Description
Just released From a deceased estate; current owner 20 years; believed one of only four professionally built by Teal with a new 1. 8 Nissan Silvia Turbo engine; aluminium body; only 10, 400 miles from build; for recommissioning following 10 years in storageThe Teal Bugatti is a UK designed and built kit car emulating the iconic Bugatti Type 35 or 51. One of the Teal founders had previously designed the underpinnings of the Daimler Dart and he created a bespoke chassis for the Bugatti replicas, to which a variety of mechanical parts/ engines could be fitted, according to the wishes of the customer. Triumph six-cylinder engines were popular, as were A and B Series units from good old British Leyland. The kits sold well, with early bodies being produced in aluminium, although later ones tended to be in fibreglass. Most customers elected to build the cars themselves using a kit supplied by Teal and a donor vehicle of their own choice. However, those with deeper pockets could buy ready made cars built to a professional standard at the Teal factory. This aluminium-bodied Teal Bugatti is one of those factory-built cars and was built to order for a Mr P Abbott of Worcestershire. Photos and documents on file detail much of the build process but none of these are dated so we arent quite sure when it was built but it was probably in the early 1990s, judging by a copy of an old V5 on file. On offer here from a deceased estate, the current owner acquired the car 20 years ago although the V5C was transferred into the name of his widow in November last year. We are told that it is one of only four built by Teal with a brand new 1. 8 Nissan Silvia Turbo engine fitted. We are not sure if this is an 8v or 16v engine but the former was rated at 135bhp and the latter at 169bhp so either way it should have a good turn of speed. We cant tell you much about the recent history of the car as there are few invoices on file apart from one for a full service by what looks like a Nissan dealership in May 2001 which included a new timing belt, the mileage at this point being 5, 171. There are also 15 old MOTs which show the mileage rising gradually from 3, 576 in 1995 to 10, 374 in 2013, shortly after which the car was put into storage due to illness. The odometer currently shows 10, 388 miles which is presumably the distance covered from build. The V5C records it as a Teal Type 35, first registered in June 1973 and with Historic Vehicle status so it is free to tax and MOT-exempt. As you can see in the photos, the car looks very smart indeed but will doubtless require a degree of recommissioning following 10 years in storage. There is no battery fitted and we have not attempted to start the car but the engine still turns easily and we are told that it was last fired up earlier this year when a new fuel pump was also fitted. A spare aluminium cycle wing and an indoor car cover are also included. The icing on the cake is the cherished number, 5207 MU, which is transferable and doubtless has a value of its own.
