Bugatti T51 chassis number 51155 (from H.G. Cownay's notes, Conway's article in Bugantics 27/2, St. John's article in Bugantics 32/1, informations from Bugantics and my personal notes)

This chassis number is recorded to have been delivered to H. R. H. King Leopold of Belgium with no specified date. The King of Belgium had indeed a T51. I think that this car could have been taken back in trade when the King bought this well known T59 (59125) in the late 30's.

This chassis number is also known to be the car which Ettore Bugatti "gave" to the Bugatti Owners Club in early 1939. This is without any doubt the King's T51, because in Bugantics 8/3 (may 1939) page 3, we can read that the car was painted black when delivered and it was repainted blue by Colonel Sorel. The black was also the color of the Leopold's T59, unusual color for a GP, enough (for me) to link definitely the T51 to the King's car. We can learn also from this little article that the car had "been seized by the Customs whilst they determined what duty could be levied on "a gift"". I don't think it was really a gift from Ettore, just a way not to pay the duties, and this stays a secret up to even now.

R.W. Shakspeare raced the Club Car at Prescott International, July 30th 1939. It seems that the Club had a few problems to decide who would drive the car and then decided to sell it. But why during the war, when there was no races and under gas restriction. Who can really sell a gift ? In 1943, the car was bought by P.R. Monkhouse or Pete Markham (probably the same person) and he raced it at the first post-war Prescott events. In June 1947, Monkhouse crashed the T51 (a horrid shunt hitting a heavy lorry head on). According to A. Rivers Fletcher (Conway Bugatti 5th ed. Page 212) the car was « writte off ».

The car was then rebuilt by Monaco Engineering (shop where Monkhouse and Fletcher were working) as a special bodied two-seater for R.O. Ayrton, using a Type 35 chassis frame obtained from Stafford East, equipped with a larger touring from axle, Wilson gearbox and wire wheels. The car was registered GEW 291. After being used in this from for sprints and hillclimbs, the car was up for sale at Chiltern Cars in September 1953. It seems that nobody was interested in the car and 9 months later it was still for sale. During that famous cold 54's winter, the engine had been frost damaged, and it was considered to part out the car. Here what happened to the different components :

- Jack Perkins bought the lower half of the engine because he required the crankshaft for his single-seater T35B.

- Jack Clissold bought the top half of the engine, to assist the rebuild of the ex-Earl Howe T51(probably 51121), in his possession in 1954.

- The rest of the car (Parts not original to 51155 : T35 chassis, wilson gearbox, touring front axle, body, more – Parts original to 51155 : rear axle, steering box, brake bits, gears and springs) was sold later to M. Cobbold (it had no chassis plate or number but the log book quoted 51155) and was built as a two-seater (not unlike a GP) with a blown Ford Zephyr engine and narrow GP radiator. The special then reappeared in 1962 for sale at Frank Dales. It was obtained by John Horton who rebuilt it as at 35B with wire wheels and narow radiator. All the parts needed for the transformation (roller crank and crankcase from 51145-24) was supplied by Jack Lemon Burton. This car still registered as GEW 291was owned by P.R. Hill of Melton Mowbray. I think that this "branch" is claming the T51 51155 identity with Bill Marks (from Wiki)

In 1968, G. St. John obtained the crankcase assembly from Perkins, and got the manifold and cam drive assembly from Clissold. In his 1969 Bugantics article, St. John wrote that he wanted to fit his T51 engine to the T35 chassis frame from 4814. And he is claiming that the original chassis frame of the B.O.C. T51 was almost certainly scrapped by Monaco Engineering in 1947-48. In the late 80's St. John was claiming having GP frame stamped 702, and that he believed it was the original 51157 chassis frame.

So now, where is 51155 ? Does it still exist ? Who can claim owning it ?

To me, only the chassis frame can claim the continious history of a car. For the B.O.C. T51, it was definitly vanished in 1947.

Thank you Bugfan, for this detailed and thought-provoking research on 51155. On the face of this evidence may I suggest 51155 from now on be defined as follows : Crashed and written off in 1947, chassis frame scrapped, only a few parts remain.

With the October 1987 edition of Classis & Sports Car a free supplement celebrating Bugatti was issued. On p.33, in an article by Peter Hull about the B.O.C. there is a photo of Mr. Shakespeare driving this car at Prescott. I quote the caption in full : "A significant photograph. This shot of Richard Shakespeare in 'The Club Car', a Type 51, taking the start in 1939 was captured by Jean Bugatti on his Rolleiflex." Perhaps someone with access to both this photo and a scanner can add it to the Wiki entry on 51155 as a way of remembering this great car.

In any event, thanks to Bugfan's hard work, 51155 can now be added to the growing list of cars known to be no more. We all benefit.

With Gratitude
Johan Buchner

GEW 291 at Prescott 1948 > 51155 ?



" ... The car was then rebuilt by Monaco Engineering (shop where Monkhouse and Fletcher were working) as a special bodied two-seater for R.O. Ayrton, using a Type 35 chassis frame obtained from Stafford East, equipped with a larger touring from axle, Wilson gearbox and wire wheels. The car was registered GEW 291. After being used in this from for sprints and hillclimbs, the car was up for sale at Chiltern Cars in September 1953. It seems that nobody was interested in the car and 9 months later it was still for sale. During that famous cold 54's winter, the engine had been frost damaged, and it was considered to part out the car..."

Great picture.
I think that's the special, but are you sure for the date, 1948 ? Because the engine is not a Bugatti's one and the Ford engine was fitted after 1954.

at Prescott, June 1948, P. R. Monkhouse