In 1927, Bugatti debuted the Type 43, a road-going counterpart to the Type 35B Grand Prix, one of the most successful competition cars of all time.

At the heart of the Type 43 was a supercharged 2.3-liter, overhead-cam straight eight that was virtually identical to the one used in the Grand Prix machine. Although the chassis was based on the contemporary Type 38 touring car, which provided a centrally mounted, four-speed gearbox and ample passenger compartment, the model’s thoroughbred intentions were clear. Most Type 43s were delivered with open Grand Sport coachwork, a narrow, torpedo body with pointed tail and side-mounted spares, and all were equipped with innovative cast alloy wheels that had been designed for the Type 35.

Offering blistering acceleration and a top speed of 110 mph, the Type 43 was truly a supercar in its day, capable of being used as a long-distance touring car or in a variety of sporting events.

The Type 43 presented here, chassis 43207, was completed in October 1927, fitted with engine no. 40 and a traditional Grand Sport body. According to the American Bugatti Register and Data Book, it was delivered new in March 1928 to René Léon, an early Bugatti racing driver and proprietor of a sporting club in Monte Carlo, Monaco. While little is known of the car’s earliest history, Conway’s The Bugatti Register and Data Book, first published in 1962, includes an entry for 43207, describing it as a “2-seater torpedo” owned by ex-Bugatti agent Gaston Docime of Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Former owners noted are Georges Filipinetti, the Swiss racing team owner, and Pierre Bardinon, the legendary French car collector.

By 1967, the much-modified Bugatti had been sold to famed American racing driver and sports car manufacturer Carroll Shelby, who had Bunny Phillips and Allen Bishop keep it in storage for him. In 1974, Dr. Theodore Waugh purchased the Type 43 from Shelby and undertook a restoration that spanned nearly three decades. This work included returning the shortened chassis to its original length and fitting replica Grand Sport bodywork built by British specialist Ian Wilkinson. The Bugatti’s current engine, composed of an original Type 43 crankcase (no. 68), supercharger, and other serial-numbered components, was also rebuilt in the UK by Crosthwaite & Gardiner.

While it has been extensively modified, 43207 is a legitimate Type 43 Grand Sport, listed in the various Bugatti registries published over the past 62 years and has been documented by Bugatti historian David Sewell. With a provenance that includes several automotive luminaries – Filipinetti, Bardinon, and Shelby – and a fixture in Dr. Waugh’s respected collection since 1974, this Type 43 is the ideal enthusiast’s Bugatti and an approachable entryway to experience a mythical prewar sports car.

*Please note that this vehicle is titled 1928.