any chance to research the type or even the chassis number on basis of the registration? From where did the car come, and where did it go to? It seems that after 1931 she didn't use it anymore.

Michael Müller
E-mail: michael@axos.nl
27-2-2007

Informed by the organizers , I was there on the second day. Late in the afternoon, after the press, I could benefit from this opportunity and, while I was passenger in the front open compartment, a photographer in a Belgian black Saab 900 Cabrio made (plenty of ?) pictures, where I probably appear. I could never get any good contact and I could not see or order those pictures : can anybody help me ?

Above. one of the Bugatti paintings I did at that time (1988 actually). I participated in the Bugattistes exhibition in Molsheim in 1986, organized by Paul Kestler.

Philippe Lalague, E-mail: PLALAGUE@meru.faurecia.com
21-11-2006

Answer by Michael Hortig

Original question:
Who knows where, after closure of the museum in Sarlat, the "Sleeping Beauties" have gone??

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
24-8-2006

2. Who knows anything about the 62 unrestored cars that have been returned to Arlette Schlumpf (widow of Fritz Schlumpf) in 1999? This lot contained 17 Bugattis, including ten T57 and has been brought to Switzerland in 1999. The newspaper www.dna.fr has an interview with Arlette Schlumpf in it's archive, but I cannot download it because their pay-by-phone system works from france only.
Does anyone have more photos or a list ? Does anyone have the interview ? What happened to the cars since 1999 ?"

Mike Westwood

E-mail: mbwestwood@hotmail.com
30-8-2006

Raf Boone.

E-mail: raf.boone@skynet.be
24-8-2006

I try to identify all bugattis, that Fritz Schlumpf collected. In the reserve of the Schlumpf Museum there are at least three T57 about which nobody seems to have any information. Photo 1 (above, click for enlargement) shows the interior of a blue T57 Ventoux from 1936. Photos 2 and 3 show T57 chassis without body. Does anybody know anything about these bugattis ? Chassis numbers ? History ? More photos ? Thank you very much! Photo 2 and 3 don't come any bigger!

Mike Westwood

E-mail: mbwestwood@hotmail.com
22-8-2006

Original Question:

Does anyone have a list of the cars (and chassis numbers) that were sold to Fritz Schlumpf by american bugatti collector John Shakespeare in 1963. It is said that Schlumpf bought 30 bugattis from Shakespeare including the Royal Park Ward.

Mike Westwood

E-mail: mbwestwood@hotmail.com
24-7-2006 / 25-3-2006

Info requested for new book on the T46, by Authors Bohuslav Klein and Roland Saunier, both from Czech republic. To get an impression, see above the cover page (click for an enlargement), and below two photo pages.

Click on the picture above to see a sample of a description page, with info on details of each individual car. Click on this line for additional information

Please send your information to bohuslav.klein@ksd.cz and ro.saunier@tiscali.cz
Thanks in advance, Bohuslav Klein and Roland Saunier

29-6-2006

Recently I have received two period photos which were taken in Portugal! (above)

Does anybody know details of these cars (chassis, engine etc)?
Please send your answers to dr.hauk@chello.at
Thanks in advance, Helge Hauk

23-6-2006

Update 2: In an idle moment I enlarged and enhanced the picture of Bugattis #5 and #10 at Mannin Moar in 1933. In earlier correspondence these were identified as: #5 the T 51 of Tim Fotheringham and #10 the T 35C of T.A.S.O. Mathieson (Christophe Chanterault quoting www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1933.html#mannin)

A close look at the picture raises serious doubts about the identifications as far as Bugatti type is concerned.
#5 is a T 35B, or C - the supercharger blow-off hole position makes this clear. There is no second, central, petrol filler. The wheels are T 35 detachable rim. This car is somewhat modified; with side exhaust (as T59) and twin oil coolers with outside plumbing. The radiator may well be T 51 type as it appears to be of parallel section. The front axle is not standard, having an apparent H-section becoming circular at the outer extremities.

The other car, #10, has the narrow radiator of an early T 35, or T37. Surely all blown T 35 had the wider type? Is the identification from a reliable source?
May I suggest that #5 is probably T 35B chas. 4896. See Eaglesfield (The Bugatti Book 1954) - History: Started life as No. 4 team car in 1926. Sold to Sir M. Campbell same year. Won 200 mile race, 1927. Later owned by T. S. Fotheringham, Ralph Vickers, --- , Dunfee. Was originally a 1 1/2-litre, but was fitted with 100 mm. crank by Fotheringham. Modifications: Lightweight petrol tank and lightweight rad. and special rad. cowl. [remember this was written in 1954 so these particular mods after 1933 perhaps?] For T. S. Fotheringham by R. R. Jackson -- Water jacketing, smaller valves, special H axle and radius rods at front. Rear end converted to half elliptics.

