1927 Bugatti Type 37A Boattail Speedster

The purpose-built Bugatti Type 37 was introduced in 1926 and it combined the single-overhead-cam, three-valve, four-cylinder of the Type 40 with a chassis based on that of the Type 35 competition car. This combination provided race car performance at road car cost.

The Bugatti Type 35 was an eight-cylinder Grand Prix racer while the Type 37 received a four-cylinder unit. The smaller powerplant was considered by many to be more reliable and relied on mechanical simplicity, finesse, and lightweight design for its performance. Comparatively, the eight-cylinder unit used brute force to accomplish its task. The 1.5-liter engine at the heart of the Type 37 was compact and powerful, and complemented by effective braking, an aerodynamic body shape, and small overall proportions.

Approximately 18 months after the Type 37's initial introduction, Bugatti introduced the Type 37A with a Roots-Type supercharger. The Type 37 was very competitive, and the additional of the supercharger drastically improved its performance, allowing it to reach speeds of 122 mph. In this guise, it would achieve success at many of hte world's greatest endurance races of the time, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Mille Miglia, and the Targa Florio. Of the 286 Type 37s produced, 76 were supercharged from the factory.

This example, chassis number 37317, is a factory-supercharged Type 37A that was purchased new on June 16th, 1928, but Baron Philippe de Rothschild. He was an avid race car driver during the late 1920s and often raced under the pseudonym 'George Philippe' for anonymity.

This car does have a competition history and was photographed in action in period. The car has passed through a succession of owners through the 1930s and 1940s and was recorded as having been acquired by Bugatti agent Dominique Lamberjack's dealership in 1949. The following year it was purchased from the dealer by American Cabot Briggs, who commissioned a restoration by Lamberjack in 1959. The car remained in Mr. Briggs's care until1 965, when it was sold to Ray Jones, who traded it to Gene Cesari of New Hampshire, through whom it passed to Bill Serri of New Jersey, and then, in 1967, to the current California-based owner.

A restoration was initiated prior to the owner's passing in 2000. His widow oversaw the completion of the restoration. It was then put on display at the 2004 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it received Third in Class.

In 2014, the car was offered for sale at the Pebble Beach Concours auction presented by Gooding & Company - the first time in 47 years that it was offered for sale.

The car is equipped with a proper supercharger and an electric starter.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014