Hi Andrew,

the gearlever surround looks not too bad, - but it is on the wrong side of the sheet. It should be mounted on the inside of the body. That is a mistake that you can find quite often on GP Bugattis.

Marco

I just took close up pics that might show a better picture of what we're talking about:

Here is the outside of the gear lever surround:


Here is the inside of the gear lever surround:


Here are some pictures of the Louvers to get a closer view:




Let me know your thoughts.....

Some recent news on 37265 from the Bugatti Trust:

Dear Andrew

I am sorry your message of 22/06/09 has taken so long for my reply.

I can not add very much to your notes of the history of your T37A.

The factory order book shows that 37265 was one of two Type 37s ordered by 'Magasin' (Bugatti Paris) in March 1927 and the engine number for 37265 was noted 155. The delivery date for both cars is given as 27.5.27.

From factory records we know 37265 was invoiced to Bugatti Paris with a note "pr. sp." For 40,000ff on 16 May 1927 and that account was settled in July 1927.

I can not find anything further that might help to fill in the gaps.

Regards

Richard Day
Curator

The Bugatti Trust, Prescott Hill, Gotherington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

I believe that "pr. sp" might stand for "per Spediteur", which was the mode of transportation. This seems to make sense, doesn't it?

Some new information learned about 37265, which may confirm it is a factory works car:

On 02 April 1927, a batch of 3 Bugattis T37 were registered in Strasbourg (préfecture of dept. Bas-Rhin), respectively 37264 (4129-J4), 37265 (4127-J4) and 37266 (4128-J4) for a race in France.

With a delivery date of May 1927, this is typical, as the car would have been delivered after it had been used by the Factory.

Registration number 9831-MD8 is effectively from dept Nord (Préfecture Lille), and I can date it September 1946.

On 08 March 1955, registration 4588 DT 75, in Paris (75 = dept Seine, Paris and some other small villages around).I don't know the owners name.

VLM

I am trying to track down which Voiturette race or Grand Prix race that 37265 could have raced in when it was raced by the Factory between April 2, 1927 and May 27, 1927.

Here is the new information we learned:

On April 2, 1927, a batch of three Bugattis T37 factory works cars were registered in Strasbourg (préfecture of dept. Bas-Rhin), respectively 37264 (as “4129-J4”), 37265 (as “4127-J4”) and 37266 (as “4128-J4”). These three works cars were, undoubtedly, there for a race on behalf of the Molsheim factory. After being used by the factory in this voiturette race, the factory order book shows that 37265 with noted engine 155, which was one of two Type 37s ordered by 'Magasin' (Bugatti Paris) in March 1927, was delivered to the Bugatti Showroom in Paris on May 27, 1927.

As a result, the race that 37265 would, most likely, have to be between April 2, 1927 and it's date of delivery on May 27, 1927.

Below are the races I could find with T37 finishers between the registration date of April 2, 1927 up until May 27, 1927 when the car was delivered to Magasin Bugatti Paris Showroom:

36 PreWar 4/24/1927 XVIII Targa Florio Private entry Caberto Conelli 7h39m06.0 02
37 PreWar 4/24/1927 XVIII Targa Florio
Private entry
Antonio Caliri
?? DNF
38 PreWar 4/24/1927 XVIII Targa Florio
Private entry
Sabipa
Accident DNF
39 PreWar 5/8/1927 IV Circuito di Alessandria
Private entry
Francesco Valle
3h00m00.0 02
40 PreWar 5/8/1927 IV Circuito di Alessandria
Private entry
Borgatta
3h07m47.6 03
41 PreWar 5/8/1927 I Coppa Messina
Private entry
Antonio Caliri
4h14m23.0 01
42 PreWar 5/8/1927 I Coppa Messina
Private entry
Salvatore Marano
4h26m03.0 02
43 PreWar 5/8/1927 I Coppa Messina
Private entry
Giuseppe Pino
5h19m22.0 03
44 PreWar 5/8/1927 IV Circuito di Alessandria
Private entry
Giovanni Alloatti
?? DNF
45 PreWar 5/8/1927 IV Circuito di Alessandria
Private entry
Nino Cirio
?? DNF

If the car was registered in Strasbourg, could it have been to some of these Italian races? Could the cars have been to multiple races – both on 4/24/27 AND 5/8/27? The only race with three T37s entered (assuming they show all the cars in the race) was the IV Circuito di Alessandria, where there were three T 37’s (which could have been 37264, 37265 and 37266 as listed above) or would those cars have been split up to go to different races? (In this Alessandria race, the T37s took 2nd and 3rd place with one DNF.) The other races had T37s but also T37A’s that were included in this, if you look up the link.

