Unveiled in 1934, the Type 57 is widely regarded as a masterpiece by the hand of Jean Bugatti. The successor to the popular Type 49, the new Bugatti was powered by a jewel-like 3.3-liter, twin-cam, straight-eight engine and represented the ultimate in automotive design. Like all Bugattis that preceded it, the Type 57 was graceful, exquisitely made, and incredibly exclusive – by all accounts, a conveyance of the highest quality and performance. Bugatti continually refined the Type 57 throughout its production run resulting in three distinct series of chassis. The second-series chassis – introduced in 1936 and underpinning the car presented here – featured a strengthened rear axle, cross-braced frame, rubber engine mounts, and upgraded brakes, among other improvements.

According to Bugatti factory records, this Type 57, chassis 57600, was built in October 1937, equipped with engine no. 441 and fitted with a Ventoux Coach body finished in blue with brown leather upholstery. That December, the new Bugatti was sold via Digonnet, the official agent in Saint-Étienne France, to its first owner, M. Hug. Little is known of the Type 57’s whereabouts until 1954, by which time it had been acquired by the proprietor of a rice mill in Lyon.

In 1962, famed American Bugatti specialist O.A. “Bunny” Phillips acquired 57600, as a rolling chassis without coachwork, from Costa Mesa, California resident Charles A. Stanley, who had imported it from Europe. After restoring the chassis, Phillips sourced an original Gangloff-built Stelvio body, which had originally been fitted to chassis 57766 (the 1938 Paris salon car), reinstalled on chassis 57733 in 1947, and badly damaged in a road accident during 1969.

Dr. Theodore Waugh acquired 57600, together with the Stelvio body, from Bunny Phillips in 1974 and embarked on a lengthy restoration. British specialist Ian Wilkinson completed the project in 1987, refinishing the Bugatti in the present red and black color scheme. Cherished in Dr. Waugh’s private collection ever since, the Type 57 remains in good, presentable order, though it has been sparingly used in recent years and may require mechanical attention prior to use. Significantly, 57600 is documented in the latest edition of the American Bugatti Register and Data Book 2018, retains its matching-numbers engine per factory records, and has been desirably upgraded with a supercharger and hydraulic brakes for improved performance. With timeless styling and sophisticated engineering, the Type 57 is the quintessential road-going Bugatti and enjoys sought-after status among collectors. This example, which possesses its original engine, attractive open coachwork, and desirable upgrades, ought to be an ideal candidate for the many tours, rallies, and concours events organized by the various Bugatti clubs in the US and abroad. Owned by just two devoted Bugattistes since 1962, the appearance of this Type 57 at auction represents an opportunity not to be missed.