1938 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet

Bugatti introduced its Type 57 model in 1934 and was the first new model built under Jean Bugatti's direction and employed a dual overhead camshaft eight-cylinder engine that displaced 3,257cc (72x100mm bore and stroke). The crankshaft ran in five main bearings and the camshafts were driven by helical-tooth gears. The transmission was fixed to the engine crankcase and operated via a single plate clutch. It had four speeds with the top three being in constant mesh. The first two Type 57 examples used an independent front suspension with transverse leaf springs, with forthcoming examples using a Bugatti hollow tubular live axle and traditional arrangement of semi-elliptical front and reversed quarter-elliptical rear leaf springs with cable-operated mechanical drum brakes.

This particular example is a Type 57C wearing Stelvio Convertible coachwork by Gangloff. It is powered by a 3,257cc dual overhead camshaft inline-8-cylinder engine with a dual throat Updraft Stromberg UUR-2 carburetor and supercharger. Its 170 horsepower at 5,500 RPM is sent to the rear wheels via a four-speed Cotal Pre-Selector manual gearbox. Four-wheel Lockheed Hydraulic brakes provide the stopping power. There are semi-elliptic leaf springs all round with a live rear axle and rigid front axle.

Albert Brenac ordered this Bugatti (order number 1010) on July 29th, 1938 and the chassis left the factory a month later (August 30th) destined for Gangloff to have its Cabriolet coachwork installed. The car was ready for delivery on October 21st, 1938.

The car remained in Mr. Brenac's care for eight years, and during that time it was enjoyed enthusiastically. The second owner was a Monsieur Helle who kept the car briefly before parting with it on September 24th, 1946, selling it to Charles Ehrmann of Nice, who also retained it briefly, selling it in the spring of 1947 to Albert Benmussa of Lyon. Mr. Lyon participated with 57748 in the 1950 edition of the Lyon-Charbonnière Rallyes, and may have been joined by Mr. Campenon. A photo at the event displays the vehicle in two-tone blue paintwork and wearing wheel discs and race number 8. On September 7th of 1952, the car was entered on the 'Côte de la Rochette' races in Hauteville, in the Ain department of France.

During 1952 and 1953, the Bugatti received a complete engine rebuild in the workshops of Marcel Piottin. During this time, the lower panels of the car's hood received the vented panels still present on the car today. At the same time, it also was fitted with a windshield washer and front shock absorbers.

The Bugatti remained with Mr. Benmussa until 1956 when on April 3rd it was sold to François Kresser of the Paris suburb of Neuilly sur Seine. American Bugatti connoisseur, Miles Coverdale acquired it on December 2nd, 1957, and had it registered in Grenoble, France, where he was working at the time. When Mr. Coverdale returned to America, he brought the Bugatti Stateside, to his home on Long Island. Mr. Coverdale used the Bugatti regularly and had it displaced at Austie Clark's Long Island Auto Museum in the Hamptons. The car remained in Mr. Coverdale's care until he passed in 2002. By this point in history, the car had been painted a grey color. From Mr. Coverdale's estate, the Bugatti was purchased by Greenwich-based Bugatti enthusiast Desmond Fitzgerald who had the car returned to its original blue livery, albeit in a single Royal Blue hue. The car was reupholstered in a matching dark blue hid. When the work was completed in 2004, the Bugatti was sold to the car's penultimate owner who entered it in the 2010 American Bugatti Club 50th Anniversary Tour. In 2015 it was sold at Bonhams Greenwich, Connecticut Auction to the current owner.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2022