Bugatti VP 57 1939

This particular Bugatti Ventoux was one of the last ten examples of this model to be

built. After the Paris Motor Show in October 1938, the Bugatti workshop stopped making

Ventoux with two-door, four-seater bodies. Production was reduced to the assembly of the

1939 Galibier saloon model. Approximately thirty of these models were produced before

war broke out

This particular Bugatti Ventoux was one of the last ten examples of this model to be built. After the Paris Motor Show in October 1938, the Bugatti workshop stopped making Ventoux with two-door, four-seater bodies. Production was reduced to the assembly of the 1939 Galibier saloon model. Approximately thirty of these models were produced before war broke out. Gangloff was in charge of building the 2/3-seater Aravis and 4-seater Stelvio cabriolets. This Ventoux, chassis 57704, engine 503, left the factory body workshop on 8 September 1939. The coachwork was painted “gris La Baule, interieur cuir Havane“ (grey La Baule, tobacco leather interior). The car was used for demonstration drives during the 1938 Paris Motor Show at the Grand Palais. It was sent to Paris by train on October 14th. There was no Coach Ventoux shown on the Bugatti stand as production was to cease. Model 57704/503 was then repainted in olive green and used as a demonstration car at the Bugatti showroom on 46 Avenue Montaigne. This stunning Bugatti Ventoux is fitted with a rare sunroof, luxurious upholstery and certain bodywork details that emphasise the extraordinary Bugatti design. The car was restored by the master coachbuilder Henri Chapron, in 1969. The chassis and mechanical components were entrusted to Fernand Lacour. The restoration project was supervised by Christian Huet. After two years work, Bugatti left the Chapron workshop in December 1971. In February 1982, the car headed towards the Lecoq residence, on 25 Rue Charles Schmidt, Saint Ouen. It was registered 7874 GX 93. The great restorer conserved the car meticulously and used it little. Today the odometer shows 70,532 km, and we know, from its history, that this is correct. This Ventoux is one of the last ten to be assembled at the factory, out of 120 built of the second series that made its debut at the Motor Show in October 1935. Few Bugatti motorcars have had the opportunity to be preserved in such condition and maintained by such renowned experts. The car is in a configuration very close to how it would have left the factory. This grand touring car, regularly maintained, is presented in good condition. A similar model appeared in “Saturday the 14th“, the 1981 American movie, directed by Howard R. Cohen and produced by Julie Corman. This particular unit registers only 70,532 km on board.