Description
1929 BUGATTI TYPE 46 CABRIOLET Chassis number: 46524 Registration number: BL227255 (Switzerland) A breathtaking Pebble Beach class winner, presented in pristine concours-winning condition. You really have to see this car to appreciate the quality of the work carried out and the materials used. This car is near perfection and runs wonderfully, after it was recently brought up to top condition for around 15, 000 CHF. In 1929 Ettore Bugatti introduced a new car to bridge the great gap between the 3. 0-litre Type 44 and the massive, extravagant 12. 75-litre Type 41 Royale. This new car was called the Type 46 and featured a 5, 350 cc inline-eight monoblock engine, a three-speed gearbox at the rear axle, and Bugatti’s characteristic and proven full‑axle chassis. The Type 46 found strong appeal among buyers, as between 1929 and 1933 about 467 were built, which is very few by Bugatti standards, while the next rival, the Delage D8, was built in a quantity of almost 2, 000. Typical for Bugatti were the coachwork mounted on the Type 46 chassis, as diverse as its customers. From the formal and discreet sedan to the extravagant and sporting roadster, the Type 46 proved very versatile and driveable, very much in the Molsheim tradition. It shared certain features with the massive Type 41, including the transaxle gearbox and the fabulous light‑alloy wheels. Its power, grace and stature earned the Type 46 the nickname “La Petit Royale.” Our featured Type 46 carries chassis number 46524. According to the information in Barrie Price’s book Bugatti Type 46 & 50 and the authoritative reference manual La Petit Royale, this particular chassis was ordered in a series of 29 vehicles (a mix of Type 46 and 49) by the Swiss Bugatti representative Bucar in Zurich. The first owner is listed as Hans Lindt from Stockholm, Sweden (misidentified by Mr Price as Schmidt). It is believed that the car was delivered with the optional light alloy wheels and was intended to receive a four-seat Gangloff Touriste Cabriolet body. After completion by Gangloff the car was returned to Molsheim and picked up by Mr Lindt, who drove the 1, 700 miles across Europe and back to Stockholm; a task for which his Type 46 was undoubtedly perfectly suited. After Mr Lindt’s time with the car, it was purchased by Rene Chatard, a fashion boutique owner and well‑known Bugatti aficionado. It is presumed that at some point in Chatard’s ownership the coachwork was separated from the chassis and equipped with obscuration lights and rudimentary seating, perhaps to make the car unattractive to occupation troops during the war. In 1940 the car was fitted with a “Gazogene” unit to run on wood vapours instead of petrol, but the experiment failed and the car was laid up. Chatard and his beloved died in 1955 when his Type 57 Atlantic was struck by a train. Chatard’s widow sold 46524 together with six other cars to the famous Bugatti collector Jean De Dobbeleer. He sold the car shortly afterwards as a running chassis with radiator, bonnet and cladding to Bob Estes and Otto Zipper of Precision Motor Cars in California, as noted in H. G. Conway’s The Bugatti Register. Eventually the car came into the Harrah Collection in Reno, still in the condition in which De Dobbeleer found it in 1956. In 1973 46524 was auctioned at Harrah’s and bought by Ed Morgan and his son. As the Morgans are avid collectors and restorers, the car remained for many years in the condition in which it was found while they planned how best to restore it. During their research they learned that Dr. Joseph Fuchs, who commissioned the magnificent Weinberger Type 41 Royale Cabriolet, had also owned a Weinberger Type 46. At that time no photos of this car were available, but the inspiration was clear, and the Morgans travelled to The Henry Ford to measure and photograph the Weinberger Royale. Numerous drawings, measurements and templates were made before agreeing on a design. In 1992 the car was finally handed to Monty and Greg Montiller to preserve its bodywork. The chassis and mechanicals were restored in the Morgans’ private restoration shop, including a complete engine rebuild, and the upholstery work was entrusted to Ken Niminek, executed in beautiful two-tone green and tan leather. The rebirth of 46524 was completed in 1998, and although it differs in details from Dr. Fuchs’ Type 46 (photos of this car have since surfaced), it remains a superb homage and, in its own way, stunningly beautiful. The Type 46 rides on a fairly long wheelbase of 140 inches, though the impeccably proportioned coachwork makes the car look much smaller. Among the most notable features of the bodywork are the Jean Bugatti‑style sweeping fenders, creating a continuous, graceful line from front to rear. The 20‑inch light alloy Royale‑style wheels suit the coachwork perfectly, and the cushioned boot, close‑fitting bodywork and the two rear-mounted spare wheels give it a distinctly sporting appearance. Fresh from restoration, the Type 46 was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 1998, where it promptly took first place in its class. Over the following five years it was shown extensively and won Best in Show at the Hillsborough Concours 2000 and Most Elegant Open Car at the Palo Alto Concours 2003. The Morgans participated in the 2003 Bugatti West Coast Rally with the Type 46. 46524 has been meticulously cared for over the years and still presents in almost unrivalled condition. The two-tone green paint is in excellent order, underscored by meticulously restored brightwork. As befits a Pebble Beach class winner, the detailing is flawless. The beauty of the coachwork is complemented by a striking interior in two-tone tan and green leather, with elaborate woodwork and fittings. The brown hood has been rarely opened since installation and is therefore excellent and crease-free. This Type 46 is simply an exquisite and breathtaking machine. Its history is well documented, and it has spent forty-five years continuously in the hands of its devoted custodians. It is ready for its next chapter and is in a presentable condition, but would also make an excellent tourer to fully enjoy the powerful 5. 3-litre inline-eight.
Call Richard Biddulph. Mobile ++44 (0) the details below Simone Della Corte Mobile ++44 (0) the details below Sales & Valuations Vintage & Prestige of Northampton Ltd. using the button below - details above Showroom: 2 Ryehill Ct, Lodge Farm Industrial Estate, Northampton NN5 7UA Viewings & Visits By appointment only. We have on‑site long‑term storage for over 200 cars with 24‑hour security & covered trailer delivery to customers across Europe.
