See picture recently posted of a type 55 roadster.

CRAIG, C. Ian.

A pre-war owner of the “cream” of Bugatti models including a type 51A (51138), a type 54 (DPJ 5) fitted with a type 55 style roadster body, the ex-Bachelier type 55, a 57S(C) (57573 with UK reg. no. GPB 2) and a type 59. In recent years Craig’s widow Mrs. Moody has provided the Bugatti Trust (via Bill Clarke) with numerous excellent photographs of these cars. He started competing around 1937 and was the fastest driver at the first hill-climb to be held at Prescott on the 10th April, 1938. His time on a dry sunny day was 55.58 secs. but at the next meeting on the 15th May 1938 he reduced his best time to 52.90 secs. He drove at Prescott in five meetings in 1938 achieving a best time of 49.51 seconds in the type 59. His efforts won him the UK BOC Victor Ludorum trophy presented to by Jean Bugatti at London’s Savoy Hotel on 10th February, 1939. (Photo : B.8/2/6). (See B.7/6/9 and 7/5/10). In early 1939 Craig was “called to the colours” and the type 59 was placed in storage at the Metropolis Garage in London.

Do you have pictures of the special bodied T51, 51138 ?

Hi Bugfan

I think you've misread Leagaleagle's list of the Graig Bugattis ; 51138 has the standard Grand Prix body. It is the ex-Lord Howe T54 (54205) which was re-bodied by Bachelier. Now owned by Evert Louwman. I have included photos of both the T51A and T54.



51138



54205

Regards
Johan

Thanks Johan,

The GP Body on 51138 when owned by Graig was heavily modified (If I am not mistaking). The cowl is different with a roadster type of falling down windshield, the tail was removed with 2 space types in the back, road equiped and the car was painted like a T55 color scheme. That's those pictures I am looking for.

Is any body has some ?

Hi Bugfan

My apologies, I had no idea that 51138 also carried a sports body. I share your curiosity, so if anyone has a photo please post it. From Wiki I learn that the Graig T59 was 59124, the ex-Brian Lewis car. Legaleagle is right, Ian Graig had superb taste in Bugattis.

Thanks
Johan

I don't recall seeing Craig's type 51. Just a little bit before my time. Has Bugfan any idea where he saw a picture of the car or read the description he relayed.

The car does not feature in Conway's first Register.

In fact, Craig sold the car (51138) to Gerry Crozier. And at the 1939 Poole Speed Trials, G.M. Crozier is racing the T51 with the special body. I don't know who modified the body, Craig or Crozier.
As I have a real passion for the history of this particular GP, I would love to have more picture of it, specialy with the Graig/Crozier body.
Thanks

From Mr. Little's database :

"CROZIER, Gerald M (N?).

A competitor in 1938 with an LMB Ford V8 special who subsequently owned a supercharged 1492cc type 51A Bugatti which he drove at the Lewes Speed Trials and at Poole in 1939 where he set a new class record. He also competed at the July, 1939 Prescott meeting with a best run in 53.07 seconds. Photo of his type 39A, see “Bugantics” 11/6/15".

There is no picture in "Bugantics" of the 51A - all cameras were pointing at Wimille and Jean Bugatti with the 59/50B which made second FTD behind the ERA of Raymond Mays.

Here the body on 51138, I am talking about :

<img src="http://www.bugattibuilder.com/photo/albums/userpics/10003/crozier391cq2.jpg" alt="Bugatti type 51 #51138">

That's G.M. Crozier racing 51138 (T51A) at the 1939 Poole Speed Trials.


Edit Herman: Uploaded the image to the Bugatti photo server, and linked it from there. (no pop-ups)

Curiouser and curiouser (bad English, I know.). These 2 photos are also on Wiki. Registration is FWP 556 while in the photo provided by Bugfan the reg. is still GPE 230. Look at the cowl over the dash board and the single filler on the back of the car - neither items, to the best of my knowledge, are standard T51.

I also see Mrs. (Avril) Scott-Montcrieff listed as owner from 1950 to 1954. Is this the Bugatti she used so extensively for rallying?






I am confused, yet intrigued.
Johan

That's indeed the same car. But it was involved during the war in a fire bombing and repaired using parts from a Bugatti T35A (radiator, front chassis rails, bonnet, wheels, tail). The twins filler gas tank was probably lost when modified with two spare tyre in the back (pre-war, Crozier).
Still looking more picture of the "T55 type body".

Nothing new about the T51, I'm afraid, but I did discover the chassis number of the Craig T55 : 55237/engine 37. Have a look at the Wiki entry, turns out it's the black and yellow roadster now in the Schlumpf, ex-Shakespeare Collection. And if you follow the links to the Bugatti Trust's album, you can see the T46-49-50 alloy wheels it wore then. I wonder who fitted them?

I'm speaking under correction here but it would seem that Ian Graig had all his Bugattis painted black & ivory, the T51A (51138 - when it wore the sports body. I am as anxious as Bugfan for more photos of this car, especially the rear three-quarter view.) ; the T54 (54205/engine 2 - as rebodied by Bachelier. Incidentally, the b & w photo on Wiki is of a standard T55 roadster, not 54205.) ; the T55 (55237 - as above & Wiki.) ; the T57S(C) (57573/engine 37 - Two tone blue Atalante owned by Dr. Peter Williamson and shown at Pebble Beach 2003.) & the T59 (59124/engine 7 - Several photos on Wiki shows her with those wonderful wings and side-mounted spare, fitted in 1947/8, I believe).

Regards
Johan

# 55237 #3 Lewes, BOC meeting 1937, 4th September, C. I. Craig,

> Collection Schlumpf

To see: http://www.bugattibuilder.com/wiki/inde ... itle=55237

Bugatti Trust: #55237
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 05_15.html
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 110_2.html
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 48_23.html

Bugatti Trust: #55235
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 175_1.html
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 006_3.html
http://www.bugatti-trust.co.uk/photogra ... 86_14.html

There are errors on the albums of Trust which were noted.

BPK 1 would have been used by 55235 and 55237 ???

to see:

http://www.bugattibuilder.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=949