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The Bugatti Type 57 was introduced in 1934 and was the first model built under Jean Bugatti's direction. It incorporated many features that were new to Bugatti including the company's first use of a transmission fixed to the engine crankcase and a single plate clutch. The top three gears in the four-speed gearbox were constant mesh. The dual overhead camshaft eight-cylinder engine displaced 3,257cc and its crankshaft ran in five main bearings. The camshafts were driven by helical-tooth gears at the engine's rear with another crankshaft bearing behind them.
Jean designed an independent front suspension system using transverse leaf springs for the first two examples of the Type 57. His father, Ettore, later insisted it be replaced by a proper Bugatti hollow tubular live axle. The cars that followed had the traditional Bugatti semi-elliptical front and reversed quarter-elliptical rear leaf springs with cable-operated mechanical drum brakes.
Many of the Type 57 models were given Jean Bugatti-designed coachwork.
Development of the Type 57 continued with the introduction of a stiffened frame and rubber-mounted engine along with the supercharged 160hp Type 57C in 1936. In 1938, Bugatti finally adopted Lockheed hydraulically actuated brakes. The lightweight but expensive aluminum-spoked wheels and brake drums were replaced with Rudge-Whitworth center-lock wire wheels and separate brake drums.
This particular Bugatti has one-off coachwork by the Swiss coachbuilder Graber. It is a well-balanced design of higher quality yet less flashy than some of the French Coachbuilder designs of the era.
This Bugatti was completed by the Bugatti Works in September of 1936 and was sold in chassis form to the Bucar Bugatti agency. This particular order was for the Grob Agency in the Zurich Canton of Horgen. The rolling chassis was driven over 150km to Hermann Graber's coachbuilding works on September 21, 1936.
The car's original owner is believed to have been an architect who is created the car's design, while the coachbuilder was responsible for its construction. Several features including the hood louver treatment are common with other Graber bodies.
This unique Pillarless Sports Coupe retains the popular scalloped side panels synonymous with Bugattis, and dispensing with running boards to accentuate separate 'teardrop' or pontoon fenders. The spare tire is set at the back of the car, allowing for an uncompromised design from its quarter-batched hood lovers backward. There are long 'eared' wheel hub spinners which is believed to have been installed to make wheel removal easier for a lady owner early in its career.
By 1960, the Type 57 had come into the care of Dieter Marx of Basel. From there, it was spotted by Dutch Bugatti dealer Bart Loyens. The car had apparently been laid up following an engine failure, allowing Loyens to acquire it for a reasonable SWF500. He would bring it to the Netherlands and it would remain in Dutch ownership for the next 48 years.
After arriving in Holland, the car was placed into storage but it was not long before it passed onto the Dutch Bugatti Agent Albatros, owned by the van Ramhorst brothers. At this point, the engine was replaced by another correct contemporary Type 57 unit, being over-stamped with the car's chassis number. (Currently, the car's broken engine has been repaired and is fitted in Jim Hull's recreation of the 'Torpedo Competition').
In November of 1962, ownership passed to Hans Sauerbrier where it would remain until 2008. In the 1980s, the engine was rebuilt with a new block. Perhaps around this time, it received an upgrade to hydraulic brake system as seen on the later models.
Next, the Bugatti migrated to the United Kingdom where it was sold publicly. Its buyer subsequently refurbished the car mechanically before passing it to the current owner. The current caretaker repainted the car in its current two-tone scheme. The interior was sympathetically attended to, repairing the original leather.By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2017
Jean designed an independent front suspension system using transverse leaf springs for the first two examples of the Type 57. His father, Ettore, later insisted it be replaced by a proper Bugatti hollow tubular live axle. The cars that followed had the traditional Bugatti semi-elliptical front and reversed quarter-elliptical rear leaf springs with cable-operated mechanical drum brakes.
Many of the Type 57 models were given Jean Bugatti-designed coachwork.
Development of the Type 57 continued with the introduction of a stiffened frame and rubber-mounted engine along with the supercharged 160hp Type 57C in 1936. In 1938, Bugatti finally adopted Lockheed hydraulically actuated brakes. The lightweight but expensive aluminum-spoked wheels and brake drums were replaced with Rudge-Whitworth center-lock wire wheels and separate brake drums.
This particular Bugatti has one-off coachwork by the Swiss coachbuilder Graber. It is a well-balanced design of higher quality yet less flashy than some of the French Coachbuilder designs of the era.
This Bugatti was completed by the Bugatti Works in September of 1936 and was sold in chassis form to the Bucar Bugatti agency. This particular order was for the Grob Agency in the Zurich Canton of Horgen. The rolling chassis was driven over 150km to Hermann Graber's coachbuilding works on September 21, 1936.
The car's original owner is believed to have been an architect who is created the car's design, while the coachbuilder was responsible for its construction. Several features including the hood louver treatment are common with other Graber bodies.
This unique Pillarless Sports Coupe retains the popular scalloped side panels synonymous with Bugattis, and dispensing with running boards to accentuate separate 'teardrop' or pontoon fenders. The spare tire is set at the back of the car, allowing for an uncompromised design from its quarter-batched hood lovers backward. There are long 'eared' wheel hub spinners which is believed to have been installed to make wheel removal easier for a lady owner early in its career.
