This incredibly important landmark in the history of Bugatti is one of just two known surviving examples of Bugatti?s prototype eight cylinder racing cars which paved the way for the future of the marque?s most famous racing success.Following the success of Ettore Bugatti?s earlier four cylinder racing cars, the decision was taken in 1921 to compete at the highest level of motor racing thus an all-new eight cylinder engine was designed with capacity falling just within the two litre limit. Using a variation of chassis frames from existing models, Bugatti is known to have produced sixteen prototype eight cylinder vehicles between 1922 and 1923 in a limited variety of configurations. The first four cars were the examples that lined up as the Bugatti Works entries at 1922 French Grand Prix where they placed an incredible second and third and fifth overall. The remaining twelve cars were a variety of racing or sports cars, the last three of which were commissioned to compete at the Indianapolis 500.Chassis 4008 is noted as having a ?course? (racing) designation from new and was sold via the Bugatti showroom in Paris in November 1922 with an open two seater body and exposed oval fuel tank behind the rear bulkhead. At present the identity of the first owner is not known or whether it was indeed raced but by 1928 it was known to have been registered in Bordeaux. Changes of ownership in both 1933 and 1934 are recorded before it passed to a Mr P. Villemagne of Nevian (South West France) just before the war. Discovered in need of restoration without its body in the early 1960s, it was finally sold via dealers to known collector Uwe
