1934 Bugatti Type 51 Boattail Roadster

The Bugatti Type 51 introduced a new DOHC cylinder head design and was available with either 2.0-liter or 2.3-liter engines and in T51A tune with 1.5-liter supercharged power. Production of the Type 51 began in 1931 and continued through 1935 with approximately 40 examples built in total, including several cars upgraded at Bugatti's Molsheim works from supercharged single-cam Type 35 racing cars.

The origin of this Bugatti Type 51 begins on July 7th of 1931, when two 2.3-liter Type 35B engines, nos. 205 and 207, were on hand at Bugatti's Molsheim works. These two powerplants had been upgraded to twin-cam Type 51 specification, and engine number 205 would become a 2.3-liter Type 51 engine, no. 17. This was the engine installed to this Type 51, assembled on July 7, 1931.

It is believed that this Works racing Bugatti was driven by William Grover-Williams at the German Grand Prix on the Nürburgring on July 19, 1931. It is believed that this was the vehicle's only race outing during 1931. It may have been used during test sessions by Bugatti driver Louis Chiron for the Grand Prix de la Marne on July 3, 1932, and at the French Grand Prix tests at Reims that month.

Following the test sessions, the engine was overhauled on August 9th, along with work to the rear axle and gearbox on August 19th. More service was performed on the car from January to early February 1934.

In March of 1934, the car was used by Robert Benoist for practice and training runs at Montlhéry.

It is believed that this Bugatti's first private owner was Claude Bossu who acquired it on July 13th, 1934. Between 1934 and 1936, Bossu (racing under the pseudonym 'Barowski') contested seven events, including a 1st in Class victory at the September 1934 Mont Ventoux Hill Climb. It placed 2nd at Montlhéry, plus 1st in Class at the Côte de Lectoure race on September 1, 1935. The final outing in Bossu's care was in May 1936 at the Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay, Belgium. The circuit was wet and muddy, causing Bossu to drive off course, into a field, and flipped, causing minor chassis damage. Unharmed, he elected to retire from racing.

Bossu sold the car to Jean Delorme who proceeded to rebuild the 2.3-liter engine with most of the mechanical parts from 51154, including the crankshaft and upper crankcase. The parts from 51149 were then fitted to 51154, transforming it into a 2,300 cc car. Both 51149 and 51154 retained their original lower crankcases, stamped with engine nos. 27 and 17, respectively. Additional work performed by Bossu included adding a large supercharger, repainting the body, and transferring the hood and road equipment from 51149 to 51154.

Near the close of 1936, both cars were offered for sale, with 51154 purchased by H.R.H Prince Bertil of Sweden, who then resided in Paris. In 1937, it was sold to Spanish racer Genaro Leoz, through whom the car passed to Jack Lemon Burton of the UK, who then sold the Bugatti to Donald B. Parkinson, an American architect, with the car shipped to him in Los Angeles. In 1938, it was acquired by George Dillwyn Parrish, who sold it approximately two years later to Los Angeles playboy Tommy Lee, who raced the car on the dry lakes in 1940 and kept the Bugatti in his collection until around 1946. The next documented owner was W. Hudson Mills, who sold the car circa 1965 to Robert Fergus. Joel Finn became part owner of the Bugatti around 1972. Ralph Lauren purchased 51154 in January 1986.

While in Mr. Lauren's care, the car received a meticulous restoration by UK Bugatti experts Crosthwaite & Gardiner. The work was completed in March 1993. Mr. Lauren retained the car until 2004 when the current caretaker acquired it. Since then, the car has actively campaigned at the Goodwood Revival Meeting and Monaco Historic Races.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2022