Description
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1923 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia Modifiée' Project
£40, 000 - £55, 000
1923 Bugatti Type 23 'Brescia Modifiée' Project
Registration no. not registered
Chassis no. 1878
Engine no. 1243 (see text)
• Early 'Brescia Modifiée' type engine
• Formerly owned in the USA
• Present ownership in Scandinavia since 1974
• Offered for restoration
Introduced in 1913 and listed until 1926, the Type 23 was directly descended from first Bugatti to be built at Molsheim: the short-wheelbase Type 13 of 1910. By the early 1930s, Ettore Bugatti - 'Le Patron' - had established an unrivalled reputation for building cars with outstanding performance on road or track, the world's greatest racing drivers enjoying countless successes aboard the Molsheim factory's products and often choosing them for their everyday transport. Bugatti's origins, though, were a far cry from the glamorous world of Grands Prix.
Italian-born engineer Ettore Bugatti had learned his trade with De Dietrich, Mathis and Deutz before setting up his own factory in 1910 at Molsheim in Alsace, which was then part of Germany. While with Deutz he designed the Type 10, its number reflecting his nine previous designs, and this would serve as the prototype for the first Molsheim-built Bugatti: the Type 13. Introduced in 1910 and the first Bugatti production car, the Type 13 was powered by a four-cylinder, single-overhead-camshaft, 8-valve engine of 1, 327cc, which drove via a four-speed gearbox and was mounted in a short-wheelbase chassis carrying a simple open two-seater body. Making its debut at the 1910 Paris Salon, the Type 13 was described by The Autocar as a "most delightful looking runabout". The design was developed through Types 15, 17, 22 and 23 into the early 1920s, by which time 435 of all types had been made.
The 'Brescia' version of the Type 13 took that name following the factory's first four places at the 1921 Italian Grand Prix for Voiturettes, held at the eponymous racetrack in Lombardy. The Type 22 and Type 23 were longer wheelbase models, both of which used the 1, 496cc single-overhead-camshaft 16-valve Brescia engine and were built alongside 8-valve 'Petit Pur Sang' versions. The arrival of the Type 22/ 23 in 1912 marked the adoption of Bugatti's famous oval radiator, replacing the flat-topped earlier type. Introduced early in 1920, the Type 23 'Brescia Modifiée' featured a lightweight chassis equipped with leaf-sprung suspension all round and two-wheel brakes. It had a longer wheelbase than its similar Type 13 and 22 stablemates while retaining the same 1496c 16-valve engine and four-speed gearbox. Depending on the type of coachwork, the Type 23 'Brescia Modifiée' was claimed capable of speeds up to 80mph.
This Bugatti Type 23 rolling chassis comes with a copy of its Nordic Bugatti Register entry from 2014 detailing its specification and the origin of its major components (inspection recommended). Of particular interest is their observation concerning the engine - an early Brescia Modifiée unit – which is stamped '1243' to the right front engine bearer; however, that number has been changed and the engine is is also numbered '103' in several places, indicating that it must have been fitted to a chassis around number '1715' originally. According to the Register: "It may have been fitted to chassis 1243 and then 1878 following the breakdown of their original engines." Indeed, this car used the identity of chassis number '1243' in the USA for many years. The Bugatti Club feel that the gearbox ('133') is the correct type for this chassis.
This Type 23 had been imported into the USA from Germany by Wilbur E Fleck and was next owned by James H Donald, who built a simple body for it. Following James Donald's death, next owner Ray Jones removed the body and sold the car to well known Bugatti collector and connoisseur Uwe Hucke in the South of France. The now deceased Scandinavian owner purchased the car from Uwe Hucke in 1974 through his friend Mr Von Raffay in Germany, who acted as agent (see confirming letters on file). Very little has been done to the car since acquisition and thus it is offered as a project and sold strictly as viewed.
Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.
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