Bugatti
Established 1909: Molsheim, France
A perfect balance of artistry and machinery, Bugatti cars are the vision of founder Ettore and son Jean, artists who worked in the medium of motoring. Owing some early advancement to Harry Miller, perhaps no other marque is so loved because none imbued its automobiles with such evocative character. With speed and luxury in astonishing variety, Bugatti are incomparable. For 12cylinders, I plan to dive deep through the panoply in a short while, completing what should be one of the most engaging portfolios in the catalogue.
Bugatti Type 37A Grand Prix, #37316, 1928
This Bugatti was the personal car of test driver Pierre Veyron, who won numerous Grand Prix races for Bugatti, but more importantly served in the French Resistance during the German occupation of World War II.
8 images
Feb 11, 2024
Bugatti Type 51 Coupe, Louis Dubos, #51133, 1931
A unique aerodynamic sports car created in 1937 on top of a retired Type 51 Grand Prix car, #51133 crossed paths with Chiron, Dreyfus, and Trintingnant. After a 50-year separation of body and chassis, the Nethercutts rebuilt the car in 2003.
5 images
Feb 10, 2024
Bugatti Type 55 Roadster, #55219, 1932
Road-going in earnest, the Type 55 is an early expression of Jean Bugatti's sports car ethos, and more raw race car than the Type 57. Chassis #55219 returned to original mechanical form after its parts scattered among three separate cars.
22 images
Feb 10, 2024
Bugatti Type 57 Grand Raid Roadster, Worblaufen, #57260, 1935
The ten original Grand Raid roadsters are prelude to the well known Type 57S; this is one of two beautifully appointed Swiss confections by Worblaufen, and a show car from the start.
25 images
Feb 11, 2024
Bugatti Type 57 SC Atalante, #57523, 1937
Today, Bugatti chassis #57523 appears as a black notch-back sister to Ralph Lauren's Type 57 SC Atlantic, the two showing a very similar level of finish. But, for a while, #57523 presented a stunning, two-tone livery that made the most of its incredible body.
7 images
Feb 10, 2024