In particular the non-standard H axle seems conclusive, and the extensive mods by Jackson for Fotheringham suggest that there may have been more not noted by Eaglesfield.

Someone in BOC must know...
Paul N.

Update: The car number #10 it's a Bugatti Type 35C of T.A.S.O. Mathieson and the car number #5 it's a Bugatti Type 51 of Tim Fotheringham, more on this page :
http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1933.html#mannin Christophe Chanterault, 7-1-2005

I believe it's the Mannin Moar race at Douglas, Isle of Man in 1933 but don't know the identity of the two cars/drivers featured. Any ideas?

Simon Lewis

E-mail: simon.lewisbooks@virgin.net

www.simonlewis.com

30-12-2004 / 19-6-2006

Update 2 Answers to the Question (more questions on Bugattis in Argentina)
Update The first 2 pictures is Cesar Milone at Gavea in 1935:

Gávea is situated in the city of Rio de Janeiro in BRASIL, NOT in Argentina !
In the second picture, you can see "CAES do PORTO", in portuguese, the language spoken in BRASIL.
My father Robert Zurmely was "mécanicien" in the Bugatti factory in Molsheim: http://paginas.terra.com.br/lazer/py4zbz/bugatti/robert.htm
Roland Zurmely

Update The first 2 pictures is Cesar Milone at Gavea in 1935. He crashed and the car caught fire. The ex Forrest Greene car.
3rd picture is also Milone, this time in Rafaela with Vittorio Coppoli as co driver
Answer provided by Estanislao M. Iacona, San Isidro, Buenos Aires, Argentina Mr. Iacona is in the process of writing a book on Bugattis in Argentina. If you have any unpublished material about this subject, please contact him! E-mail: eiacona@fibertel.com.ar

Original question:
Above 4 pictures of Bugatti's in Argentina. Do you have any ideas as to the history of these cars, the event(s), drivers or otherwise?

Below another one from Cuba. Same questions! (Click any picture for an enlargement)

The photographs were provided by Terry McGrath.

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
21-4-2006 / update 28-4-2006 / 19-6-2006

Regards Philippe Giron (based in the Lymington, Hampshire UK)

E-mail: philippe@nfob.co.uk
25-3-2006

E-mail: ledoyen75@yahoo.fr
3-1-2006

Please let me know if you are aware of such a person or product in existance.

Terry Cook, USA

E-mail: DecoRides@aol.com
3-1-2006

replacement cables are available from www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk in various colour combinations.

Robert van Zyl.
E-mail: robert@van-zyl.net
18-10-2005

Can anybody help me to trace this T57 Stelvio (late series): Chassis- and engine number unknown, built probably in 1939 .
The second owner, a very charming old lady, told me, that the first owner - as far as she remembers - has been King Michail of Bulgaria.
She sold the car from Austria to Sweden at the early 60ies, the car then was part of the famous Soederstroem-collection and is said to have been sold then to USA.
The original colour has been a kind of petroleum-blue ( please see the colour foto made in the 50ies), please also note the rear side-windows in the soft-top! I was told, that the car participated also at the German International Rally (1962 ?) in Oyenhausen.
Can anybody tell me the numbers of the car or any further history, does it still exist, does anybody have photos of the car?
Thank you in advance for your help, best regards from Vienna, HELGE HAUK
E-mail: dr.hauk@chello.at
29-8-2005

John Stewart, E-mail: john.e.stewart@VALLEY.NET
3-8-2005

E-mail: jpetit@bordeaux.inra.fr

29-5-2005

On Page 8 of "Les 57 Sport", part 2 by Pierre-Yves Laugier, there is a reprint of the Bugatti Coachwork designs factory list (Dessins de Carroseries). Looking closely at this list (pages 4 and 5 only, dating from 1932 to 1939), it seems that most of these designs have been actually made, most on T57 or T57s chassis, but also on T50T (even a fourgon or truck) and T64 chassis.

One item struck me however, it is design number 1058, dated 11-1-33, called a coupé de Ville. The chassis type however is stated clearly FIAT.

