This Type 57 was assembled at the Molsheim factory during April 1936 and it was transported to Gangloff’s workshop at Colmar on 25 July 1936. The attractive four-seat ‘Stelvio’ body was finished on 9 September 1936 and was invoiced at a price of 16,000 French francs with a further 450 FF for creating a special profile for the front wings. The running chassis cost 45.000 French francs.

Chassis 57431 was delivered to its first owner Mr Muracciole on 16 September 1936—this is believed to be Etienne Muracciole. Etienne was a lawyer and General Counsel, whilst a noted car and aeroplane enthusiast having served as the President of the Automobile Club of Constantine and the Aeroclub in 1928, before being elected President of the Automobile Club of Algeria in 1934. It then passed into the hands of Emile Knecht, the importer for Algeria of Terrot motorcycles. It was then sold to a certain ‘Pasha’ who raced stock cars in Alger.

In 1962, an American called David Mize travelled to Algeria and discovered Pasha’s collection of Delahayes, Delages and this Type 57. In the summer of 1963, he purchased chassis 57431 and exported it to Marseille. It was received by Guy Huet and Rob Noorlander, who drove it back to Holland in the rain without a hood! During 1964, it was stored at Noorlander’s garage in Pijnacker, sat amongst other Bugatti’s awaiting shipment to New York. It disappeared after Guy Huet delivered the car to Antwerp and it was left on the side of the port for several weeks.

At the start of the early Seventies, it was acquired by Jacques Antoine de Biolley of Brussels, before being purchased by Edmond Perry on 29 June 1976. Perry is best known for his company APAL, which built VW-Porsche specials. Perry sold the car to Ennio Gianaroli of Liège in 1994. Gianaroli was an Italian émigré collector of Ferraris and Bugattis. He sold the car to Jos Vander Stappen, who’s son Pascale sold this Bugatti to The Curated Collection in November 2016.

Analysis by Pierre-Yves Laugier shows that the car retains its original chassis plate, and the engine is stamped with 57431. Its original number, 314, has been erased and restamped with 108, but the two crankcases retain the original assembly number 81 so it is the original engine. The frame number 84 is in the series of the new design of mounting with a suspended engine and redesigned crossmembers.

The gearbox is stamped 314 and corresponds with the original engine number. The Gangloff body is entirely original, and the wood frame appears to be old. The paintwork has been completed more recently. Interested parties should note that this Bugatti has been on static display for many years so it will require some recommissioning prior to use.

A wonderful example of the model, this Type 57 Cabriolet would be perfect for any Bugatti enthusiast for the summer months.

RM Sotheby’s would like to thank Pierre-Yves Laugier and Kees Jansen for their assistance with cataloguing this Bugatti.