Link is: http://www.racing-database.com/Mstarts.asp?Model=Bugatti%20T37

Another link is: http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.htmlOn this link, there is also a race during this time at Montlhery, but the cars in the race don’t list any T37’s that I can find. see this link: http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html#1ttf

Wiki has this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1927_Grand_Prix_season

Does anyone know how we can find out what race that 37265 might have been in, when it was raced by the Factory between April 2, 1927 and May 27, 1927?

Thanks!

VLM

Although quite long, I did receive some research on the history of 37265 from Mr. Pierre Yves Laugier. I thought I would share some of the history on my car that I found. If anyone knows any of the owners, or would have any additional information (or pictures with any of the registration numbers on them), once reading the history, I would greatly appreciate any insights!

THE PRIVATE LIFE OF TYPE 37 CHASSIS 37265.

The first appearence of chassis « 37265 » in Factory Records is seen in the March 1927 list of Type 37 which are planed to be produced that particular month.
They are supposed to have assembled 6 cars,and given chassis numbers from 37262 to 37267.
As we have seen earlier,the chassis numbers 37264 and 37265 have been FIRST issued to the two Type 37A entered, late April 1927 ,in the Targa Florio race.
In May 1927,those identities are finally given to two unblown Type 37,the cars engine 148 and 155.
The cars :37264-148 and 37265-155 are delivered,the very same day to the Bugatti Showroom in Paris,which is based 116 Champs -Elysées Avenue.

The 1927 List of Bills –Invoices.

In that other Factory Record ,we can see that 37265 is quoted :
« 37265 16/5 Sté Vente Bugatti Paris pr.sp. 40.000- juillet 1927. »

It means that an order has been placed for the car on 16th May 1927,and the car payed in July.
« pr.sp » means « prix spécial ».We don’t really understand why,because it is a standard price for such a car.

The same day two others type 37 are also delivered to the Bugatti agency in Paris :chassis 37264 and 37243,all payed in July 1927,and for the same amount of 40.000ff each.

1- The first parisian owner of 37265.

We know the car was delivered to the Bugatti Agency,116 Avenue des Champs-Elysées.
It was described « Magasin Paris ».

The car has been registrated in the department of Seine,around May 1927.

A wrong information had at one time associated 37265 to Baron Guy de Roig.
That gentleman owned in fact 37345,which had been rebodied like 37265 ,both certainly in the early thirties.The similar sports bodies could have been the reason of the confusion.

All the prewar Police Records are destroyed in Paris,but we were lucky enough to find the original and first registration number of the car in the Police records of Bordeaux where the car was recorded in October 1927 :The original number was written down.
That May 1927 parisian plate was :7327 X 7.

The only chance to know the first parisian owner of 37265 would be to find a picture of a Type 37 showing « 7327 X 7 » plate,and the name of the owner together.

The life of 37265 in South -West of France.1927-1933.

From October 1927 to November 1933,we will follow the trace of 37265 in 4 different departments,all around Bordeaux,and near by the West Coast.

2- 4205 K 1.Plate issued on 13th October 1927.Area of Bordeaux.Department of Basses Pyrénées.

Mr J-L LAFOURCADE. « Villa Marqfoy ».City of Bayonne.

He was Dr Lafourcade,a well known surgeon,who founded in 1898,a clinic called « Pavillon Saint Louis » based on quartier Lachepaillet in Bayonne.
His main home was at 4, allées Boufflers.
The little second home was also called « Chalet Marqfoy », the family name of his wife.It was located on the « road of Biarritz ».
Dr Lafourcade was born on 28th nov 1866.After school at the College of Bayonne,he went to Paris to study medecine in 1883,and became a Doctor in 1892.
He was specialized as a gynecologist..He was elected « Conseiller General » of the Republican party in 1892,reelected from 1898 to 1904.Later deputy and member of the city of Bayonne in 1934-1935.

