Chassis 672637
- A faithful re-creation of the Bugatti Type 252 design
- More than $238,000 in documented build invoices
- Jaguar XK chassis and motor with the upgraded C-Type cylinder
head
- Finished in French racing blue with blue leather interior
The Bugatti Type 252 occupies a fascinating place in the marque's
history. Conceived during the final years of Bugatti family
ownership, it represented one last attempt to return the company to
serious road-car production after the death of Ettore Bugatti in
1947. Styled by Giovanni Michelotti and completed as a one-off
prototype, the Type 252 was never developed into a production
model, leaving behind one of the more intriguing "what if?" stories
of postwar European motoring.
Its rarity and distinctive appearance have made the Type 252 an
appealing subject for re-creation, and this example was constructed
with considerable care using proven Jaguar XK mechanical components
beneath hand-formed aluminum coachwork. The result is a convincing
interpretation of Bugatti's final family-era sports car, combining
evocative French styling with familiar and robust British
engineering.
The project began in 2018 with a bare rolling Jaguar XK chassis
fitted with an XK-series engine. From there, the car was developed
into a complete Type 252-inspired roadster through an extensive
multi-year build supported by invoices totaling more than
$238,000.
Red Car Restorations of Rockwall, Texas was responsible for a
substantial portion of the chassis preparation and mechanical
setup. Work included fitting and sorting the chassis, fabricating
the bumpers and Borrani wheels, installing the instrumentation and
wiring, and attending to the Weber carburetors and radiator.
The body was created by ADC Enterprises of Ferris, Texas using a
CAD-designed body buck over which the aluminum panels were
carefully formed and finished. New steel tubing was fabricated to
create the cockpit structure, along with the front and rear body
supports. ADC also constructed the door frames, bumpers, and
grille, and installed the windscreen and dashboard.
Final cosmetic work was completed by Foster Vintage of Northlake,
Texas, which finished the chassis and painted the hand-formed
aluminum bodywork in a striking French racing blue. The interior
was trimmed in complementary blue leather by Marshall Custom
Upholstery of Marshall, Texas, completing the period-inspired
presentation.
Today, the car remains in stellar condition, presenting
exceptionally well throughout. The aluminum coachwork is crisp and
beautifully finished, while the French racing blue paintwork
retains excellent depth and gloss. The interior is similarly fresh,
with taut blue leather upholstery, neatly finished trim, and a
purposeful cockpit that captures the character of a mid-century
European sports car.
Mechanically, the Jaguar XK underpinnings provide a welcome degree
of usability to what is otherwise an exceptionally exotic design.
The twin-cam XK engine fitted with a C-Type cylinder head and Weber
carburetion were rebuilt during the build by AMS Racing in Bossier
City, Louisiana. The combination of the proven Jaguar motor and
familiar chassis components make the car far more approachable to
service and enjoy than the original one-off Bugatti could ever
be.
More than simply a visual tribute, this Type 252 recreation
represents a serious and highly detailed effort to bring one of
Bugatti's most obscure postwar designs to life. With substantial
documented investment, hand-formed aluminum coachwork, proven
Jaguar mechanicals, and restoration-fresh presentation, it offers a
rare opportunity to experience the spirit of a car that otherwise
exists only as a singular prototype.
Offers welcome and trades considered.
