THE BUGATTI THAT CROSSED THE SAHARA

-Listed In Numerous Bugatti Registers

-Matching Numbers

-Well Documented History & Photos

-Completed Algerian Sahara Rally

-Extensive Additional Racing History

-FIA Registered

-Ran In The 2004 Le Mans Historic

-With Current Owner For 27 Years

-Provenance Known Since 1929

-Restored To Factory Condition

-Service History Included

-Excellent Running Condition

-Tools And Books Included

This Type 40 was built in 1929 and delivered to its first owner, M. Pierre de Brou de Lauriere in January, 1930. He promptly took it out for a spin with his wife… in the Sahara Desert on the Rallye d’Algers. This was the start of a long, be-ribboned life in racing for the car, continuing up to 2004 in the Le Mans Historic races. Today’s high level of interest in Bugatti automobiles derives from their rarity, meticulous build, astonishing design and beauty as well as an unparalleled history of excellence on road-racing courses and highways around the world. This car is one of the bright stars in that history.

THIS CAR’S PAST

Noted Bugatti historian, Pierre Lougier, has investigated the history of our subject car, and a great deal of information has been uncovered. This Bugatti Type 40 was produced in late 1929, and in January, 1930 was delivered to its first owner, a Frenchman named Pierre de Brou de Lauriere. At the request of its new owner, the factory did not initially complete the car with a catalogue body. Instead this Type 40 was fitted at the factory with a rudimentary body more appropriate to a commercial vehicle with an emphasis on carrying capacity.
In March of 1930, Pierre de Brou and his wife ran their new Bugatti in the Rallye d’Algers in North Africa, an event whose purpose was to commemorate the long friendship between Algeria and France. However, successfully finishing this event was only the start of a journey that took over a month to complete. After the rally, and in company with three other Type 40 Bugattis, de Brou and his wife proceeded to leave Algeria and drive their Type 40 across the Sahara Desert. Lieutenant Frederic Loiseau, who had made a similar crossing of the Sahara in a Type 40 Bugatti in 1929, drove the lead car in this Bugatti Expedition. Loiseau arranged for most of the infrastructure, such as food, fuel, and spare tires, needed to complete the journey. Not only did all four cars complete the crossing, but, after doing so, they all then returned to their original starting point by again crossing the Sahara in the opposite direction. This was an amazing testament to the capabilities of the cars and the participants and generated an enormous amount of publicity for the factory.
Sometime after returning to France, de Brou drove his Type 40 back to the factory and exchanged it for a new and larger Type 44. After this, the Type 40 Bugatti on offer here had its original Sahara body removed. That body was replaced with the splendid Roadster body it has to this day. However the exact origin of the new body is not known; it is in the style used on the Bugatti Types 40A and the 43A, and it may have been a prototype body by Jean Bugatti. Both Ettore and Jean Bugatti were fond of US automobiles, and this roadster style was initially a popular American design.

At present, very little is known about the history of this car during the later 1930’s and 1940’s, but starting in the 1950’s, it was owned by:
Robert Beux, 1950
Georges Meziat, 1954
Rene Hugou, 1955?
Matthieu Delory, 1956
M. Du Montant, 1958
Scott Ebert, 1958
Bill Cracknell, 1958 to 1988
Scott Ebert, 1988 to the present
Matthieu Delory owned the car in 1956, and in 1958 he offered it for sale through a Riviera-based dealer, by the name of Du Montant. Through Du Montant, 40810 was then acquired by an American named William Cracknell. The current owner acquired the car from Cracknell in 1988.

THE STORY OF 40810

The present lot was extensively restored both mechanically and cosmetically soon after being acquired by its current owner. The impressive Chronology of events subsequent to restoration is presented elsewhere in this write-up. Highlights include participating in numerous rallies organized by the American Bugatti Club, from New England to California, including the 2003 International Bugatti Rally in California. The car was also vintage-raced in several US Bugatti Grand Prix Races of the American Bugatti Club, including those in Monterey, Lime Rock Park, and Elkhart Lake.
The year 2004 was an international one for 40810. In the UK, it ran the Prescott Hill Climb and in the International Bugatti Rallye. Subsequently, it returned to its native France, where it ran in the Rallye de Lyon and raced in the 2004 Le Mans Classic.
In recent years this 1929 Bugatti Type 40 Roadster has led a more quiet existence. However, over the past eighty-six years, it has had a very successful and interesting life. It is now prepared to serve its next owner for years to come.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS:

1930 Rallye d’Algers
1930 Bugatti Sahara Expedition
2001 3rd US Bugatti GP, Virginia International Raceway, VA, 1st Place Group 4
2001 President’s Rally of the ABC, Lyme, NH
2001 4th US Bugatti GP, Lime Rock, CT. 1st Place Group 4
2001 Castle Hill Hill Climb, MA. 12th of 24 entrants
2002 President’s Rally of the ABC, Lyme, NH
2002 5th US Bugatti GP, Lime Rock, CT. 1st Place Group 4
2003 6th US Bugatti GP, Laguna Seca, CA. 37th of 41 cars
2003 International Bugatti Rally, CA, USA
2003 ABC Rallye, Lenox, MA
2004 Prescott Hill Climb, UK
2004 International Bugatti Rally, UK
2004 Rallye de Lyon, France
2004 Le Mans Classic, France
2005 7th US Bugatti GP, Elkhart Lake, WI. Last Place
2005 ABC Rallye, Elkhart Lake, WI
2009 ABC Rallye, Louisville, KY
2009 Churchill Downs Concours, Louisville, KY