3- 4205 K 1.Still used for a second owner in the same area
.On 19th April 1929.

L.PARISOT.4 Rue du Manège in Bordeaux.

He could well be Leon Parisot,who was later living 22 rue des Vignerons,in the same town.
We have found 3 pictures of 37265 with that particular plate,and suppose them taken around summer1929,because near by the car is a Type 40 registrated in May 1929.

A new person is connected to the car but didn’t own it :

« Madame Anne ROSE –ITIER »(1890-1980).
One picture of the car is taken at the Bugatti Garage ,on 27 Rue du Bel Orme,in Bordeaux,according to the original caption. It clearly shows A Rose-Itier at the wheel.
We know she was racing Bugattis since 1928.

It is well possible that in 1929,at the time the pictures of 37265 with Rose-Itier were taken,she was using that car for hill-climbs or flying starts.We have found one result with her driving a Type 37 in 1929.She finished 2d at the « Montrepos Hillclimb »,apparently with a Type 37,on 2d june 1929.And one picture of the Bordeaux source shows the car with number 30 on the bonnet.
We do know that Mme Itier was friend with the Bugatti agent in Bordeaux,Mr Pierron. He let her drive a Type 23 in a rallye in Morocco in 1924.And when she buys a Type 46 in 1929,the car is registrated on her name at the address of the Bugatti garage,27 rue bel Orme.
The second place of Anne Rose-Itier, certainly with 37265,in June 1929,is probably her first good result on a Bugatti. She will drive a Type 37A(chassis 37365),in 1931-1932,then a Type 51A (chassis 51142),from 1933 to 1936.

4- 4723 GA 2.Still in the same area,but under new system of registration.,issued on
17th April 1930.

Francis PEYRISSAC.50 Boulevard George V.Bordeaux.

He is certainly related to the Peyrissac family : Import/Export.
The « Compagnie Charles Peyrissac » begins to deal in Senegal in 1872,originally settled in Saint -Louis.It becomes an anonym company called « Anciens Ets Ch Peyrissac » in 1908.
They were selling everything to West Africa :Furnitures,cars,wine…and buying there fruits,oil,wool,cacao...The company had shops in Soudan,Guinea,Cote d’Ivoire.

5- 590 EG 1.Sold in the department of Dordogne,
on 14th March 1931.

Dr BERTRAND-BORD Marcel, 8 rue Guynemer. City of Périgueux.

Our investigations can’t find anymore trace of him after 1947,but he is in the local telephone book for 1925.

6- 7155 DG 2.Sold in department of Charentes -Maritimes, near La Rochelle,
on 14th April 1933.

De Saint MATHURIN Henri. « Chateau du Mung ».Village of Saint Savinien.

In the list of Nobles in Paris for 1902,we found « René de Saint Mathurin and Mrs ,born Bethmont,living 29 avenue Kleber,then 165 Rue de l’Université. »
They were the parents of the Bugatti owner of 1933.

We were able to contact the son of Henri. He told us about the family business :
His grandfather René had the exclusivity for selling opium in Indochine ,with the help of « La Régie Générale de l’Opium » .He had his own company called « La Société fermière du Tonkin ».That very profitable job was promoted between 1860 and 1914.
Then the french government took over that private business.
René Cassou de Saint Mathurin was rich enough to buy the castle of Mung.

His son, Henri, is born in Paris in 1903.The young guy was amateur of boats, airplanes and cars.After studies in Paris,he first worked in London as a Change agent,then he was an horse farmer,later he run a « Public Works » business in Bordeaux.Then he was a shipowner at La Rochelle.At the end of his live he was running the farm of Castle Mung where he died in 1968.
His son remember his father talking about his Bugatti memories.One daughter has possibly the only picture left of the Bugatti,which still need to be discovered.

After six years in the South West of France ,37265 is moving to the South East, being sold to Marseille late in November 1933.We know the car is still in its original condition because,we will see as late as 1936,pictures of 37265,with its original racing body, driven by its second owner in Marseille area.

