1928 Bugatti Type 43 Roadster

This Bugatti Type 43 was delivered as a rolling chassis to Stand Auto Garage on the Champs-Élysées in Paris after being invoiced in September of 1928. It received standard Grand Sport coachwork a month later and was registered to its first owner, Robert Senechal. When he raced in 1928 at the Rallye de Pau to victory (in the 2-to-3 liter category), the car wore temporary torpedo bodywork. A few days later, while competing at the Morlaas hillclimb, he earned a class win.

In January 1929, the car was given its roadster-style body by Lavocat et Marsaud which it wears today. It has seating for two plus a rumble seat in the rear, a folding windscreen, and front wings that follow into the running boards. Shortly after the coachwork was fitted, the car was campaigned at the French Motorcycle Club Hill Climb, with a class win at the Gometz le Chatel hillclimb coming that October. A short time later, it was sold into new ownership, and in 1932 it was acquired by Jean Trevoux. Mr. Trevoux won the Paris to Nice Rally outright a few months later with this Bugatti. This amazing accomplishment was followed by a class victory at the La Turbie hillclimb.

Before World War II, this car would have four additional French owners. Jean Charbonneaux purchased it in 1945 and retained it for over a decade. He also owned another Type 43 (chassis 43251 with engine number 62) and at some point during his ownership, the engines were swapped. François Claude Pruvot became the next owner in 1955 and sold to it a Parisian mechanic, Jacques Banao, in 1962. By 1965, the Bugatti had been exported to England and into the collection of Peter Newens. Franck Wall became the next custodian in 1971 and commissioned an extensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration. Upon completion, it wore a shade of dark blue, plate numbered FGW 27C, and aluminum cycle-style front fenders had replaced the original swept wings.

The Bugatti was sold at auction in London in October of 1978 to the Seydoux Collection in Paris. Oscar Davis acquired it in 1996 and it would remain on the continent where it was maintained at a shop in the Netherlands so it could be enjoyed at a moment's notice for several European rallies.

Davis sold the car in 2002 to a New Hampshire gentleman but would re-purchase the vehicle in 2007. In 2006, the car received an FIA Historic Technical Passport.

This Bugatti Type 43 currently wears a red exterior with a black leather interior. It has an aluminum louvered hood, fixed-rim-type wheels, cycle fenders, and a suite of Jaeger gauges.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022