Vehicle Description
Chassis No. 57742
Introduced in 1934, the Bugatti Type 57 would emerge as the first
model built under the direction of Jean Bugatti, the well-respected
engineer, designer, and son of founder Ettore. One of the most
sophisticated, highly praised road-going chassis of Bugatti's
illustrious history, the Type 57 featured elegantly designed
coachwork from some of Europe's most notable coachbuilders. As a
result, ownership of a Type 57 provided not only one of the finest
driving experiences, but also a statement of high fashion and
automotive sculptural taste.
The Type 57 would also include many luxury refinements providing
better ease of use for customers. As opposed to the bevel gears
used on previous Bugattis, the Type 57 would use spur gears to
transmit power from the crankshaft to the camshafts, dramatically
reducing noise levels. Featuring four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
and a solid front axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs and live
rear axle with quarter elliptic leaf springs, these upgrades
provided the Type 57 chassis impressive stability at high speeds.
These improved touring characteristics were demonstrated by Jean
Bugatti boasting claims of completing the 270-mile trip from
Molsheim to Paris in less than three and a half hours.
Bugatti Type 57 Chassis No. 5774
According to research provided by highly respected Bugatti
Historian David Sewell, chassis no. 5774 was produced in November
1938 and fitted with Galibier four-door saloon coachwork built
in-house at Bugatti's Molsheim factory. Completed on 27 January
1939 and finished in Ermine Red with Havana Brown leather trim, it
was then delivered to Bugatti's Paris agency and added to their
stock held at their Foire de Lyon depot. Factory records indicate
the vehicle was first delivered to Besancon, France about 30 miles
from the Swiss border to its first owner St. Martin. While
subsequent history remains unclear into the 1960s, Type 57 no.
57742 was eventually re-discovered and purchased in the 1960s by
Jean Serre. A reclusive collector, Monsieur Serre would build up an
impressive, but largely secret collection of automobiles, also to
include this one-off Vanvooren roadster body acquired from Hans
Weber Henning which originally belonged to Bugatti Type 57 chassis
no. 57430.
One-off Vanvooren Coachwork
Based in the Northwest suburbs of Paris, Carrosserie Vanvooren was
responsible for some of the most beautiful automotive creations
throughout the 1920s and 30s. Among their creations is this
stunning one-off roadster body, originally ordered by Prince Louis
Napoleon for Bugatti Type 57 chassis No. 57430. A direct descendant
of Napoleon Bonaparte, Prince Louis was an enthusiastic amateur
racing driver and experienced Bugatti customer who originally
ordered this body using his alias 'de Montfort'. At some point in
its life, this Vanvooren coachwork was removed and later fitted to
the car on offer, chassis No. 57742. While the exact details of
when exactly this occurred remain unknown, a photograph in a 1976
issue of Pur Sang confirms the Vanvooren body was removed prior to
that date.
Unification
With both Type 57 chassis no. 57742 and the special one-off
Vanvooren roadster body now belonging to Jean Serre, he would
eventually sell the chassis and body to a collector in Southern
California sometime between 1997 and 2003. During this period, the
body and chassis were united and also upgraded to supercharged
configuration. Boasting over 210 horsepower with a supercharger
(compresseur), this upgrade delivers significant performance
advantages over the already capable Type 57.
In 2005, records indicate that Dutchman Tony Paalman had shown this
vehicle at the Techno Classica Essen with his then firm "Car
Discoveries". After this period, chassis no. 57742 was delivered to
the US by famed car collector Howard Fafard in Framingham,
Massachusetts who commissioned a complete restoration at
Competition Motors Portsmouth, NH. During this restoration,
beginning January 2006, meticulous documentation and over one
thousand photographs were taken and archived. These documents tell
a story of an extensive, frame-off restoration with detailed
invoices noting specific work performed to the vehicle. Restored in
formal Black over Aubergine specification complete with an
exquisite and unexpected ostrich leather interior and black folding
convertible top, records on file indicate that Competition Motors
would then assume ownership once completed in 2012. Following
completion of this multi-year restoration costing over $800,000,
this vehicle was shown at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
and also featured in advertisements by Ralph Lauren Purple Label
for their 2012 Fall collection.
Spurred on by the motto of Ettore Bugatti "if it is comparable, it
is no longer Bugatti", their long-standing tradition of excellence
plays a crucial role in maintaining their extreme collectability
among enthusiasts. Not simply a work of art, the consignor reports
at the time of cataloging this Type 57C drives and performs as
expected of a fully restored, Pebble Beach entrant. What can only
be considered a exquisite example, this Type 57 is ready to be
appreciated by a new caretaker for its extraordinary blend of
French style and sporting performance the likes of which only a
Bugatti can deliver.
