Bugatti Type 57 Sports Saloon 1934 57158

Bugatti Type 57 Sports Saloon
Automobiles d'Exception à Retromobile,
Paris
Year:
1934
Auction House:
Bonhams
Chassis number:
57158
Date
February 07 2009
Engine number:
6692/71
Registration number:
Unknown
Body number:
Unknown
Sold for:
€ 306.700
This Bugatti Type 57 sports saloon, chassis number 57158 , was built for the 1934 London Motor Show and exhibited
on the stand of coachbuilder, James Young. One of the handful of British firms that would resume coachbuilding after
WW2, the Bromley-based carriage-maker had bodied its first automobile in 1908, affiliating itself with a succession of
quality marques throughout the 1920s and 1930s before being acquired by the Jack Barclay group in 1937. Of the
approximately 630 Type 57s made, James Young was responsible for bodying 12, only two of which were two-door
models like this one. Reflecting the contemporary interest in streamlining, James Young s coachwork is beautifully
proportioned and must surely be one of the most successful British-built bodies on the Type 57 chassis.
Right-hand drive, like most quality French cars of the period, chassis number 57158 was one of the first Type 57s to
leave the factory and was invoiced to London Bugatti agent Sorel on 7th August 1934. Reputedly, the Bugatti factory
did not have time to build a body for the car in time for the London Motor Show so James Young was commissioned
to supply the handsome one-off coachwork it retains today. The Bugatti was registered HLH 302 in the UK and its
first owner is believed to have been a Mr Cookson. Its next owner was a Mr Ripley, followed by the well-known
Bugatti collector (and past President of the Bugatti Owners Club) Colonel G M Giles, MC who acquired the car in
1942 and used it extensively after the war. He described the car in Bugantics as his Bugatti XVII (presumably his
17th Bugatti), calling her Frieda . The Type 57 subsequently went to the USA, passing through a number of hands in
that country (list available) before being acquired by Desmond G Fitzgerald, of Washington, DC in the late 1980s.
Desmond Fitzgerald is recorded as owner on the accompanying old US title deed (issued July 1989), which has been
over-stamped by the DVLA (dated July 2002 for the age-related registration mark JAS 950 ) indicating that the car
was in the UK at that time.
Following its acquisition, Mr Fitzgerald commissioned an extensive restoration. The coachwork was entrusted to Niko
of Niko-Michael Coachworks, Port Washington, NY while the interior was re-trimmed by Johann Merkhofer of
Vantage Auto Interiors in Stamford, Connecticut. The engine was completely rebuilt at great expense by Vintage
Restorations of Connecticut, and the gearbox, back axle and brakes by Motive in Port Washington. Post-restoration
the Bugatti won top honours in its class at the Greenwich Concours and was a runner up for Best of Show . Acquired
by the late Bob Lalement in 2002, at that time it had covered fewer than 2,000 miles since the restoration s
completion. The Bugatti remained within Mr Lalemant s important private collection in Belgium, and after his death
was acquired by the current owner in 2006.
This unique Type 57 is presented in superb driveable condition and comes complete with its original tool kit and
Netherlands registration papers. A rare opportunity to acquire a coachbuilt Type 57 representing the crème de la
crème of Bugatti sports cars.
The ex-London Motor Show1934 Bugatti Type 57 Sports SaloonCoachwork by James Young
Chassis no. 57158
Engine no. 6692/71
Dotée d une direction à droite comme toutes les grandes routières françaises de l époque, le châssis n° 57158 du
premier millésime fut facturé à l agent Bugatti de Londres, Sorel, le 7 août 1934. L usine Bugatti n ayant pas le
temps, dit-on, de carrosser la voiture pour le salon de Londres, James Young fut chargé de réaliser cette élégante et
unique carrosserie qu elle possède toujours aujourd hui. La Bugatti fut immatriculée « HLH 302 » au Royaume-Uni et
son premier propriétaire aurait été M. Cookson. Le deuxième fut M. Ripley et le troisième le très connu collectionneur
de Bugatti (et ancien président du Bugatti Owners Club), le Colonel G. M. Giles, qui acheta la voiture en 1942 et l
utilisa beaucoup après 1945. Il a décrit cette voiture dans « Bugantics » comme sa « Bugatti XVII » (probablement sa
17e Bugatti) en l appelant Frieda. La Type 57 partit ensuite aux Etats-Unis où elle eut plusieurs propriétaires (liste
sur demande) avant d être achetée par Desmond G. Fitzgerald de Washington DC à la fin des années 1980.
Desmond Fitzgerald est noté comme propriétaire sur l ancien titre américain (émis en juillet 1989) qui a été
retamponné par la DVLA (en date de juillet 2002 pour l immatriculation ancienne « JAS 950 ») précisant que la voiture
était au Royaume-Uni à l époque.
Après cet achat, M. Fitzgerald fit restaurer totalement la voiture. La carrosserie fut confiée à Niko de Niko-Michael
Coachwork, Port Washington, New York, tandis que l intérieur était regarni par Johann Merkhofer de Vantage Auto
Interiors à Stamford (Connecticut). Le moteur fut totalement reconstruit à grands frais par Vintage Restorations et la
boîte de vitesses, le pont arrière et les freins par Motive à Port Washington. Après cette restauration, la Bugatti
remporta sa classe et fut classée deuxième du trophée « Best of Show » aux Greenwich Concours. Achetée par feu
Bob Lalement en 2002, elle avait parcouru moins de 3 200 km depuis sa restauration. La Bugatti resta dans l
importante collection de Bob Lalement en Belgique et, après son décès, fut achetée par l actuel propriétaire en 2006.
Cette unique Type 57 qui se présente en parfaite condition de fonctionnement possède son outillage d origine et ses
papiers d immatriculation aux Pays-Bas.