1914 Bugatti Type 22 Torpedo

This Bugatti Type 22 taper-tailed tourer wears coachwork by Carrosserie Chauvet of 88 Rue Fez Ileau, Levallois (active coachbuilder from 1912 through 1929). It is believed that this Chauvet-bodied automobile is the only surviving creation on a Bugatti chassis. It was originally ordered for Karl Fisher of Tubingen on November 19th of 1913, but after the order was canceled, the car was sold by G. Dillón-Kavanagh, the agent in charge of the sale of most Bugattis in France, to Seine agent Albert Viriot. Although not known for certain, this may have been the automobile used when Viriot competed in the Tourisme category at the Cabourg race meeting between 12–14 July 1914 and finished First in Class.

During World War I, it is believed that the car remained in Paris. On July 10th of 1919, it was registered anew as 8753 C, in the name of Mrs. Louise Terrillon. Later, the car passed to her grandson, René Terrillon, who used it during the early 1950s for daily transportation. After Jean passed away in 1972, the Type 22 was sold to Bugatti dealer Henri Lalanne of Tours. A short time later, it was acquired by Gerard Paquet, who began a restoration but sold it to Jean-François du Montant before the work was completed. The car's next owner was the current custodian who acquired it in the early 1990s following the completion of the restoration.

This Bugatti has leather upholstery, a canvas top, Bronze Rushmore headlamps, Bugatti-badged instrumentation, and a more recently fitted Jones combination speedometer/odometer.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022