1927 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport Roadster
- Engine
- 1.5L inline-four, SOHC, three valves per cylinder, approximately 45 bhp
Chassis 40444 is a 1927 Bugatti Type 40 roadster, one of approximately 830 built before production ended in May 1931, and among fewer than an estimated 200 survivors. Delivered new in Britain and first registered in London, it was exported to Australia in 1936, where it remained for over six decades under documented successive ownership. During the 1980s it underwent a full restoration by Rod Warriner, including construction of a new Grand Sport body. It returned to the UK in 2000 and retains a well-evidenced ownership chain supported by two published reference works.
Ownership
- 2023-12-15Auction saleSold £190,000 (≈ $238K)
- 1927 → 1936Factory deliveryFirst UK registered ownerpartial documentation
Car was first registered as a tourer in London in 1927 and remained in the UK until exported to Australia in 1936.
- 1936-08-26 →Acquisition unknownJohn M Hardiepartial documentation
First registered owner in Australia, based in South Yarra; first Australian registration dated 26 August 1936.
- → 1958Private saleKen Gilliespartial documentation
Purchased from John Cocks; also owned a Type 44. Found the original body unusable and retained only the windscreen and pillars, partially rebuilding the car before selling it on.
- 1958 → 2000Private saleTed Lobbpartial documentation
Melbourne-based owner who commissioned a full restoration by Rod Warriner in the 1980s, including construction of a new Grand Sport body. His wife Gwen later corresponded with the subsequent owner.
- 2000 → 2001Private saleJonathan Proctorpartial documentation
Acquired the car from Ted Lobb and returned it to the UK, where it was sold the following year.
- 2001 →Private saleCurrent ownerfull documentation
Purchased from Jonathan Proctor with a sales invoice on file; used the car regularly at first, then only occasionally, before storing it at their home. Conducted independent research including correspondence with Ted Lobb's widow.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownJohn Cockspartial documentation
Owned the car at some point prior to its sale to Ken Gillies; no precise dates given.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1980RestorationRod Warriner
A comprehensive restoration was carried out, encompassing the full car and including the construction of an entirely new Grand Sport-style open body.
Work was commissioned by Ted Lobb and completed during the 1980s; precise year within that decade is not specified.
- 2023InspectionTula Precision
A formal condition assessment identified minor remedial work needed to return the car to sound roadworthy condition, including brake cable refinishing and adjustment, attention to dashboard switches, a full flush of the fuel system and filter replacement, conversion of the oil filter to a paper-element type, clutch check, and a water pump rebuild with a hard-chrome shaft to cure a leak.
Inspection carried out by Charles Knill-Jones. Total estimated cost of identified work, including parts, was approximately £5,000.
- —Modification
A Type 51 front axle and braking system, believed to originate from chassis 51142, were fitted at some point in the car's history. Documentation is held in the car's file.
Timing of this modification is not stated in the prose; it is recorded in the published ownership histories.
- —Mechanical
Ken Gillies carried out a partial mechanical rebuild of the car after acquiring it; the original bodywork was stripped but only the windscreen and pillars were retained.
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