when strolling trough the online-auction catalogue of bohams in feb. at the retro, I found out, that there will not only be the black bess, the ex dr.carr`s T57sc, some T57`s, but also the 4th oldest T13, # 442.
when I looked at the photos I was somewhere shocked. the nice
light orange ( black wings) colour had turned into an american grey with
dark grey body lining, the wings dark grey with light grey lining.
colours that the americam use for classic cars of the 2o`s and 3o`s.
they even painted the only westinghouse veteran car this way....
the report stated that the car was entirely tired, so they had to do a ground up restauration.
this was maybe technically correct, but when I last saw the car in the 9o`s the paint was very good preserved with a light touch of patina.

i also think, that the rear section of the body differs from pictures of the car before the restauration. all the times, the car had hood-fittigs, so why, when the car was totally restored, they did`nt construct a hood??

all in all, as I said about the harrah`s T57sc, this all-american restauration of such a historic car is for my opinion near to a sacrileg.

other opinions??
let me know, specially on the matter of this T13.

regards
mike

Hi Mike.

You are so right, there is something different about this car. Unfortunately I cannot seem to post photos from the Bonhams site, nor do I know how to provide a link, but there is a photo of 442 taken from exactly the same angle as the photo from Wiki below. That rear bodywork does seem lower doesn't it? And the steering column seems more upright now.

As to the colours? It could have been worse Mike, a lot worse - imagine for a moment this car in shiny black paint and those wooden wheels replaced by chrome wires. I have written much about the lack of taste and historical sensitivity of certain car collectors, but you know what Mike? It serves no purpose, people are free to do with their property as they please, our opinions count for nothing.

And if you think about it, it's probably best that way. Alas.

Kind Regards
Johan

well, the steering rack is defenitly different
so is the rear fender
about the back, i'm not fully convinced it's still the same way

Hi D.J.

Thanks for the link. Looking at it again I think you are right, the shape of the rear body is still the same. It may look different due to a combination of the new colour, the new angle of the steering column and the fact that the Bonhams photo was taken outdoors. I think.

Mike, you might have a point about the pin-striping - is it correct for 1911/12?

Johan

I'll get some better shots of the car in 2 weeks

Retromobile?

I will visit Retromobile, but only the second sunday. Are the auctioned cars still there, or are they gone by then?

_________________
Vive la Marque !!

they will be gone then already
or at least most of them
defenitly the ones that have been sold
some of those are already locked in another closed hall on sunday and they start going on the trailers on monday

I think they had lowered the chassis/body, which can cause the more upright steering.for my opinion the rear wings are also lower than before.
the rear end of the body seems for me much rounder on the older photographs and not as "sectioned" as after the restauration.
on the boham site, there is a small drawing of the car bottom left, where you can see what they changed.
you`re shure,johann, that every owner can do with his belongings what he wants, I`m always frightened with the american taste of colours.
pink isotta, yellow T57 sc, the same shades of grey and white wall tyres on a 19o4 westinghouse. the only thing that I "really miss" is that the body lines had`nt been gold-plated.........

the original place, the museum in uzes was one of the charming private french museums that spread france in the 7o`s and 8o`s ( uzes was one of the first, opened in the mid 6o`s). great cars ( a large renault limousine from about 191o, some small sporting cars of the 2o`s and a fine T57stevilio), all original and not too restored....

regards
mike

Last year, only a few of the auctioned cars had been gone by the next Saturday, most of them were still there, also the sold ones.

But, if you don't want any risk that some of the cars have gone, you should go the first Friday, like I do!

_________________
www.BugattiPage.com
www.BugattiRevue.com
www.BugattiAircraft.com

This information is not correct. Bonhams cataloque explains that the cars can only be picked up after the close of Retro. They are part of the show even after having been sold.
Bugwrench

as promised some shots of this car