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This Bugatti Type 57C is one of three examples that remain in existence with the Aravis body style by Gangloff, which was built in 1938 and 1939. It is a 2/3-seater cabriolet that was first offered in the 1938 catalogue and only Gangloff and Letourneur et Marchand were allowed to dub their 2/3-seater cabriolets 'Aravis.' It is believed that a total of twelve examples were built, with each coachbuilder building six.
Dr. André Charles Chauvenet of Thouars, France, ordered this Bugatti in the fall of 1938 through the local dealer J.B. Arnaud. Dr. Chauvenet requested the Bugatti be equipped with a supercharger, Stromberg carburetor, electric starter, and Rudge wheels. Wearing its Aravis Convertible Coupe body by Gangloff, the car's final retail price was 135,000 Francs.
Beyond just a 'standard' Aravis, this was further refined with chrome side molding, three sets of vertical hood louvres, headlamp guards, a black top with red leatherette piping, and a foam-stuffed rear seat. It is believed that the original color was black or a very dark shade of blue or purple, over a red leather interior.
By mid-November 1938, Gangloff had completed the body, although Bugatti apparently did not send the coachworks the rolling chassis until late December. The coachwork was not applied to the chassis until the new year, and Chauvenet took delivery in January 1939. Dr. Chauvenet would enjoy the Bugatti briefly as a few months later, he was called back into service as a medical officer for the French Army. Although Dr. Chauvenet was captured and imprisoned in the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp, he survived the war. When peacetime returned, he was reunited with his Bugatti in early May 1945.
Dr. Chauvenet sold his Bugatti in February of 1946 to Didier Soriano of Bordeaux via the originating dealer J.B. Arnaud. It then passed to Hermann Trümpy of Glarus, Switzerland in October 1947, and would race it in several amateur hill climb events throughout Switzerland.
Around 1951, André Turrettini of Geneva became the car's next custodian and would retain it until 1959. On December 12, 1951, that was damaged along the front driver's side fender. The next custodian was Pierre Strinati of Geneva who, in 1959, commissioned the coachbuilder Graber to mount a solid steel roof to the body. Additionally, the car was sympathetically redone in a two-tone red and black paintjob over maroon leather.
The car remained in the Strinati Collection until 1984 when it was subsequently exported from Switzerland. It passed through the stables of the late Bill Serri, Jr. of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and then the late Myron Schuster of Bedford, New York. In August of 1993, it was purchased by Oscar Davis who would soon embark on an accurate and complete restoration to its original specifications. The work was entrusted to Classic Coach Repair of Elizabeth, New Jersey and work had begun by late 1995. The chassis and drivetrain were restored by Leydon Restorations of Lahaska, Pennsylvania. The 3.3-liter dual-overhead-camshaft straight-eight-cylinder engine was rebuilt and returned to its original supercharged condition.
The engine, numbered 431, is listed as being previously installed in chassis 57619, a 1937 57C Stelvio.
The restoration took seven years to complete. After completion, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (and Tour), Louis Vuitton Classic Concours, Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and other leading events.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022
Dr. André Charles Chauvenet of Thouars, France, ordered this Bugatti in the fall of 1938 through the local dealer J.B. Arnaud. Dr. Chauvenet requested the Bugatti be equipped with a supercharger, Stromberg carburetor, electric starter, and Rudge wheels. Wearing its Aravis Convertible Coupe body by Gangloff, the car's final retail price was 135,000 Francs.
Beyond just a 'standard' Aravis, this was further refined with chrome side molding, three sets of vertical hood louvres, headlamp guards, a black top with red leatherette piping, and a foam-stuffed rear seat. It is believed that the original color was black or a very dark shade of blue or purple, over a red leather interior.
By mid-November 1938, Gangloff had completed the body, although Bugatti apparently did not send the coachworks the rolling chassis until late December. The coachwork was not applied to the chassis until the new year, and Chauvenet took delivery in January 1939. Dr. Chauvenet would enjoy the Bugatti briefly as a few months later, he was called back into service as a medical officer for the French Army. Although Dr. Chauvenet was captured and imprisoned in the infamous Buchenwald concentration camp, he survived the war. When peacetime returned, he was reunited with his Bugatti in early May 1945.