It seems that this is the only Bugatti body design for a non-Bugatti chassis. Does anybody have more info on this design? And of course, was it ever made? Do any drawings or photographs exist, and what type of FIAT chassis was it intended for??

For comparison, design 1052, of 11-5-32 was a Coupé de Ville for T41!

Any comments, please email: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com 7-5-2005

Can anybody clarify this matter?

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com 7-5-2005

IMAGES is publishing later this year a unique book on the Bugatti Brescia by Bob King, which will contain a global listing of Brescia owners and information about their cars. IMAGES would still very much like to hear from anyone who owns a Brescia with whom it has not been in contact.
Already, superb material has been received, including unique photography (often very historical and archival) which demonstrates an affection for their cars that only Brescia owners can understand. All original material will be returned.

Contributors would be welcome to contact us via our general email address (books@images.com.au ) and we will then forward submission instructions.
2-2-2005

Update: Most readers refer to Blaak, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands as the best location for radiator work. See: www.blaak.com

Original question: I have a 1929 T44 Bugatti with a badly leaking radiator.
I am interested in how others have dealt with this, possible repair measures.
My guess is that ultimately a recore will be needed, so I wonder how to find someone competent to do this. I'm in New York.

E-mail contact through: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
2-2-2005

Update February 2, 2005
There are at least two Gaston Grummer bodied Bugattis in Southern California in addition to Mike Cleary's Type 38.

Type 23, Chassis 2862, is an opera coupe owned by and currently on display at the Nethercutt Museum in Sylmar. The ABC register states that this car was purchased new at the Paris Show by the Gianini family and kept by them until after the Second War. I have seen the car and it looks to be in fine restored condition.

A Type 46, Chassis 46405, coupe with fabric top and false landau irons is owned by the Adams family of San Diego, who also have several other Bugattis. The chassis has been restored to show condition and the body is currently off the chassis awaiting restoration.

David M. Woodhouse

Gaston Grümmer´s son sent me a range of questions: I notice that you have pictures of my fathers work on Bugatti

Does anybody have a record of all the chassis he made the body for?

Do you know if any of these cars still exist?

Do you have you have any other informations we can put together with our archives?

Sofar I have only succeeded in locating one Gaston Grümmer bodied Bugatti, a 1926 T38 Roadster, the yellow one. The photograph at the top is a landaulet made for the singer Josephine Baker. This picture I found somewhere on the Internet, probably on Ebay. JJH

The yellow car belongs to Michael Cleary. Michael came to see me in Paris in order to get the original pictures.
The story of his restauration is fantastic, the engine had disappeared and was removed when he bought the car, but years after he bought it, he saw an advertisment for the sale of a Bugatti engine, he bought it and when he worked on it later, he discovered it was the original engine of the chassis!
Then he managed to find me in Paris to have the exact shape of the original fenders.

Philippe Grümmer

E-mail: philippe.grummer@wanadoo.fr
19-1-2005

I heard that in the Indian collection of Pranlal Bhogilal, which consists of some 100 cars, there should be 6 Bugattis. This was mailed to me by somebody in India. However, I cannot relocate this person.
Does anybody have more information on the Bugattis in this collection?

For some info on the collection see: www.bsmotoring.com

Jaap Horst

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
19-1-2005

Rick Scholtens

E-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
19-1-2005

David B. Miltner
E-mail: fpmiltner@earthlink.net
22-12-2004

Gabriel Pestana
E-mail: gpestana@incipresa.comm
22-12-2004

Thanks in Advance

Christophe Chanterault

E-mail: scuderiacc@aol.com

22-6-2004

Update, 4-12-2004

Some further information on what might be this car, from Guy Huet.

Jack Lemon Burton sold 43154 in the early thirties to Tan Kwan Tong, in Puket, Siam (Thailand) He paid £ 186 and traded another car in as well.
It was immatriculated 2708 RB 6, which was probably a French number. Does anybody have additional info on 43154?

Does anybody have more info on this car?

Type, chassisnumber, history, anything is welcome.

Terry McGrath

Please mail your comments to:

mcgrath1@bigpond.net.au

13-6-2004

The following question came from Kees Jansen. He wants more information about the car in the picture. The picture was sent by J.L.Chauvin from Pessac en Gironde, and was made by his uncle, Andre Chauvin from Saintes. It is a Ventoux with a clearly visible license: 8785JH3, delivered end 1935 or beginning 1936 in the Loire-Inferieure. The location of the accident presumably was Charente-Maritime. Chauvin asks if the car still exists, and if current pictures of the same car are available (questions were asked in the newspaper that published the picture in 1978).

