1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet

This Bugatti Type 57C wears Cabriolet coachwork in the style of Corsica. It was invoiced on July 28th, 1939, and delivered sans coachwork to Bugatti's Brixton Road agency in London. It was given two-seater roadster coachwork by Vanden Plas and registered with number DWW 222 on September 27th, 1939.

The car's original owner is believed to have been Edward G. Thomson, sponsor of the Ecurie Ecosse racing team, who is believed to have ordered the car in the post-war era but did not acquire it until peacetime. Thomson owned the car until 1970 and by this point in history, much of the coachwork had deteriorated. Only the fenders, hood, and two seats remained from the original coachwork.

Leonard Potter, the car's then-owner, commissioned a copy of the Corsica two-seater roadster from the Tourist Trophy model, chassis 57326. This work was completed by Keith Bowley of Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations.

Roney Clark owned it before it was exported to the United States in 1980 by dealer Peter Harper for their client Bryon White of Massachusetts. In 1989, Oscar Davis became its next custodian who commissioned a multi-year mechanical restoration by Leydon Restorations in 2004. A new Corsica-style body was constructed by D.L. George Historic Motorcars to a design that featured teardrop-shaped pontoon fenders and a low-cut fixed windscreen. The exterior was done in deep red paint, the interior was trimmed in tan leather, and the wooden dashboard carried an assortment of Jaeger gauges.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022