The mystery "type 59" in the photo gallery is a well-known car :

BC 059
A built-up “type 59” assembled by Richard I’Anson using mainly new parts from Tula Engineering for UK sweet magnate (Trebor) John Marks of Harlow, UK. The project was commenced in the mid-eighties and it was listed in David Sewell’s 1989 Register (p.78) with the note that it was being built on an “unused original frame, no. 8". It was also listed in the 2000 British Bugatti Register (p.187) with the UK reg. no. ASJ 352 listed and its UK BOC “chassis no.” BC 059 which had been issued “c.Jan 1997” (2000 BBR p.220). Additional information gave the date of the acquisition of the frame from Ray Jones in the USA as 1985 and according to the owner’s comments “the frame had definitely been used before, almost certainly on the T59 driven by Louis Meyer which crashed in practice for the Vanderbilt Trophy in 1936…” The car has been used in UK BOC and VSCC events driven mainly by John Marks and his son Rupert. In 2009 it was noted with an apparently French registration on its tail : “4143 NV 3”. The car was originally built to the highest engineering standards and cosmetically is probably far superior to a genuine Molsheim Bugatti.

Thank you for the information...

having been a passenger in this car, its very crisp and kept in supurb condition the unfortunate thing is being six foot 2 inches tall its a tight fit and as much as you try you will inevitably burn your left arm, John Marks is an excelent driver and put it to full use accending prescott to say i was blown away is an understatement, on many occasions i have baby sat this car at venues its attended and if you think the detailing on the outside is great under the bonnet is just as clean, i do have some pictures but still in the process of converting thousands from 35mm to disc,

Dear GCL:

The French registration 4143-NV3 was on the tail of the so-called "Meyer" car which crashed at the 1936 Vanderbilt Cup race. I relayed this information, along with photographic evidence out of Joel Finn's "American Road Racing, The 1930's" to John Marks about two years ago. Glad to see he put the knowledge to use. Incidentally, this registration is that of the oft-used Factory chassis no. 50180.

Sandy

Bugatti Trust:
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... ?g2_page=7
There are the photos for a long time at Bugatti Trust:


Wiki:
First registration 4143-NV3 by Automobiles Ettore Bugatti on 5th May 1936 as #50180 at préfecture du Bas-Rhin.

One can accept thus this T59 had the chassis number 50180 in the year 1936.
And today the chassis number BC59 ?

Dear Uwe:

This is the photo out of Finn's book. Interestingly, the photo was taken by Joel Finn's father who was working at Roosevelt Raceway, the sight of the Vanderbilt Cup races.

Cheers,

Sandy