Type 57 Bugatti Stelvio -1935

[jhery]

This one of my latest projects. This car was originally built in 1935 as a Type 57 Stelvio with Coachwork by Gangloff. In 1951 the car was sent to the Bugatti factory by the original owner to be upgraded to a Type 101. Since only 6 Type 101 chassis's were produced Bugatti took 3 Type 57's and upgraded the chassis's. This is one of those three. The body was reconstructed by Gangloff to a more modern style. The shop that was working on the car went bankrupt and lost almost all of the interior hardware, (handles, latches, moldings,gauges etc) and interior wood and trim parts. On the exterior of the car the front and rear bumpers and brackets, all exterior door handles, and all the hood latches and hardware are missing.

[thingsthatfly2]

Looks like a really impressive project! Looking forward to more pics

[trentesept]

Might have some bits left over from our 57 project,


cheers Greg

[RockHillWill]

Wow! Jim, that is VERY cool 'stuff' that is accumulating in your shop. I have seen the high quality and the quantity of work that you get done in a short period of time, but it's looking like you will need to live to the ripe old age of 155 to get all this work done..

Is the Peron car off the rotisserie yet? What are you working on at the present time?

[Richard K]

Jim,
I am a lot confused about the interesting history of this car.

You stated that "Bugatti took 3 Type 57's and upgraded the chassis's. This is one of those three. The body was reconstructed by Gangloff to a more modern style. "

When I look up the type 101 it is a modern (for the 50s) design of body. The body on the car you have looks very much to be a type 57 (1935).

Is there more to the story? Thanks.

[jhery]

Richard I tend to confuse a lot of people including myself at times. I will try to explain what happened. The chassis number is 57314 which was built for a Mr. Dettwiler in 1935. He drove the car until 1951 with the original Stelvio body as in the attached photos. In 1951 Bugatti had completed their Type 101 prototype and Mr Dettwiler requested that he get a new 101 chassis, however they only produced 6 chassis and all were sold. Trying to appease Mr. Dettwiler they had more Type 57 chassis's so they built him a 101 on the new 57 chassis as they had done with the prototype and stamped it with his old chassis number. The old body and chassis was then titled by the body number which was 57555 and that car exists as a Type 57 and the original body built in 1935. Jean Bugatti, Ettorie's son designed the type 57 Stelvio bodies in the late 30's and had Gangloff build them. Jean was killed in mid 1939 and his design carried over after the WWII. The body which is on the car I have is of that design. It is regarded as one of the 10 best designs in automotive history. If you are still confused I will have to try to explain when I come to Dan's.

[jhery]

Originally Posted by RockHillWill

Wow! Jim, that is VERY cool 'stuff' that is accumulating in your shop. I have seen the high quality and the quantity of work that you get done in a short period of time, but it's looking like you will need to live to the ripe old age of 155 to get all this work done..

Is the Peron car off the rotisserie yet? What are you working on at the present time?

Will, the two Bugatti's I have belong to the same man that has the Packard Boattail and the Delage. He has pulled me off the Delage and now wants the Stelvio and the Packard first and then I can finish the Delage and build a complete body for the Type 46 chassis that is in my Albums. He flew in on Monday and sat in the Packard for the first time so I am making alterations to the seat, steering wheel and pedal arrangement so he is more comfortable. That is the plan week. I only do what I am told.

[jhery]

Originally Posted by trentesept

Might have some bits left over from our 57 project,

Attachment 26931
cheers Greg

Greg, interestingly enough the two Bugatti's I have came from Australia so you may know of them. The owner told me his broker told him Melborne.

[trentesept]

Hi , the Two type 46 cars from here were 46218 and 46577 , I dont know of either of the 57 chassis numbers you mention being down here.The photo I sent is of my clients car the ex-Peter Falk , ex Nicholas Cage 57 rebodied here by Graham Smith of Torquay from its original Ventoux coachwork.
The original body wings ,hood etc are still here and available should anyone need them
Cheers Greg

[jhery]

Greg, I have chassis # 46577. We were told it was rebodied by Mckinsey. The original body was a Close Coupled Saloon by Lancefield. Both cars were purchased by the same man as a package deal. The proportions of the rebody are terrible. I am going to hang the body from my rafters in the shop for decoration. They tried to copy the Esders Roadster.