In the sun of the Marseille.1933-1938.

During five years ,37265 will take the sun in the Marseille region.
Not too far from the Miramas circuit ,it certainly went there for practice and private driving,or to look at the races.

7- 5373 CA 6 That plate issued in the department of Bouches du Rhone,City of Marseille,will stay on the car during the ownership of the 3 consecutives amateurs in that area.
On 14th November 1933.

Maurice PINEL.74 Boulevard des Dames,in Marseille.

We haven’t been able to find anything about that common name.

8- On 26th february 1936 :

Jean-Baptiste OLIVERO.19 rue des Recollettes,in Marseille.

Through his brother ,Charles Olivero, we were able to find 3 pictures of 37265,taken in 1936.
The car in the background is the type 49,chassis 49367,bought by Charles Olivero in May 1934,when he was living in Nice.
As he sold the car on 30th july 1936,the pictures of his brother’s 37265 are taken between March and July 1936.
Charles Olivero was a jeweller,when he settled 22 Rue Petit Saint Jean in Marseille..In July 1936 he bought new an Atalante,chassis 57432,that he kept untill February 1940.He had acquired in February 1939,an incredible 57C roadster by Gangloff,chassis 57749.But as far as we know,Jean-Baptiste Olivero had only one Bugatti,his Type 37.

9-On 24th May 1937 :
Pierre and Jacques REGIS.3 Boulevard Garoutte. Saint Barnabé, part of Marseille.

Régis is a famous name for Bugatti owners in Marseille,but the famoust was Emile Regis who owned a Type 55 roadster.
From the « Tout Marseille 1935 »,the local Who’s Who,we can read : « Joseph-Victor REGIS, ex juge ,living « Villa Julia » at the same address,and having another residence ,on the Riviera : « Villa Les Bocages »,in Cannes.
Pierre and Jacques were probably his sons.

The Police Record in the city of Marseille,shows after the name of Regis, a pencil marks on which we can read : « Sold to ROCCATI in Neuilly sur Seine,on 8th April 1938. »

In fact,we will see that Roccati has already bought the car through the Bugatti dealer in Lyon,Pierre MONESTIER,on 20th June 1937.
But Monestier never registrated the car on his name,and Roccati wait until April1938 to do it.

10- Pierre MONESTIER. He run the big Bugatti Agency in Lyon,called « Garage De Sèze »,on 34 Rue de Sèze .He sold hundreds of Bugatti to the rich silk mercants of Lyon.
We succeed to have access to his old records in which we found the following informations on 37265 :

« Rocati Paris.Bugatti 37 xxxx 37265 10 cv.5373 CA 4 20/6/7.Torpédo bleu xxxx Course »

Going to Paris through Lyon in the Spring of 1938.Staying in Paris until 1946.

11- ROCCATI Neuilly.8th April 1938.
The spelling of Roccati is wrong in the Monestier records,and he is not exactly living in Paris :
Roccati had a little garage ,well known of the Bugatti owners.It was 56 bis Rue Perronet in Neuilly sur Seine.There was another well known Bugatti specialist in the same street :Framezelle,on 18 Rue Perronet.

12-Parisian plate : 3574 RL 8.On 27 th June 1938.
An unknown Parisian enthusiast registrated the car at the Police.
Will can’t find his name because all the Police records in Paris are destroyed for the period before April 1950
13- The last owner in Paris registrated the car on 19th March 1946.
.
Going further North to Lille just after the war.1946-1951.

14- 9631 MD 8.On 8th August 1946.

Jacques POLLET at lieu dit « Blancs Pignons » in Croix,near Lille.