By 1960, the Type 57 had come into the care of Dieter Marx of Basel. From there, it was spotted by Dutch Bugatti dealer Bart Loyens. The car had apparently been laid up following an engine failure, allowing Loyens to acquire it for a reasonable SWF500. He would bring it to the Netherlands and it would remain in Dutch ownership for the next 48 years.
After arriving in Holland, the car was placed into storage but it was not long before it passed onto the Dutch Bugatti Agent Albatros, owned by the van Ramhorst brothers. At this point, the engine was replaced by another correct contemporary Type 57 unit, being over-stamped with the car's chassis number. (Currently, the car's broken engine has been repaired and is fitted in Jim Hull's recreation of the 'Torpedo Competition').
In November of 1962, ownership passed to Hans Sauerbrier where it would remain until 2008. In the 1980s, the engine was rebuilt with a new block. Perhaps around this time, it received an upgrade to hydraulic brake system as seen on the later models.
Next, the Bugatti migrated to the United Kingdom where it was sold publicly. Its buyer subsequently refurbished the car mechanically before passing it to the current owner. The current caretaker repainted the car in its current two-tone scheme. The interior was sympathetically attended to, repairing the original leather.By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2017
2018 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais
Pre-Auction Estimates :
€280,000-€340,000
Sale Price :
USD $360,434 (€ 293,250.00)
2017 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $400,000-USD $480,000
Lot was not sold
2017 Bonhams : Scottsdale, AZ
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $500,000-USD $600,000
Lot was not sold
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bugatti Type 57
(Data based on Model Year 1937 sales)
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Chassis#: 57557 Sold for USD$1,325,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Vanvooren Roadster Chassis#: 57742 Sold for USD$1,132,500 2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island | |
1937 BUGATTI TYPE 57C VENTOUX Chassis#: 57517 Sold for USD$940,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Chassis#: 57156 Sold for USD$582,500 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Chassis#: 57156 Sold for USD$665,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Surbaisse 3.3-Litre Four-Seat Sports Grand Routier Dulcie Chassis#: 57503 Sold for USD$5,634,922 2021 Bonhams : Legends of the Road | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet par Graber Chassis#: 57500 Sold for USD$569,680 2019 Artcurial : Retroobile | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Pillarless Sports Coupe Chassis#: 57443 Sold for USD$360,434 2018 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Chassis#: 57156 Sold for USD$572,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux coach usine Chassis#: 57547 Sold for USD$474,143 2016 Artcurial : LeMans Classic | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Chassis#: 57579 Sold for USD$339,440 2015 Rétromobile by Artcurial Motorcars | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux Chassis#: 57584 Sold for USD$800,000 2015 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff Chassis#: 57467 Sold for USD$985,376 2014 RM Auctions - London | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Roadster in the style of Figoni et Falaschi Chassis#: 57617 Sold for USD$902,000 2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Chassis#: 57524 Sold for USD$420,029 2013 RM Auctions - VILLA ERBA | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Chassis#: 57345 Sold for USD$451,000 2013 Gooding and Company - The Scottsdale Auction | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet Chassis#: 57467 Sold for USD$978,670 2012 RM Auctions - London | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio Cabriolet Chassis#: 57435 Sold for USD$477,848 2011 RM Auctions - London | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Galibier Sports Saloon Chassis#: 57380 Sold for USD$264,402 2011 Bonhams - Beaulieu Autojumble, Collectors' Motor Cars | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupe Chassis#: 57345 Sold for USD$350,000 2011 Mecum Auctions - Monterey, CA The Daytime Auction |
Bugatti Type 57s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1937 Bugatti Type 57's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Roadster | 57495 | 2023 Bonhams : Goodwood Revival | $280,000 | $340,000 | |
1937 BUGATTI TYPE 57C VENTOUX | 57506 | 2022 Gooding & Company : London Auction | $800,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57C Ventoux | 57584 | 2020 RM Sothebys : Shift/Monterey | $700,000 | $850,000 | |
1938 Bugatti Type 57C Atalante Coupe | 57641 | 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Riyadh Auction | $2,800,000 | ||
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Pillarless Sports Coupe | 57443 | 2017 Bonhams : Greenwich Concours | $400,000 | $480,000 | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Pillarless Sports Coupe | 57443 | 2017 Bonhams : Scottsdale, AZ | $500,000 | $600,000 | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux | 2008 Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | $390,000 | $475,000 | $575,000 | |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 | 57546 | 2008 Bonhams Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles Automobiles d'Exception | $350,000 | $450,000 | |
1937 Bugatti T57 Stelvio | 57440 | 2008 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona | $395,000 | $450,000 | $550,000 |
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux | 2006 Bonhams & Butterfields at The Quail Lodge, Resort & Golf Club | $265,000 | $300,000 | ||
1937 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Sports Saloon | 57548 | 2005 Bonhams Sports, Competition & Collectors' Motor Cars, F1 Memorabilia, Automobilia & Models | $160,000 | $200,000 | |
1937 BUGATTI TYPE 57 C ATALANTE DECOUVRABLE | 2001 Kruse Auction Scottsdale Arizona | $550,000 |
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1937 Bugatti Type 57
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