1938 Bugatti Type 57

Sold for $1,105,000 at 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey.
Bugatti built 43 examples of the Type 57S and this example was delivered to Bugatti's Brixton Road agency in London, England, and purchased by Mr. G.D. Pearce-Jones of Oxshott. It then received a closed coupe body by English coachbuilder Corsica and was registered on June 7th of 1938. In 1948, Pearce-Jones sold the car to Anthony Clark. The car would subsequently pass through two owners before arriving in the custodianship of Daniel Richmond. A road accident in 1952 bent the frame, so the Bugatti was dismantled and stored for rebuilding at a later date. More tragedy followed in 1964 when the building storing the parts caught fire, causing further damage. Mr. Richmond gave the remains to Ronnie Symondson, who since 1938 was the owner of another Type 57S and had an extensive supply of original parts.

The bent chassis was straightened and a new front cross-member was sourced from the factory. The engine was given an unused factory cylinder block, with a Le Mans-type crankshaft, and a correct-type crankcase, stamped 3S, from a separate Type 57S then under Mr. Richmond's ownership (chassis 57375). A more modern coil ignition was installed, along with Hepolite pistons providing a 9:1 compression ratio. The original Stromberg carburetor was replaced with a Bugatti unit, and All-new timing gears were installed, along with engine mountings, transmission gears, and shafts.

Wakefields & Sons of Byfleet, Surrey was commissioned to construct a body with styling contemporary to the late 1960s.

A.J. McAlpine acquired the Bugatti in 1972 and over the next decade, the Bugatti was shown and used sparingly. Brian Classic became its next caretaker in 1984 and decided that new coachwork should be built for the Type 57S. Jack Buddey was hired to build the Col. Gilles Corsica Roadster-inspired coachwork which currently rests atop the vehicle's chassis. Several differences were added to differentiate the two vehicles; 57601 was given a tail and fenders similar to those of Gangloff coachwork.

Oscar Davis acquired the Bugatti in 1998 and it has been part of his collection ever since.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022