1932 Bugatti Type 55 Cabriolet

The Type 51 was the first Grand Prix Bugatti to feature a dual overhead camshaft motor, available in three sizes: 2.3-liter, 2.0-liter, and 1.5-liter, all supercharged. The 2.3-liter version produced as much as 160 hp, and the model soon proved very competitive. The Type 51 won several major races during its first season, and it was a Type 51 that earned Bugatti’s last significant Grand Prix victory against major opposition at the 1933 Monaco Grand Prix. ‌ It was from these thoroughbred underpinnings that Jean Bugatti proceeded to develop the Type 55 road car, which soon became one of the most coveted sports cars of the early 1930s. The magnificent 2.3-liter engine retained its supercharger, but was detuned to 130 bhp to ensure tractability while inside still beat the heart of a racer. The price was astronomical, and as a result, a mere 38 chassis were built between 1932 and 1935, almost half of which were fitted with gorgeous Jean Bugatti-designed coachwork. Yet for some, that was not enough as they required something even more exceptional. To satisfy this demand, a number of coachbuilders such as Vanvooren, Figoni, and Gangloff were therefore allowed to create bespoke one-off creations. With its cabriolet body by Gangloff, chassis 55230 is one of these extremely rare and very exclusive Bugattis. ‌ Following exhaustive research by acknowledged expert Bugatti historians, Pierre-Yves Laugier in France, and Mark Morris and David Sewell in the UK, the car’s authenticity has been confirmed and its history can be thoroughly charted throughout its life. This begins when, according to the Bugatti factory sales records, chassis 55230, fitted with engine no. 15, was ordered by “Vidal-Hoffmann” on April 1, 1932. Alfred “Freddie” Hoffmann, owner of the Nerka spark plug company, operated a Bugatti agency in Marseille, France, with his associate Henri Giraud. Their agency was named Giraud & Hoffmann, and one Emile Vidal was on the board of this concern, although sharing the same name and with residence in Marseille, he was not connected with Marcel Vidal the race car driver and personal friend of Ettore Bugatti. On June 20, 1932, Gangloff in Colmar, France, invoiced Giraud & Hoffmann for a “Cabriolet 2 Places” body. The price was 19,000 francs, and the order stipulated that the top was to be fashioned from Rexine. ‌ Although Mark Morris states in his accompanying report on file that Gangloff records do not refer to chassis numbers, nevertheless, it was possible for him to identify the individual entry for 55230 as a two-seater Cabriolet, which was built by Gangloff employee M. Scholler and delivered to Giraud & Hoffmann on June 24, 1932. It has been established by Pierre Laugier that Emile Vidal was its original owner, being registered to his Paris address, 74 Avenue Paul Doumer between May and December 1932 with the Paris registration no. 9318-RF7. ‌ Laugier’s research states that while its ownership between the end of 1932 and the spring of 1937 is not definitively proven in print, and in 1935 is registered with Leon Courcy, correlating the address it is registered to, with the new plate ‘2853 YB 5’ as 14 rue d’Herblay in Cormeilles, Paris, where industrialist Alfred Plisson lived. Given the fact that Courcy was not of the means required to have owned such an extravagant automobile, Alfred Plisson is most likely its owner in this period. It was re-registered with the number 916-RK in December 1935, again this is believed to be to Plisson/Courcy. ‌ The Bugatti migrated south to Paul Piaton early in 1937, handled through local agent Monestier and now registered locally there as ‘7657 PF 8’. Piaton appears to have driven the car through the summer months, returning it to sell back through Monestier in October to Jacques Nigay, now registered as ‘6325 JA 4’. It returned north to Paris roughly one year later being registered with the number ‘7606 RM 1’ from November 1938. ‌ While the name of the 1938 owner is also unknown, it is possible to trace the car’s chain of ownership going forward. On April 10, 1947, the car passed from a Bugatti mechanic named M. Framezelle to Marcel Cirou, a former Amilcar dealer and race car driver. According to Morris’ report, Cirou won a race at the Montlhéry track on June 8, 1947, in the sports car class with 55230. The car was reported to have driven 100.534 km (62.5 miles) in 54 minutes 53 seconds, at an average speed of 109.9 km/h (68.3 mph). ‌ In 1950, a new French registration system was introduced that allocated a two-digit suffix number to each region; Paris was given suffix no. 75. Chassis 55230 was issued plate no. 3124-CK75, and a photograph of 55230 wearing this registration appears in Pierre Dumont’s 1975 book Bugatti: Les “Pur Sang” de Molsheim. Marcel Cirou fell ill circa 1952. He returned to his family in Normandy and left the Bugatti in storage in Paris, likely in the Garage Auber, operated by Pierre Proust. ‌ 55230 was periodically advertised by Framezelle in this period, but was ultimately sold at an auction in 1953, passing then to Leon Kolb, of 20 Rue du Dr. Germain See in Paris on November 23rd. In May 1954 it changed hands again to Louis de Koenigswater still in Paris, who purchased it through Francois Mortarini’s well known sports car dealership Les Haras des Pur Sang (The Thoroughbred Stable) and when in turn he decided to sell the car two years later, he entrusted Mortarini once more to handle its sale.

On May 4, 1956, chassis 55230 left France being sold to Bob Estes, the well-known American racing driver who would have been the Bugatti importer and distributor on the West Coast of the US if the company were to resume production. Mr. Estes registered the car in California and several photos from this period exist showing the unique Type 55 Cabriolet parked in front of Mr. Estes’ dealership, Precision Motors, which he co-owned with Otto Zipper. ‌ Over the next few years, Mr. Estes used the car little, while his wife Joy entered it in several concours events. In December 1978, chassis 55230 was sold to Walter B. Weimer of Washington, Pennsylvania. Mr. Weimer dismantled the car over a period of several years, with the intent to do a full restoration that never materialized. In late 2014, he commissioned Alan Taylor to restore 55230 but, before work commenced, sold it to its former owner, prominent UK-based collector Peter Neumark. ‌ Under that ownership, a significant restoration was performed, with the bodywork entrusted to Classic Motor Cars Ltd. and the mechanicals rebuilt by marque specialist Ivan Dutton Ltd. A stunning combination was chosen of black paintwork with red leather upholstery, and the car fitted with a black Rexine top, as was originally specified. Chassis 55230 was inspected both before and after its restoration by Bugatti historians Mr. Morris and David Sewell, who completed an extensive and detailed report on the car. The accompanying report concludes with the following summary: “Overall this is a remarkably original Type 55 Bugatti, retaining as it does all its original mechanical components and its Gangloff coachwork. Its recent restoration work has resulted in it becoming one of the very best examples of this most highly sought after Bugatti model.” ‌ The present owner acquired the Type 55 from Gooding & Company in 2022, having spent years seeking one with original coachwork and matching-numbers status. In this tenure, the car has been shown at the 2024 Salon Privé, where it received the Most Elegant award, and was also used on the pre-event tour. In this ownership, further research into the car’s history has resulted in an additional report by respected Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier, providing it with a triple crown of endorsements from the acknowledged Bugatti historians. ‌ Chassis 55230 has not been exhibited at any US concours since its restoration. It provides its next caretaker the opportunity to demonstrate this unique Gangloff-bodied Type 55 at leading events, including Pebble Beach or international shows such as Villa d’Este or Chantilly. By definition, a Type 55 is also eligible for the 1000 Miglia, as well as the multitude of long-distance touring events of its kind, where its cabriolet body would provide options for enjoyment in all weathers. ‌ With its exhilarating twin cam performance and exacting restoration, this is a top-tier Bugatti ready to star in any major collection.