1937 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster

The Bugatti Type 57 was the first model built under the direction of Jean Bugatti, the son of founder Ettore. Introduced in 1934, it was one of the most sophisticated road-going chassis built by the Bugatti company, with many receiving elegantly designed coachwork from Europe's most respected coachbuilders. Its sophistication was mirrored by its luxury refinements and ease of operation. Noise levels were dramatically reduced due to the previous spur gears being replaced by bevel gears which transmitted power from the crankshaft to the camshafts. Impressive stability was courtesy of the solid front axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs and a live rear axle with quarter-elliptic leaf springs. Stopping power was via four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

This particular example is believed to have been produced in November of 1938 and left Bugatti's Molsheim factory wearing Galibier four-door saloon coachwork built in-house. The work was completed on January 27th, 1939, and finished in Ermine Red with Havana Brown leather trim. After leaving the factory, it was sent to Bugatti's Paris agency and added to their stock held at their Foire de Lyon depot. The car's first owner was St. Martin who took delivery in Besancon, France.

Much of its early history is unknown; by the 1960s, it was re-discovered and purchased by Jean Serre. In Monsieur Serre's collection was a one-off Vanvooren roadster body acquired from Hans Weber Henning which originally belonged to Bugatti Type 57 chassis no. 57430. The body had been ordered by Prince Louis Napoleon (who ordered it using his alias 'de Montfort'), an enthusiastic amateur racing driver and experienced Bugatti customer. At some point, the Vanvooren coachwork was removed and later fitted to this car (chassis 57742).

Jean Serre later sold the chassis and body to a collector in Southern California sometime between 1997 and 2003. While in his care, the car was upgraded to supercharged configuration, boosting output to over 210 bhp.

In 2005, the car was shown at the Techno Classica Essen by Dutchman Tony Paalman and his then firm 'Car Discoveries.' Shortly thereafter, the car was delivered to the United States by Howard Fafard in Framingham, Massachusetts who commissioned a complete restoration at Competition Motors Portsmouth, NH. The frame-off work began in January 2006 and was finished in formal Black over Aubergine specification, complete with an ostrich leather interior and black folding convertible top. Competition Motors would then assume ownership once completed in 2012. After the work was completed (which cost in excess of $800,000), it was shown at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and also featured in advertisements by Ralph Lauren Purple Label for their 2012 Fall collection.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2023

The original Bugatti Type 57 was designed by Jean Bugatti purely as a road-going vehicle, and it is the most celebrated of all non-racing Bugattis. Apart from the three famous Bugatti Atlantics, just three two-door 'factory' built bodies were available - the Ventoux, the Stelvio, and the Atalante. The Type 57 could also be ordered with a Galibier four-door body. The Type 57C was introduced in 1937 and was powered by a 3.3-liter straight-eight engine with dual overhead camshafts, a Roots-type supercharger, and Stromberg carburetors developing over 175 horsepower. A few European coachbuilders built extravagant and flowing bodies for the Type 57C, including Vanvooren of Paris, who built this convertible roadster body in 1937.