A superb and rare
photo of the Bugatti racer Bartolomeo Constantini during the
1926 French Grand Prix at the Miramas
Autodrome.
Ettore
Bugatti, founder of the automobile company that bears his
name, was born in Italy.
The Bugatti company however was founded in Molsheim a town in the Alsace region of France. The
company was known for both the level of detail of its engineering in its
automobiles as well as the artistic way in which the designs were executed, not
surprising given the artistic nature of his family. The company also enjoyed
great success in early Grand Prix motor racing, winning the first ever Monaco
Grand Prix. The company's success culminated with driver Jean-Pierre Wimille
winning the 24 hours of Le Mans
twice (in 1937 with Robert Benoist and 1939 with Pierre Veyron). Bugatti's cars
were as much works of art as they were mechanical creations, with engine blocks
hand scraped to ensure that the surfaces were so flat that gaskets were not
required for sealing to engine turned finishes on many of the exposed surfaces
of the engine compartment, and safety wires threaded through almost every
fastener in intricately laced patterns. Rather than bolt the springs to the
axles as most manufacturers did, Bugatti's axles were forged such that the
spring passed though a carefully sized opening in the axle, a much more elegant
solution requiring fewer parts. He regarded his arch competitor Bentley's cars
as "the world's fastest trucks" for focusing on durability. According
to Bugatti, weight was the enemy. Only a few examples of each of Ettore
Bugatti's vehicles were ever produced, the most famous being the Type 35 Grand
Prix cars, the "Royale", the Type 57 "Atlantic"
and the Type 55 sports car. Throughout the production run of approximately
7,900 cars (of which about 2,000 still exist), each Bugatti model was
designated with the prefix T for Type, which referred to the chassis and drive
train. During World War II Bugatti worked at Levallois on several new projects,
including the Type 73 road car, Type 73C single seater racing car (5 built), and the
Type 75. After World War II, a 375 cc supercharged car was canceled when
Ettore died.
Bugatti cars were extremely successful in racing, with many thousands of
victories in just a few decades. The little Bugatti Type 10 swept the top four
positions at its first race. The 1924 Bugatti Type 35 is probably the most
successful racing car of all time with over 2,000 wins. Bugattis swept to
victory in the Targa Florio for five years straight from 1925 through 1929.
Louis Chiron held the most podiums in Bugatti cars, and the 21st century
Bugatti company remembered him with a concept car named in his honour. But it
was the final racing success at Le
Mans that is most remembered—Jean-Pierre Wimille and
Pierre Veyron won the 1939 race with just one car and meagre resources.
Ettore Bugatti also designed a successful motorised
railcar, the Autorail, and an airplane which never flew. His son, Jean Bugatti,
was killed on August 11,
1939 at the age of 30, while testing a Type 57 tank-bodied race car
near the Molsheim factory. Subsequently the company's fortunes began to
decline. World War II ruined the factory in Molsheim, and the company lost
control of the property. During the war, Bugatti planned a new factory at
Levallois in Paris
and designed a series of new cars. Ettore Bugatti died on August 21, 1947. The company attempted
a comeback under Roland Bugatti in the mid-1950s with the mid-engined Type 251
race car. Designed with help from famed Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and Maserati
designer Gioacchino Colombo, the car failed to perform to expectations and the
company's attempts at automobile production were halted. In the 1960s, Virgil
Exner designed a Bugatti as part of his "Revival Cars" project. A
show version of this car was actually built by Ghia using the last Bugatti Type
101 chassis and was shown at the 1965 Turin Motor Show. Finance was not
forthcoming and Exner then turned his attention to a revival of Stutz. Bugatti
continued producing airplane parts and was sold to Hispano-Suiza (another auto
maker turned aircraft supplier) in 1963. Snecma took over in 1968, later
acquiring Messier. The two were merged into Messier-Bugatti in 1977. Today the
name is owned by Volkswagen AG who have revived it as a builder of very limited
production sports cars.
This is a very nice and very rare non
period photo that reflects a wonderful era of Bugatti ‘s automotive history
in a wonderful way. This is your rare
chance to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format
of ca. 8" x 12" (ca. 20 x 30 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well protected in PVC clear files and board backed envelopes.
We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
First come - first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any questions before the auction ends.