Ref. list of Le Mans Bugatti drivers. No. 1 is given as de Pourtalés - my data base gives me a different spelling. Which is correct ?

PORTALÈS, Max de.

A competitor in the first Le Mans 24 hour race, held in May, 1923. With his co-driver de la Rochfoucauld he finished in tenth place, the first 1,500cc car home, comp. no. 29. (Photo “Bugatti Racing History” p.44). The race was run in appalling condition with hail and heavy rain breaking-up the road surface and turning it to mud. The "Brescia" owners congratulating themselves after the damp type 13 race at Angoulême in 2006 might choose to ponder on this outstanding performance.

I have a picture of one of the Le Mans "tanks" which appears to have the number "3" painted on the front of the bonnet and the number "2" on the car's nearside flank.

just a note. the famous "le mans crash car" T5o, nr. 5o131, which was rebuilt in 1934/35 as a coupe, later found in the dovaz-sleeping beaty collection is now beeing rebuilt by the owner to the original le mans
specification.

regards
mike

@ GCL-Wales: You are sure there are no people on the photo running around with paint?

@ Michael: Pretty exciting. What will happen to the Coupe body though?

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Vive la Marque !!

Is 57335 the correct number for the Le Mans Tank? Also see http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/inde ... itle=57335

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- #6 Le Mans 1931: Maurice Rost and Count Caberto Conelli : #50131 or 50181 ???? :

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/inde ... itle=50131

or

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/inde ... itle=50181

No idea, it's what I have in my files.
Any fact-based correction welcome of course.

I have one left unidentified:

#50143 : #3 24 Heures Le Mans 1935, 16 June, Richer-Delavau/Jacques de Valence de Minardiere, D.N.A (Crashed in practice)




#50143 : #1 K W Bear, Prescott, Le Mans 4-seater 23 June 1946.

That's the reason I could not identify it.
Thanks!

the coupe-body will stay with the owner, maybe for use in the future or as a alternate body for the now rebodied chassis.

best regards
mike

This seems to be a mystery that should be solved. Anyone?

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Uwe claims it is 57455 (see WIKI edits). This seems generally accepted, but assuming something for a fact is dangerous. However, there has been a discussion on this car in the past, on the forum.

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Vive la Marque !!

Yeah, I know, Uwe told me about this thread which I missed. Will take the time to study soonest.

#57335 and 57455

57455 by Kees Jansen

ENGINE NO: first unnumbered
Now 272 ex 57367

PRODUCED (NO): June 1936

REG NO: 6559-W1(F)

OWNER: Fred Simeone

FORMER OWNERS: Usine, Jean de Dobbeleer (1960), Gene Cesari (1961), Stephen Pitcairn (1962), Gene Cesari, John Truslow/ Eri Richardson, Uwe Hucke (1973), Nicolas Seydoux

history :

Produced in June 1936 in a batch of three cars as factory racers with unnumbered engines. This was the only one built on a 57 S chassis; the other two had a shortened 57 chassis. Briefly displayed at the 1936 Auto Salon in 1936. Winner of every race it entered such as the Grand Prix de l’ACF at Monthlery 1936, Grand Prix de La Marne 1936, Grand Prix de Pau 1936, 24 hours of Le Mans 1937 with Robert Benoist and Jean Pierre Wimille. Multitude of records for speed and endurance, a number of which have stood for a very long time such as the Sports Car Land speed record until 1966, when it was broken by a Cobra Daytona Coupé. After a crash kept at the factory until Jean de Dobbeleer bought it in 1960 in a batch with 57335 and a spare engine 272 ex 57367 which he put in this engineless car. He restored the car, called it the ‘24 heures’ or ‘Le Mans’ car and sold it with the papers of 57335 to Gene Cesari. The other car got the papers of 57400. The car was known for a long time as (57335)1,2. Buyer Gene Cesari sold it to Pitcairn but he took it back later after which Gene sold it to Truslow/ Richardson. When Eri Richardson owned it, he retrieved many of the original components, which had been left at the factory such as the special head, carburettors and oil coolers. The car went to Europe when Uwe Hucke bought it in 1973. He put the chassis plate 57335 on it, which Lyman Greenlee had found on a junkyard in Dorlisheim. Next owner Nicolas Seydoux. Finally it went back to the USA when Fred Someone bought it3. He showed it at Pebble Beach 2003 and the VSCCA Radnor Hunt Ralley and Concourse. Described in a number of articles4,5,6,7,8

1 Conway HG The Bugatti Register.1962:
2 Conway HG A New Bugatti Register 1973: 68
3 Leith S American Bugatti Register 2003: 235
4 Palmer B Bugatti Tank, Classic Cars 1986(1):39-43
5 Nye D De Tank. Het Automobiel 1986: 38-43
In the Carrosseriebook: no mention
6 Conway HG, Bugatti Magnum 1989: 330-7
7 Laugier PY, Bugatti 57 Sport 2004: 128-57
8 Simon B, Kruta J The Bugatti 57S. 2003: 70-5