J.Pollet is born on 2d July 1922 in Roubaix, suburb of Lille.
He is from the wealthy family who founded the firm « La Redoute ».
It was originally ,when founded in 1820 by Charles Pollet,a factory selling wool.
The name « La Redoute » comes from the name of the street where it was based.
In the 20’s the crisis put an end to the big profit in wool,and the Pollet family decided to sell wool and artilces by correspondance.
The first catalogue is made in 1928.They become rich again,

Young Jacques ,born in 1922,will play with family fortune.
He will have some problems…always short of money,bad friends…
The Bugatti,bought in 1946,when he is only 24 old,is certainly his first sports car.
In 1954 he joined the Gordini Team and race at Le Mans,finishing 6th on a 2,5 liter 6 cyl
.The year after,he retired in the same event,driving an 8cyl ,2 liter.
He also competted in Mille Miglia in 1954.
He was a member of a local team called « Ecurie Flandres ».
He owned and raced :a 300SL Gullwing and a Ferrari 250 SWB chassis 2321GT .
Pollet went to live in Paris in the 80’s.
He died there on 16th August 1997.
We were lucky to buy many pictures of his Bugatti,through a man in touch with his widow.
Together with the Bugatti pictures were all his trophies,crash helmet,and many pictures of Gordini,Merceded and Ferrari.That material is still around.

The Jacques Pollet Photo Archives.

Most of them have captions at the back giving the period.

From all the pictures anoted by Pollet we can see the oldest ones still showing the Parisien plate at the back of the car « 3574 RL 8 ».
It indicates us that the sports body has been made before he bought the car.
It is logical,the style of the body in rather 1932-1935 than postwar.
The pictures taken in August 1946 show a car still unblown,with its single carburator.

« Three Towns 25th august 1946 »

The picture is taken during that event.
J. Pollet went to the race which was organised at Marcq en Bareuil that very same day.
The « 3 Cities » were in the suburb of Lille.
A few Bugatti were at the start of a 48 laps race.Only 3 type 35 were supposed to take part :V-H Serve and M Roumani on Type 35B and M Peerenboom on a non identified 8 cyl .
Sommer won the race driving an 8cl Maserati.The picture shows the Bugatti in front of Raph Alfa 308.

« Summer 1948 ».Engine 37A.

One picture from the front let us read the number on the front face of the front left arm.It could be 19 ?
That engine is certainly ex 37323.

« March 1949 ».At home.Certainly the first pictures taken after the rebuilding with the new blown engine.The hood and the undertrail look new.

« April-May 1949 ».Near by the sea.First trip.

« June 1949 »..Certainly just before the race of « Grand Prix des Frontières » in Chimay,Belgium.
The car is in racing condition.The wings have been removed.
On some pictures we can see the modifications on the dash.Compare with photo 14 from 1946 and the modifications he planed to do at that time have been done :New jauges,clock,owners plate.

« 5th June 1949 ».Photos 57 and 58.It is the exact day of the race..it can’t be a coincidence.

In the first run called « Voitures Formule B »,there is a Type 37A driven by a french amateur called Francis Liagre,but he doesn’t start.
The car had race number 25.The rules stated that Formule B was for 2 liter unblown..but the writer of the Chimay book,put the Liagre 37A in that group..and another so called 37A driven by a belgium pilot,in the Formule A race for 1,5 liter supercharged.That car withdraw due to a broken piston.Its identity is unknown.
If the Liagre car was effectively a 37A it could well have been the Pollet car rented to a friend of him.
They were obviously of the same region and both from Bugatti owners families.

« May 1950 ».The wings are back on the car.

« Summer 1950 ». The tail is off.Some job could have been done on the back axle .The tank is out of the car…could be damaged or rusty.

« April 1951 ».Many pictures taken in the garden of Pollet’s home »Blancs Pignons » in Croix.

Photo 55 shows the car near by a big Garage in the city of Lille,in Bethune street : « LE PALAIS LILLOIS DE L’AUTOMOBILE ».

Jacques Pollet owned the car during 5 years,with much work done ,and a new engine fitted.

The unknown enthusiast in Aisne.1951-1955.

15-9th October 1951 :882 AC 02.

The car is sold in the next department of Aisne ,near the city of Laon.
We went to the Police of that city in January 2010,but the lady in charge refused to let us see the registration book that she has in her study.
The car stayed in that region for three and half years,being sold to Paris in Spring 1955.

Back to Paris before exportation to the United States.1955.

16-16th March 1955 :4558 DT 75.

