Description
Chassis number: 57263
Documents: Deed of sale only
Striking open bodywork based on an early example of the famous Atalante
Accompanied by a detailed historical report by the renowned historian Pierre-Yves Laugier
Well preserved cosmetic restoration by the Carrosserie Lecoq
Addendum: Please note that this vehicle is offered on a bill of sale only.
According to Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier, this Type 57 was the second of seven examples of the famous Atalante, which in its early form – as here – was known simply as the Faux Cabriolet; it had a fabric roof that opened all the way to the rear of the car, similar to the top of a Citröen 2CV. Built in June 1935, it was registered on June 8, 1935 in the name of Lucien Blanc from Agen, who registered it there as 2049 JV 2. Mr. Blanc was a well-known Bugatti customer, who had previously purchased a Type 35. was later photographed in 1935 by Bugatti enthusiast Jim Byrom at Spanish customs.
About a year after his purchase, Mr. Blanc sold the Type 57 to an unknown owner in Paris, who registered it there on August 7, 1936 as “6273 RK 5”. This owner kept the car for two years before selling it to Georges Pilon de Loynes of Nantes in September 1938, where it was registered as “9941 JH4”. Mr. de Loyne in turn passed on the Bugatti, still in its original colors and configuration, to Pierre Douarre, an airplane pilot who was then studying at the air school in Versailles. When he left for the Russian front in 1944, it was probably abandoned near Toulon, his original home, and survived the rest of the war there before being put back on the road in August 1946 by a mechanic from Marseilles .
On August 26, 1946, the car was registered as “6788 CB4” at the Bouches du Rhone by Jean Filippi, with, somewhat confusingly, the identity of a Type 49, number 49258, probably broken up during the war. At this time the Type 57 was now a drophead coupe, retaining most of the original Faux Cabriolet bodywork, but with the roof removed and the additions of new bumpers, chrome rear fender cladding, a folding windshield and a rear luggage rack. Mr Laugier believes that at the time of these modifications the car may have been fitted with the current second series Type 57 frame.
Less than a month after Mr. Filippi registered the car, it was sold to Marcel Maillet, the first of a number of temporary owners in Marseille who would own the Bugatti before returning to Paris in August 1949. Christian d'Epenoux, later a well-known reporter for L'Express, known as "The Baron", bought the car in 1956 at an auction held by Les Domaines in that city. Unfortunately, he could not keep the Bugatti for long, as his student finance necessitated its sale for the then remarkable sum of 3.000 francs to Alexandre Babeanu, a chemical engineer.
In 1974 the car was purchased by Bugatti enthusiast Claude Jeangirard from the Loire Valley, for whom it was maintained for nine years by the well-known specialist Henri Novo. Jeanirard passed it on to the well-known and prolific Bugatti collector Michel Seydoux in 1983. Owned by Seydoux, the Bugatti was refinished in black and red by the renowned Carrosserie Lecoq, and the mechanical components were overhauled by Gaston Garino of Puteaux. The current collection then purchased Mr. Seydoux's convertible in the late XNUMXs and it has remained largely out of public view since then.
Inspection of the car today shows that, typical of Lecoq's high-quality finish, it is in high-quality cosmetic condition from front to back, attractive in presentation both inside and out. There is no serial number label present and the engine number appears to have been removed. At one point the left chassis frame was stamped on the top surface near the firewall with a Type 46 number, 46512, but this would have been done for an earlier registration as the font is incorrect and the frame is, as stated, correct for a Type 57 from the second series. Although the car was once known as 57668 during Mr. Seydoux's ownership, likely because it was equipped with his registration number, the Laugier report clearly indicates that this vehicle is not part of that car, a Gangloff Stelvio, and is indeed 57263 with its convertible modifications and second series frame as refinished by Jean Filippi.
This is a very fascinating and unique Bugatti, with a special design and a fascinating past.
