Beschreibung
The 64th Type 37 built (if taken in chronological order by chassis number), 37164 was originally ordered by the London agent Colonel W L Sorel on June 19, 1926 but, despite the best efforts of historians, the first three years of its life remain a mystery. One can only speculate it may have been one of a number of Type 37s racing in England in the late 1920s that are yet to be identified but since all Bugattis destined for Australia were ordered from Sorel, it may well have been delivered here new.
Thanks to the researches of Bob King, whose seminal book “Bugattis in Australasia” was published back in 1992 (and updated with co-author Peter McGann in 2012) we have a much better understanding of the next chapter in 37164’s life. The known history commences in August 1929 when a gentleman living in Victoria by the name of Athelston Bedford first registers the Bugatti under the number plate 697 and he is known to have competed in the C. O. R. Double Twelve Reliability Trial held between Melbourne and Mount Gambier.
By February the following year the Bugatti had passed into the ownership of one Harold Drake-Richmond, an Englishman living in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale. Drake-Richmond was an engineer working for Amalgamated Wireless Australia and was instrumental in setting up wireless radio networks in Australia but his pastimes included indulging in motor racing, competing in a Fiat 509 before moving onto the more powerful Bugatti. Accompanied by his riding mechanic Charlie Disney, Drake-Richmond competed in six successive Australian Grands Prix at the Phillip Island circuit between 1930 and 1935, a remarkable effort that saw him finish second on no less than three occasions (in 1930, 1931 and 1933). An iconic photograph of Drake-Bedford leaning into a
corner on the dusty, unmade circuit was chosen for the cover of King’s book, making 37164 instantly one of the most recognised cars from Molsheim in the country.
Clearly a speed demon, Drake-Richmond was mentioned in The Argus newspaper in June 1933 after being fined for speeding in Footscray and one can only assume it was behind the wheel of the Bugatti…
After breaking a connecting rod in the 1936 Australian Tourist Trophy, Drake-Richmond sold the Bugatti to New South Welshman John Sherwood and it subsequently passed to George Bonser by 1938, apparently without an engine and radiator. At this point the Bugatti began the slippery slope that befell so many obsolete racing cars, with various parts (including the body, dashboard, steering wheel and fuel tank) sold off to Ron Ewing for his special, while Bonser modified the chassis to accept a Terraplane six-cylinder engine. Doug McDonald of Brisbane ultimately took over 37164, installing a Dodge engine and a crude home-made body, racing the Bugatti in this form at circuits like White’s Hill, Strathpine and Lowood. Perhaps the most notable appearance was at Leyburn on September 18, 1949 on the occasion of the Australian Grand Prix when it was recorded as a DNF. McDonald ultimately sold the old warhorse to Miles Turner of Toowong, who reportedly drove it on the road.
The sorry remains of 37164 were eventually rescued from Mal Pullen’s wrecking yard by Frank Wetton of Sydney in 1962 for the princely sum of £30, who was lucky enough to recover the original gearbox from Turner for a further £5. Wetton (a talented engineer who would go on to restore a Brescia) slowly rebuilt the Bugatti over a number of years, constructing his own radiator and using a body supplied by Peels in the UK. The engine was built-up using an identical Type 40 cylinder block obtained from John Thomson, with various parts sourced from the UK and a replica sump he bought in America (stamped with the original number 58). Over many years Frank and his wife Margaret enjoyed the Bugatti on various rallies and club runs but following his passing several years ago the car has sat idle in the family’s garage in suburban Sydney. Gently recommissioned in preparation for sale, the Bugatti was recently fired into life and runs well but the fuel tank needs flushing before it can return to the road. Aside from the replacement engine, the major individual components are all numbered in the expected range, including the front axle, chassis frame, gearbox and rear axle.
After a remarkable six decades of careful stewardship, 37164 awaits a new chapter in its fabulous history and is one of the most significant Grand Prix Bugattis to come on the open market in Australia for many years.
Estimate: $700, 000 - $900, 000 (AUD)