The car is bought by a very famous garage specialized in exotic cars.
It is called « Le Haras des Purs- Sang de l’Automobile » at 37 Avenue de la Porte de Villiers,in Neuilly sur Seine,just outside of Paris
The two owners of the garage are :

-Armand BERESSI :A wealthy jewish from Egypt,very clever and looking like a playboy.
-Francis MORTARINI :A meccanic and car dealer,but with the best taste in cars.
They will have many Bugattis in their shop including a few 57S Atalantes,an Atlantic(chassis 57473) some Grand Prix,but also racing Delahaye,Delage,Fiat and Talbot.
The very same day theType 37 is registrated ,they also register a Type 46 faux cabriolet by Gaston Grummer (chassis 46405) ,who is now in the Adams family.One of the only 3 Talbot Profilated T150C By Pourtout (chassis 90120) also just arrived (see xerox of the reg book).

From one of the pictures ,with the two owners in front of Type 35 (chassis 4492,now Schlumpf),we can see 37265 partially dismanteled in the back.
They will sell it very quickly to their contact in US.
Since 1953 ,the french guys are in touch with Bob ESTES and Otto ZIPPER ,in California.
Many of the Bugatti from « Le Haras » are sold to that american team.

Photo 56 shows the car in the street of Neuilly,behind is 57543S Drophead,and a Stelvio.
-Photo 59 to 61, show the car (in 1955),in the « Haras des Purs-Sang » garage.
-Photo 63 shows F. Mortarini at the wheel and A. Beressi next to the car.
-Color photo (from Mme Beressi archives) shows the car as it arrived in California.

Brief history of 50 years in America.

17- Otto ZIPPER 1955-1960.
Having found a color picture of 37265 in California,in the archives of Mme Beressi,and having the confirmation from her,that her husband was a good friend of O.Zipper ,there is no reason to doubt that the car went straight from « Le Haras » to Zipper and Estes.
The information giving Jacques Buson in France and Jean De Dobbeleer in Belgium as owners of the car is wrong.
Otto Zipper is supposed to have owned the car from 1955 or 1956 to 1960.

If you got this far, thanks for reading! Long, but an intereresting story. I will post pictures when I have more time......

I got this far... Interesting read!

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Thank you for sharing the results of your research on your Bugatti Type 37A #37265 with us Andrew, very few people willing to do so. it is rather rare, therefore, be grateful.

_________________
Make your dream devour your life, so that life doesn't devour your dream.
[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]

Another link is: http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.htmlOn this link, there is also a race during this time at Montlhery, but the cars in the race don’t list any T37’s that I can find. see this link: http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html#1ttf

from the book french grand prix in 1927 montlhery

"the bugatti team was withdrawn at the last possible moment doubts had been crystallised into this negative manner, a late practice session and overnight work had failed to satisfy Ettore Bugatti that his cars would be competitive.the withdrawl of goux conelli and dubonnet on the grounds of sportsmanship;withdrew in order to give talbot and delage a better chance.."

I cannot believe that, as already mentions in the forum, the Type 37 is not Grand Prix car, it is sport model with headlight. For private drivers surely suitably ...

Just got racing from the 2010 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion! (It was a pleasure to meet and spend time with Bugwrench!)

Here a few pics that were just posted on various websites that show 37265:

Here is a link to a bunch more pictures of the Bugatti Grand Prix 2010:

http://www.supercars.net/gallery/119513/2484/5.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/birddog/4905885730/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcquinn/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sushirama628/sets/72157624623253657/

Looks good!

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

Thanks!

I just couldn't pass the T51 in front of me. I could catch him in turns 8, 9 & 10, and get right up on him. After turn 11, down the front straight, he would just power away from me. Then we would repeat that scenario each lap!

At the front, Charles Dean (T51), Peter Gidding (T35B), and Charles McCabe (T59) just checked out.

However, I was happy to be within sight at the finish of the 5 cars ahead of me (Craig Barto(T51), Richard Longes ( T35B), Sandy Greene (T35), Charlie Shalvoy (T39A), Scott Hansen (T51), and my lap times were within 1.5 seconds of this group. My lap times were 2 min. 9 seconds.

I was the fastest T37A & 4 cylinder car, so I was proud of that!

You cought him in turns 8, 9 and 10. Does this mean you are the better driver (of course you are ) or does the weight of the car, settings, or better road keeping have to do with that?

_________________
Vive la Marque !!