1931 Bugatti Type 40A Roadster

Ettore Bugatti assembled his first self-propelled tricycle in the waning days of the 19th century. His immediate passion for all things automotive led to his relocation to Alsace and the birth of his namesake company. In the period between world wars, Bugattis were essentially invincible.

Bugatti launched the Type 40 model in 1926, aiming to replace the company's previous 16-valve Brescia touring model. The Type 40 used the 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine first used in some Type 37s but slightly detuned with one Zenith or twin Solex carburetors and coil ignition. The Type 40 was available as a standard 4-seat coupe or a roadster. The Type 40A shared its engine block with the Type 40 but displaced 1.6 liters. After about 30 cars were built with this chassis specification, the Type 40A was discontinued in 1930.

This car was produced in April 1931 as a Type 40A, a small sports car for personal use. It carries a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 50 horsepower and can accelerate to almost 80 MPH. It weighs barely a ton and 40 examples were produced.

It was initially purchased by Erwin Schmidt of Strasbourg, who took delivery on June 4th of that year. It eventually ended up in the hands of a U.S. Army Lieutenant Robert S. Phillips, stationed in France. The car passed through two American owners before being purchased by the current owners. They completed a nut-and-bolt restoration in 2010. This car, a roadster, is chassis number 40904 and is a late model that has been restored by marque expert Jim Stranberg.