Dr. Chauvenet sold his Bugatti in February of 1946 to Didier Soriano of Bordeaux via the originating dealer J.B. Arnaud. It then passed to Hermann Trümpy of Glarus, Switzerland in October 1947, and would race it in several amateur hill climb events throughout Switzerland.
Around 1951, André Turrettini of Geneva became the car's next custodian and would retain it until 1959. On December 12, 1951, that was damaged along the front driver's side fender. The next custodian was Pierre Strinati of Geneva who, in 1959, commissioned the coachbuilder Graber to mount a solid steel roof to the body. Additionally, the car was sympathetically redone in a two-tone red and black paintjob over maroon leather.
The car remained in the Strinati Collection until 1984 when it was subsequently exported from Switzerland. It passed through the stables of the late Bill Serri, Jr. of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and then the late Myron Schuster of Bedford, New York. In August of 1993, it was purchased by Oscar Davis who would soon embark on an accurate and complete restoration to its original specifications. The work was entrusted to Classic Coach Repair of Elizabeth, New Jersey and work had begun by late 1995. The chassis and drivetrain were restored by Leydon Restorations of Lahaska, Pennsylvania. The 3.3-liter dual-overhead-camshaft straight-eight-cylinder engine was rebuilt and returned to its original supercharged condition.
The engine, numbered 431, is listed as being previously installed in chassis 57619, a 1937 57C Stelvio.
The restoration took seven years to complete. After completion, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (and Tour), Louis Vuitton Classic Concours, Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, and other leading events.By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2022
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,600,000-USD $2,300,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,545,000
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Bugatti Type 57
(Data based on Model Year 1939 sales)
1938 BUGATTI TYPE 57C ARAVIS 'SPECIAL CABRIOLET' Chassis#: 57768 Sold for USD$6,605,000 2024 Gooding & Co: Selections From The Mullin Collection Auction | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet Project Chassis#: 57751 Sold for USD$295,032 2023 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde à Paris | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff Chassis#: 57769 Sold for USD$577,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Aravis Special Cabriolet by Gangloff Chassis#: 57798 Sold for USD$1,545,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet in the style of Corsica Chassis#: 57838 Sold for USD$527,500 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1939 BUGATTI TYPE 57 GALIBIER Chassis#: 57752 Sold for USD$434,000 2022 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island Auction | |
1939 Bugatti 57 Cabriolet 4 places par Vanvooren Chassis#: 57780 Sold for USD$575,368 2020 Artcurial Motorcars : Monaco | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff Chassis#: 57731 Sold for USD$875,938 2020 RM : The European Sale featuring the Petitjean Collection | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio by Gangloff Chassis#: 57834 Sold for USD$797,000 2020 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island Auction | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C coupé Atalante Chassis#: 57624 Sold for USD$3,556,420 2018 Artcurial : Retromobile | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Cabriolet Chassis#: 57841 Sold for USD$1,512,500 2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand Chassis#: 57587 Sold for USD$1,017,500 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Gangloff Chassis#: 57731 Sold for USD$746,704 2016 RM Sotheby's : Monaco | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Three-Position Drophead Coupe Chassis#: 57809 Sold for USD$913,000 2011 Automobiles of Arizona by RM Auctions | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Faux Cabriolet 'Charmaine' Chassis#: 57787 Sold for USD$503,611 2009 RM Auctions - Automobiles of London | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Chassis#: 57624 Sold for USD$880,000 2008 Gooding & Company | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Chassis#: 57806C Sold for USD$396,000 2008 Gooding & Company | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Chassis#: 57749 Sold for USD$1,930,000 2004 Bonhams - MOTOR CARS |
Bugatti Type 57s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1939 Bugatti Type 57's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1939 Bugatti Type 57 Cabriolet by Letourneur et Marchand | 57587 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Arizona | $900,000 | $1,200,000 | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Stelvio Cabriolet | 57836 | 2020 Bonhams : Les Grandes Marques du Monde au Grand Palais | $1,350,000 | $1,650,000 | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Galibier | 57752 | 2009 Pebble Beach Auction : Gooding & Company | $275,000 | $350,000 | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C | 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | $380,000 | $550,000 | $750,000 | |
1939 Bugatti Type 57C Faux Cabriolet Charmaine | 57787 | 2008 Sports & Classics of Monterey by RM Auctions | $375,000 | $600,000 | $750,000 |
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1939 Bugatti Type 57
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