• Baujahr 
    1932
  • Automobiltyp 
    Sonstige
  • Losnummer 
    176
  • Referenznummer 
    PA23_r0094
  • Zustand 
    Gebraucht
  • Standort
    Frankreich
  • Außenfarbe 
    Sonstige

Beschreibung

  • One of 38 Bugatti Type 55s produced
  • Raced in the summer of 1932 at Automobile Club of Luxembourg events
  • First bodied with Pritchard & Demollin four-seat cabriolet coachwork
  • Painstakingly reunited with many of its important matching-numbers components by the consigning owner
  • Accompanied by reports from Bugatti historian David Sewell

Please note this lot has entered the EU on a temporary import bond, which must be cancelled either by exporting the lot outside of the EU on an approved Bill of Lading with supporting customs documentation or by paying the applicable VAT and import duties to have the lot remain in the EU.

Veuillez noter que ce lot a été introduit dans l'UE avec un cautionnement d'importation temporaire, qui devra être soldé par réexportation hors de l'UE avec un connaissement (bon de chargement) accompagné de ses documents douaniers, ou par paiement de la TVA et des droits de douane applicables s'il doit demeurer dans l'UE.

Like many premier automakers in the early-20th Century, Bugatti used its success in competition to elevate the profile of its road cars. In the case of the Type 55, introduced by Bugatti in 1932, the ties to motorsport were quite explicit: it was a direct descendent of the Type 51 race car, and was similarly powered by a supercharged 2.3-litre dual-overhead-cam inline-eight. The 38 Type 55 Bugattis produced typically wore sporting bodywork—often open-topped—that further emphasised the model’s racing roots.

According to the report by marque expert David Sewell, the Swiss Bugatti Agent Bucar of Zurich ordered chassis 55219 in the winter of 1932 on behalf of their client Mr. Edmond Reiffers, a notary in the city of Luxembourg. Once completed later that spring, a factory employee delivered the unbodied chassis with a temporary seat to the border just 160 kilometres away from the factory.

Mr. Reiffers intended to commission coachwork of his own choosing for the car—but not before one of his three sons, Ernest, entered the chassis with only a bonnet, headlights, and seat in several local events organized by the Automobile Club of Luxembourg. Finally, in October of the same year, Pritchard & Demollin of Angleur, Belgium constructed a four-seat cabriolet body for the Type 55.

In 1938, the car was sold to industrialist Rudi Cloos, a fellow resident of Luxembourg. However, the Bugatti changed hands two more times in the following two years within the Grand Duchy before being hidden away during the war. When peace finally arrived in 1945, the vehicle was unearthed and registered to Pierre Schickes, an electrician. Unfortunately, the Bugatti would suffer front end damage under his ownership. Subsequent photographs after the accident show the car received modified front wings which hang down to the front crossmember; the remainder of coachwork stayed intact. By 1955, ownership had changed hands once more to a Belgian named Gillard, but in 1957 well-known Bugatti dealer, Jean de Dobbeleer of Brussels, purchased the Type 55.

Part-owner of Precision Motor Cars, Bob Estes of California, eventually took ownership of chassis 55219 in order to use it as a parts car for his other Type 55, chassis 55230. The remainder of the car was then sold to Ray Jones of Birmingham, Michigan, in 1963. The Type 55’s present, highly attractive bodywork built in the style of the famous Jean Bugatti roadster design was created and fitted in the 1970s.

In 1988, the consigning owner purchased a car containing elements of 55219 and a four-year endeavour would soon commence to make the Type 55 whole again. After a great deal of research, three chassis were ultimately purchased to bring this goal to reality: 55219, 55229, and 51127. The Bugatti Owners Club officially recognised the reconstituted car on 17 August 1993 and issued a replacement chassis plate.

In 2008, a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration was undertaken by Leydon Restorations of Lahaska, Pennsylvania, bringing together the original components from the three cars acquired. While disassembled, independent Bugatti researcher David Sewell inspected the car. He concluded the chassis frame, engine, bulkhead assembly, gearbox, and differential casing contain the stampings indicating them to be correct to chassis 55219. However, during the restoration parts of the engine were determined to be too worn to use and today, the car utilises a different top crankcase and cylinder block. Both pieces remained in the possession of the consignor and accompany the sale.

Prior to being acquired by the consigning owner, the lower crankcase had been machined, removing some of the original factory stampings. Luckily, assembly number 36 remained on the front left arm and matched the same assembly number found on the top crankcase which further bore the correct “11” engine number stamping. Additionally, “11” was found stamped on the upper camshaft drive housing, in addition to both the exhaust and inlet camboxes.

This highly sought-after Type 55—clothed in timeless roadster bodywork in the style of the great Jean Bugatti—can be enjoyed by enthusiasts for decades to come.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/pa23.


RM Sotheby's
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Richmond
TW9 1EL
Vereinigtes Königreich
Contact Person Kontaktperson
Titel 
Herr
Vorname 
Augustin
Nachname 
Sabatie-Garat

Telefonnummer 
+44-2078517070