1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet

The Bugatti Type 57 was originally offered with four distinct body designs, three of which were named after famous mountain peaks in the Alps: Galibier, Ventoux, and Stelvio. Although they were designed by Bugatti, most were sent out to a variety of coachbuilders to build their bodies. This Type 57C Stelvio chassis was delivered to the coachbuilder Gangloff of Colmar, near Bugatti's hometown of Molsheim, in December 1937. The chassis was fitted with a rare round-tail style that is similar to the rear of an Atalante. It also features unusual faired-in headlamps in the front fenders. The car was delivered to its first owner in Lyon, France, where it remained with several owners over the years. Sadly, the car was rather neglected but was saved from being scrapped in 1957 by famous Bugatti collector Jean-Louis du Montant. At some stage, the engine was replaced with another Type 57 unit. In 1963 the car was sold to Dr. Richard Roger of Beverly Hills, California, who owned it for the next 15 years. After a restoration, the Type 57 was shown at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded First in Class. Its current owner has just completed a fresh restoration prior to its return to Pebble Beach in 2021.

Bugatti's Type 57 was developed directly from motorsports and fitted with the best elements of luxury and automotive athleticism. Introduced in 1934, the Type 57 was the replacement for the aging Type 49. It wore a design courtesy of Ettore Bugatti's son, Jean, and fitted with an eight-cylinder twin-cam engine from the Type 49. The primary difference being the presence of timing gears rather than timing chains.

The Type 57 was originally offered in four distinct body styles, three of which were named after famous mountain peaks in the Alps, Galibier, Stelvio, and Ventoux.

Customers could have their Type 57 fitted with a Roots-type supercharger; such examples were dubbed the Type 57C. The 57C was first seen installed in a Ventoux at the 1936 Paris Salon, and it became available for customers later that year. Racing iterations of the Type 57C won the French Grand Prix in 1936 and the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1937 and 1939.

Bugatti produced a total of 684 examples of the Type 57 before the Bugatti factory was forced to close due to World War II. Ninety-six of those were the Type 57C.

This Type 57C wears Stelvio coachwork, which offered open-air motoring for four passengers. It was delivered new to a Bugatti dealership in Lyon, France. It was constructed by the factory in Molsheim with a supercharged engine and it received Gangloff coachwork. The d'Aubarede brothers, Jean and Paul, who resided in Lyon, purchased this car as a replacement for a naturally aspirated Type 57 drophead. It was later registered in the department of Rhone under plate number 4090 PF 9. The car remained with the brothers until at least the beginning of 1939. The car was reportedly requisitioned from the d'Aubarede family for use during the war. After the war, in 1957, the car was found, still registered in Lyon with plate 3644 Z 69, by Henri Malatre. It was later purchased by Jean-Louis du Montant, of Eymoutiers in western France. At the time, it was painted light blue. Around this time, it is believed that the car received the supercharged engine that it retains today from another Type 57, chassis 57809, and the engine was numbered 82C.

Dr. Richard Roger of Southern California purchased the car in May of 1963. It remained in Dr. Roger's care for the next 15 years before it was purchased in 1978 by Gary W. Tiscornia, of Milford, Michigan. A full restoration soon began; upon completion, it was finished in teal-on-teal color combination with a light tan convertible top. The restoration was completed in 1988. It was invited to the 1989 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it won its class. It scored 100 points at CCCA events three times, in Michigan at the 1989 CCCA Grand Classic, at the 1990 annual meeting, where it was awarded Senior Premier status, and in Minnesota in 1990.

Mr. Tiscornia sold the car in 1999. The following year, it was acquired by Bob Pond in September 2000 from the Blackhawk Collection. Mr. Pond showed the car on several occasions, including at the 2009 Desert Classic Concours d'Elegance in Palm Springs, California.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2014