1934 Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio

The Bugatti Type 57 was introduced in 1934 and was the first new model built under Jean Bugatti's direction. The dual overhead camshaft eight-cylinder engine displaced 3,257cc, had a 72mm bore, a 100mm stroke, and its crankshaft ran in five main bearings. At the engine's rear, the camshafts were driven by a train of helical-tooth gears, with a further crankshaft bearing behind them. The transmission was fixed to the engine crankcase (a first for Bugatti) and used a single plate clutch. The four-speed unit had constant mesh on the top three gears. The front suspension was independent using transverse leaf springs for the first two examples of the Type 57 before it was replaced by a hollow tubular live axle. The Type 57s that followed used traditional Bugatti semi-elliptical front and reversed quarter-elliptical rear leaf springs with cable-operated mechanical drum brakes.

This Bugatti Type 57 was delivered in chassis form on March 29, 1934, to Marcel Gagneraud in France. It was briefly bodied as a four-door 'Berline' by coachbuilder Mignot & Billebault of Boulogne-sur-Seine (Paris). The Bugatti remained with Mr. Gagneraud briefly. The second owner sent the Type 57 to Ganglof in Colmar in the second half of 1934, where it was re-bodied with the coachwork that it wears in modern times.

The Bugatti was exported into Basle in Switzerland on December 28th, 1934. A later owner named Marc Saugey of Geneva returned the car to the road on April 23, 1948. It remained in his care through September 1, 1952. The next formal owner was Richard Hoffman of Lake Geneva, who registered it for the road on July 30, 1955. About a year later, the car returned to the Geneva-based ownership of Pierre Adler; by 1958, it was owned by an Anglo-Swiss individual named Robert Baer. The next owner was Jean de Dobbeleer of Belgium, who sold it a short time later to Bernard Haines of America. The next owner was Judge John North, who kept it for four years before it moved to the long-term custody of John Metzgar. Mr. Metzgar retained the car through 2007 when it was sold to Mark Smith of PA. Howard Fafard purchased the car around 2012.

While in Mr. Fafard's care, the car received a new two-tone paint scheme of dark blue over silver. Wear this new color scheme, the car was seen at the American Bugatti Club rallies of 2013 in Mont Tremblant and the following year at Lake Placid.

It is believed that Gangloff built 17 four-seater dropheads from 1934 to late 1935.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2023