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 Hucke in 1968 who embarked on a lengthy and detailed restoration.Upon acquisition by Hucke, the identity had not yet been confirmed but due to the ?course? technical configuration it was assumed that the car was one of the French GP examples therefore it was restored with an aerodynamic torpedo-like single seater body.Later, exhaustive investigation by marque historian Pierre-Yves Laugier subsequently led to a reuniting of the car with its original chassis plate and wings (these had parted company with the rest of the car in the early 1960s due to an incomplete earlier purchase). As such this proved that the unsociable single seater body, which prevented enjoyable touring use, was not correct to the car after all. After much consideration and using an admirable degree of artistic licence, it was decided to body the car in the style of Elisabeth Junek?s Type 29/30 (an actual Strasbourg GP car that she had converted for road use) as there were many period images available to reference such coachwork as accurately as possible.The result is not only stunning but has been carried out to an uncompromising standard to ensure that the overall result is as faithful as possible. Accompanying the car is a detailed folio compiled by Mr Laugier and a thorough report by UK based marque historian David Sewell is also available upon request to interested parties.Inspection welcome by appointment. Petrol
Colour: Burgundy
Right-hand Drive
