Westminster, London - Wednesday 5th December 2007

- Lot 348 : 1932/1985 Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix



Registration no : WFO 234
Chassis no : BC96
Estimate : £200,000-250,000

This superb Type 51 is just such a machine. Commissioned by the vendor's father, it was built between 1980 and 1985 using a combination of new and original components. Many of these were sourced from Brineton Engineering, still a highly respected Bugatti specialist today, while the attention to detail on the car has been attributed to both its instigator's perfectionist tendencies and the ability of project overseer and well known Maserati specialist, Peter Shaw, to realise them. In recent year's this Bugatti has been maintained by Ivan Dutton Ltd., widely regarded as one of the world's leading authorities on and restoration specialists of Bugattis.

Although extensively driven on the road and present at various VSCC events, the car has not yet taken part in any competitive events, despite its eligibility to do so and several invitations, for example, to enter the Williams Trophy race at Donington Park. Notably, chassis BC 96 has been very well received by the Bugatti Owners Club - indeed, its chassis number is one allocated by the club - and it is, of course, eligible for many events of which the BOC is the organiser. Given the car's correct specification in every respect - so much so that the BOC Register refers to it as 'a late delivery'! - and the speed and handling it has amply demonstrated on the road, the vendor firmly believes it would be a competitive machine all manner of speed competitions.

Finished in striking dark blue with black leather trim, this most authentically built Type 51, one of the most handsome and greatest of all pre-war Grand Prix cars, represents a fantastic opportunity, priced at considerably less than the seven figure sum a Molsheim built examplel is likely to command and yet, being accurate in every detail, it remains eligible for use in serious historic racing events. In truly excellent condition throughout, such an appealing proposition as this superb Bugatti is unlikely to reoccur for some considerable time.

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