Please mail your comments to: KeesJ@rdgg.nl

18-5-2004

I was told (by someone who really knows) that the documents etc. of the Ora study center are still in possession of Mrs. Renata Kettmeier.

2-5-2004 In the time Romano Artioli was making the EB110, there was a Bugatti study center at Ora, Italy, which was run by Romano´s wife Renata Kettmeier. The center has closed, but where did it´s collection go? Please answer not only to Dick Ploeg, who brought this question to me, but also to myself!

E-mail Dick Ploeg: D.Ploeg@hdibv.nl, and my own: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
28-1-2001

On behalf of a well known institution that is rebuilding a King-Bugatti WW1, U16 airplane-engine (at least for display), I am looking for parts to complete this engine. Mainly the Crankcase, but also other parts are needed.

On behalf of the Bugatti Aircraft Association, I am also interested in the whereabouts of any complete engines (apart from the known ones, 2 on display in the USA, 1 and a half in Mulhouse). Anybody who has parts, or knows of parts or complete engines, please mail your comments to: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com

12-4-2004

Another unidentified Bugatti

I have had this postcard a long time and do not know what, where or when..

Can anybody help please?

It seems to be a T30 (or late Brescia), with obviously the race number 12

Please mail your comments to: Brianswann01@aol.com

4-4-2004

Picture of 57601

Bernhard Simon saw this picture of 57601, the Corsica Coupé, after it's crash but before the burning down. It is on my CD, but I do not know where I got it from. Anybody who has the original picture, or a better scan, please react. Also other pictures of the same car are very welcome!

E-mail: Bernhardsimon@aol.com

10-4-2004

(Question taken from www.PreWarCar.com)

E-mail: Info@PreWarCar.com
10-3-2004

Can anybody help Wayne Kennerley?

E-mail: Wayne.Kennerley@uk.taylorwoodrow.com
19-1-2004

e-mail: Mike@bugatti.fsnet.co.uk
12-1-2004

e-mail: J.J.Horst@BugattiPage.com
12-1-2004

In the period 1920 - 1939 the Bugatti factory in Molsheim, France delivered some 45 cars to their agents Bertrand y Serra (ByS) in Barcelona. There are indications that the Bugatti race driving brothers Pierre and Fernando (Ferdinand?) de Vizcaya were directors of ByS and that ByS was, perhaps, the Bugatti agents for the whole of Spain.

Confirmation of this and further information about this company is sought. Did ByS have other activities; did they represent other automobile manufacturers; are they still in business; what was their address; who were their clients; which coachbuilders did they work with; are there records of ByS advertising and exhibition activities; etc.,etc.

Owning one of the cars delivered new to ByS, a 1925 Type 23 Bugatti, I would be delighted to receive information of any sort about Bertrand y Serra.

Durante el período 1920-1939 la compañía "Bugatti Automobiles" de Molsheim (Francia) suministró unos 45 automóviles a su agente "Bertrand y Serra" (ByS) de Barcelona. Existen indicios de que los hermanos Pierre y Fernando (¿Ferdinand?) de Vizcaya, pilotos de competición de Bugatti, dirigían la empresa ByS; y de que ByS era, tal vez, el agente exclusivo de Bugatti para toda España.

Se desea confirmación sobre lo hasta ahora expuesto y mayor información relativa a la compañía ByS:
¿Tenía ByS otras actividades?
¿Representaron a otros fabricantes de automóviles?
¿Están aún en el negocio de la automoción?
¿Cual era su dirección?
¿Quiénes fueron sus clientes?
¿Con qué carroceros trabajaron?
¿Existen documentos o datos relativos a la publicidad de ByS y sus actividades de exposición?

Siendo propietario de uno de los vehículos que fue entregado nuevo a ByS, un Bugatti tipo 23 de 1925, me resultaría muy grato recibir información de cualquier tipo relativa a Bertrand y Serra.

Por favor, para enviar información pueden dirigirse por escrito; o bien mediante fax; o por correo electrónico, a:

Please write, fax or e-mail to:

Kjeld C. Jessen
Zilverstraat 47
B-2900 Schoten
Belgium
Fax No.: ++32 3 685 0737
e-mail: jessen@wol.be
4-1-2004

I am looking for all chassis numbers and sale dates of all Bugattis, who were sold to Poland in the 20's and 30's.

