1938 Bugatti Type 57
(Featured on 24th May 2014)
Make: Bugatti
Model: Type 57
Year: 1938
Sellers original description:
1938 Bugatti Type 57 By Guillore of Paris.
Chassis number: 57651.
Engine Number 505 (Matching.)
A stunning Jewel of a car in absolutely top order. This is one of a pair we are selling for the owner & are available as a pair or separately. This car was dismantled during the war due to a lack of readily avalable spare parts & stored for the duration. After the war it was discovered by Kurt Kiefer, the founder & then president of the German Bugatti club. He undertook a complete rebuild of the engine utilizing the services of Bugatti "Pope" Hans Wilde at his workshop in Gelsenkirchen.
An original Guillore of Paris body was obtained for the car which had been found in Molshiem & originally destined for a 57 before hostilities interrupted its progress. The Guillore body has a unique glass sliding sunroof not dissimilar to the atlantic design. It is a delightful tear drop fastback shape which looks stunning from any angle.
In 1984 the engine was dis-assembled checked & found to be in superb order with a new crank shaft, pistons, valves etc etc. Since then the car has been sparingly used on private tours. The car is thus in superb condition mechanically & absolutely ready for use.
We photographed the car near the current owners German home after driving it up a nearby mountain to take advantage of the early morning light & stunning views; a perfect setting for the car. Hearing the straight eight engine howling up the mountain was music in itself. One has to drive & experience this car to appreciate how special it is & how it touches ones soul.
The car features in Barrie Prices type 57 book on page 111. It was also the template for a die cast model series, a piece of which comes with the car.
Finished in deep black the exterior is flawless & in simply superb condition set of beautifully by the chrome wire wheels to the 4 corners. Under the bonnet the twin cam straight eight is highly detailed & perfect. The interior of the car is a wonderfully mellow tobacco leather to the seating surfaces & door cards, complimented by a walnut dash board. The requisite instrumentation is all present & correct.
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