The question is:

Is this 4894 or is this 4865?

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Vive la Marque !!

The answer:
Nothing is never simple in the history of one bugatti and it is even truer for this one, which belongs to the long list of that where it is a little the unknown factor because this 4894 with the same history as the 4865


This unique Bugatti monoposto started life as a 1928 Type 35C which belonged to the famous French racing driver Andre Dubonnet. It was then known to be in the possession of another racing driver who raced under the Pseudonym "Ralph". It is known that he had an accident with the car in 1933. In 1938 it was owned by a Mr Buffum who then sold it to a Mr Severi who registered the car 8628 YC and sold it in 1943 to Jean Brondello. It seems to have been converted to a monoposto at this time probably by a Mr Scoupe, using part of a T40 chassis and the original engine number 4865/100. The car was then on display in this form at the Bonnal Museum near Bordeaux.

The next change of hands came in 1980 when it was bought by Rene Giordano, who retained the original engine and gearbox to recreate a normal T35C. The engine was replaced by a type 38 prepared by Novo in Paris and later on by the well known specialist Laurent Rondoni. The car was then bought in 1985 by the president of the French Bugatti club, who kept it until 1991 when it was acquired by the present owner.

Since 1991 it has received a partial rebuild and has been seen in action at numerous classic events including the Klausen and Mt Ventoux hillclimbs, Monthlery, Dijon and Divonne. It was recently on display at the Fondation Herve in Aigle. The car comes with Swiss import document form 13.20 A and a history file. It would make an interesting entry-level vehicle for classic events or add interest to any collection of Bugattis

On the wiki:
http://wiki.bugattibuilder.com/index.php?title=4894
http://wiki.bugattibuilder.com/index.php?title=4865

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

#4894 acc. to my files was a T39A

#4865 was exhibited at the 1928 Paris Motor Show. There is a photo showing the car full of plaques for all the race wins of the model. Cannot find it in my archive right now, but for sure one of you guys has it.

It was then the "prize car" for the Grand Prix Bugatti at Le Mans on 24 June 1928. This was a race organized by Ets. Bugatti for Bugatti owners only, that year's event was won by the former race driver André Dubonnet. Every year the winner was awarded a Bugatti, and 1928 it was #4865 which went to Dubonnet.

The pseudonym of the next owner I believe was not "Ralph" but "Raph", who was the Marquis Raphaël Béthenod de las Casas. And if so, 1933 may be wrong, some sources say that "Raph" only in 1935 moved from Argentina to France, others talk about 1932 but mention only cycle car races with Amilcar, Salmson and Rally.

Buffum's full name was Jean Buffum, he was from Versailles, and "Severi" was Ferdinando Severi from Nice.