Can you help me.
Thanks in advance

Andrzej Jakubaszek
Warszawa
Poland
e-mail: anjakub@yahoo.com
16-12-2003

Miroslav Mráz is looking for traces of two Bugattis that have been in Slowakia:

Bugatti T40, chassis 40501
The car was exported in the 70´s from Bratislava to Austria and Germany. The Roadster - body had been built in Bratislava.

Bugatti T43, chassis 43257 (Number has been verified)

Can anyone Inform me of the current whereabouts or later history of these cars?

Phone: 00421 33 558 09 58
E-mail: bxl@tt.sknet.sk
10-11-2003

Above the picture of T35B, chassis 4925, at Monterey this year. Once again thanks to Helge Hauk for helping me research the proper Polish racing colors. The design met with unanimous approval.

As it turns out, the car was registered to Automobiles E. Bugatti on 21st July, 1928 with the French registration 7924 J4. It was most likely raced by the factory until it was sold to Krakow, Poland on March 26th, 1929. If any of you discover photographs of the car, those would be greatly appreciated! I am told that the San Sebastian GP on July 25th, 1926 (Benoist) and the European GP at Monza (Williams) on September 9th, 1928 are some of the more important races in which the car may have run.

Thanks in advance for any assistance.
Michael Gans
Parkstrasse 33
D-61476 Kronberg
Germany
+49 171 7575955 mob
+49 6173 605833 fax
E-mail: mgans@supreme-foodservice.com
10-11-2003

Benny Graf Saner has had quite a few offerings as a follow up to this advert, and received photos or info on the (amongst others) the following cars: 44311, 44319, 44379, 44713, 44733, 44857, 44873, 44926, 44942, 441085, 441100, 441127, 441150 and 441342: info on some cars came from several persons. Thanks to you all for your help!

Benny is now looking for, (apart from more pictures, see the list below), some specific information: The licence plate 5804 HL 93 could have been with Bugatti Type 44 (44506). Is this a french or an english registration? Actually, Andrea Capra and myself are looking for informations concerning 44506.

The red Bugatti shown in the pictures was first a coach, now a roadster. Must have been somewhere near Bordeaux where it was for sale five years ago. The car probably later went to Paris.
It has since been identified as 44333, also the current owner is known, with it probably more history as well.

 
44309        44311        44319        44477
44480        44499        44511        44609
44623        44696        44733        44741
44765        44857        44873        44915
44926        44930        44942        44946
44972        441021       441036       441068
441127       441137       441150       441277
441326       441333       441352       441353
 

My father has his 65th birthday this May.
His greatest wish/ desire are construction plans/ design drawings for an aluminium car body for his Bugatti Brescia T23 (wheelbase 2,5 m). Is there any chance to get original plans and could you help me to suprise my father with this?

Tanja Zarges

So If anybody can help Tanja surprise her father, please mail her!
Email: surfin@netcologne.de
3-5-2003

I received this question from Norman Cowell:
I have been trying to find out about oil that was sold in 2 liter can's with the Bugatti label on them. I saw a picture some where that showed a bunch in and old garage picture. Do you know of this oil and where I can get some information on it?

So who can help Norman finding out what was in the cans?

Email: NORMCOWELL@aol.com
28-4-2003

Benny Graf-Saner is looking into the history of the car pictured here. According to a mail he recieved from Mister Nicolas Guhring (EBA member, owner of the picture), this Bugatti is not a Type 40, but 44713. The magazine "Automobilia", N° 62, page 39 has published this information.

Comment by Dick Ploeg: This is clearly a (cheaply?) rebodied Bugatti and it does seem to include (recycled?) body components of other cars. One item I can positively identify are the bonnet (hood) side grilles, which come from a Salmson S4 DA (1937/1938) or a late model S4 D.
One other observation: If indeed it is a type 44, then it appears to have its chassis shortened?

Can you please help Benny with any additional info?

Email: bennygrafsaner@freesurf.ch
28-4-2003

Can you help me find a type 55 reg no EPF4 chassis no 55220 i worked on this car as a young boy with a mr george boyle [sports cars ltd] in england i contacted bugatti owners club they give me some history the last wherabouts the car was sold to somebody in the USA i had some pictures but have lost them in moving house any help will be cratefull yours

Steve Fenwick, Chesire, England

Email: Stevefenwick45@aol.com
12-1-2003

Vive La Marque !!