44320

A car which was first registered (?) in February, 1928 and imported into Australia by Sporting Cars Ltd. of 260, City Road, South Melbourne. It was sold to Dr. Noel Murdoch of Yarra Junction on 10th May, 1928 on invoice no. 762 for an inclusive price of £625 -15 which included £10 for a single-seater racing body and 15 shillings for an number plate with aluminium letters (138443). The car has susbsequently been pictured with a “roadster” body said to be from Martin & King. Around 1950 it was fitted with twin SU carburettors mounted on type 40 manifolds. In 1954 the car was listed and pictured in “The Bugatti Book” (p. 107 and 272) being shown with the body with which it is still fitted today, in the company of his type 40 (reg. EB 947). In 1962 the car was listed with the registration FS 971 with the note that Murdoch had a spare engine ex-44926. Dr. Murdoch died in 1972 (aged seventy five) and the car passed to his son Stuart. In 1992 Australian registrar Bob King listed the car, and in 2005, Stuart and Mary Murdoch participated in the International Bugatti Meeting in Australia (no. 27) with the car carrying the registration EB 440. It is painted dark blue and apart from a UK BOC sticker and indicator lamps it apears completely unchanged and original.