1938 Bugatti Type 57 Letourneur et Marchand Cabriolet
- Engine
- Matching-numbers inline engine, rebuilt with period-correct supercharger to Type 57C specification
- Colour
- Green over light green
Bugatti Type 57 chassis 57644 is one of only eight examples bodied by Letourneur et Marchand to coachwork design 5877, a four-seat three-position cabriolet with pontoon front fenders and semi-recessed headlamps. Delivered new in late 1938 and retaining its numbers-matching engine and coachwork, the car spent 66 years in the care of one Dutch family before passing to its current owner, who commissioned a thorough restoration including an engine rebuild and period-correct supercharger upgrade, raising performance to Type 57C specification. The car appeared at the 2018 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it earned a class award.
Ownership
- —Auction saleEstimate US$750,000 – US$1,000,000
- 1938-11-01 →Factory deliveryS. Jaspartpartial documentation
French original retail purchaser; car was delivered via a Paris agent finished in green over lighter green with matching green interior.
- 1945 → 1949Acquisition unknownDutch owner or owners prior to van Daalen Wetterspartial documentation
The car was registered in the Netherlands from 1945 and passed through at least one Dutch owner before reaching the next documented custodian.
- 1949 → 1999Acquisition unknownRudi van Daalen Wetterspartial documentation
Dutch Air Force pilot and later US-based collector; relocated the car to New York in 1951 then to Burbank, California; repainted upper bodywork red while retaining original green interior; shipped the car to Europe for driving events before eventually storing it; died in 1999.
- 1999 → 2015InheritanceVan Daalen Wetters widowpartial documentation
Retained the car after her husband's passing; the Bugatti remained stored and undriven during much of this period before she eventually sold it.
- 2015 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Acquainted with the car since 1985 through an introduction by Phil Hill; commissioned a full restoration including a repaint to the original color scheme, a complete drivetrain rebuild by Leydon Restorations, and the reversible addition of a period-correct supercharger.
Competition
- 2018Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance2018 Tour d'EleganceSuccessfully completed the tour
Completed the driving component held in conjunction with the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
- 20182018 Pebble Beach Concours d'EleganceClass award
Car was exhibited following its post-restoration debut and received recognition within its class.
- 2018International Bugatti Rally, Saratoga Springs
Participated in the rally held a few weeks after the Pebble Beach event.
- 20192019 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Maintenance & restoration
- 2015RestorationScott Sargent
Comprehensive restoration commissioned after acquisition, including a full respray reverting to the factory colour scheme of green over light green over green.
Performed by a well-regarded Bugatti specialist based in New Hampshire.
- 2015Engine rebuildLeydon Restorations
Complete rebuild of the numbers-matching engine and gearbox, with the addition of a period-correct supercharger bringing performance to Type 57C specification; the modification is designed to be reversible.
Carried out by a Pennsylvania-based restorer; the later Type 57 engine design accommodated blower attachment via a covered inlet.
- —Bodywork
Upper bodywork repainted from the original green to red by the then-owner; the green leather interior was left unchanged.
Carried out during Rudi van Daalen Wetters' ownership, likely sometime after 1951 when the car arrived in the United States.
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