Estimate $8,000,000 - $10,000,000
Chassis 55231
Engine 32
Car Highlights
Among the Finest Examples of Bugatti’s Iconic Type 55 Roadster
Displayed in the Salon de l’Automobile at the 1933 Foire d’Alger
Driven to Victory at the Algerian Bouzaréa Hill Climb in March 1935
Provenance Comprised of Noted Collectors Including Ralph Lauren
Retains Original Coachwork and Matching-Numbers Drivetrain per Factory Records
Documented by Bugatti Historians Pierre-Yves Laugier and Mark Morris
Technical Specs
2,262 CC DOHC Inline 8-Cylinder Engine
Single Zenith 48K Carburetor
Roots-Type Supercharger
130 BHP at 5,000 RPM
4-Speed Manual Gearbox
4-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
Front Solid-Axle Suspension with Semi-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Rear Live Axle with Reversed Quarter-Elliptical Leaf Springs
Born in Milan in 1881 to a family of distinguished artists and craftsmen, Ettore Bugatti revolutionized the world of high-performance automobiles.
He was among the first, in 1910, to recognize that performance could be improved by reducing weight instead of increasing engine size. A lightweight sports car provided better acceleration, roadholding, and braking, as well as a welcome reduction in fuel consumption. Bugatti also approached the manufacture of automobiles with an artist’s sensibility; each of his cars was designed and built with exceptional attention to detail.
Watch this beautiful 1933 Bugatti Type 55 Roadster in motion as its artistry, craftsmanship, and sporting prowess roar to life. This Jean Bugatti Roadster, one of the leading star cars of Gooding & Company's Pebble Beach Auctions, will cross the auction block over the course of the two-day sale on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19 at the auction house's famed marquee.
