Making its debut in 1934, the Type 57 was the masterful creation of Bugatti’s son, Jean, and was the company’s most successful road-going model, with over 700 built in total. In 1937, the French automaker introduced the supercharged 57C model with a stiffer frame, rubber-mounted engine, and Roots-type compressor, running at 1.17 times engine speed. Running 5–6 psi boost, the supercharged straight eight produced 160 bhp, an impressive figure at the time for a high-revving 3.3-liter engine. When fitted with lightweight bodywork, nearly 120 mph was possible. Only 96 of these exceptional thoroughbred chassis were delivered new by the Molsheim factory.

In December 1937, Bugatti shipped chassis 57606 with a supercharged engine, no. 20C, to the Colmar-based Carrosserie Gangloff in northeastern France, where open four-seat Stelvio coachwork was fitted. The Bugatti was delivered in February 1938 through Alphonse Ervard & Houp, the Bugatti agent in Liège, Belgium, to its first private owner, M. Zurstrassen.

In the early 1950s, the Type 57C would pass into the hands of Romanian race car driver Georges Bouriano, who earned 2nd Place at the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929, piloting a Bugatti Type 35C Grand Prix. During his ownership, Bouriano, who also owned a Type 57 Ventoux, chassis 57699, switched the chassis plates between the two cars for unknown reasons. Ever since, this Stelvio has been known as chassis 57699. At the same time, the Ventoux’s engine, no. 499, was installed in this Stelvio.

The Stelvio’s next owner was Jean de Dobbeleer of Brussels, Belgium, who is credited with saving many Bugattis in the years following WWII. Many cars that came into M. de Dobbeleer’s ownership were sold to the US through Gene Cesari of South Ryegate, Vermont. Through this process, the Stelvio was eventually acquired by Edwin Rucker of Richmond, Virginia. In 1959, Mr. Rucker sold the Bugatti to Alden Sherman of Weston, Connecticut, who would retain the car for the next 60 years. During Mr. Sherman’s ownership, the Bugatti held a prominent place in his collection alongside two Type 37 Grand Prix cars.

In the mid-1960s, Mr. Sherman entrusted Gus Reuter of Ridgefield, Connecticut, to restore the Bugatti and refinish its deep blue paint, complemented by a white sweep panel and front fenders. Following the restoration, Mr. Sherman participated in American Bugatti Club meetings as well as the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance on multiple occasions. In August 2008, Mr. Sherman and his Bugattis were profiled by The New York Times, in an article titled “Bugattis for Pocket Change.”

With its elegant Gangloff open coachwork, this Stelvio presents a rare opportunity to acquire a supercharged Type 57, which would be welcome at Bugatti meetings and rallies worldwide.