1934 Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux Coupé
- Engine
- 3.3L DOHC straight-eight
Chassis 57119 is the first Bugatti Type 57 Ventoux coupé ever constructed, built at Molsheim in March 1934 and bodied by Gangloff of Colmar to a Joseph Walter design with a rare factory-fitted sunroof. Delivered new to Jerome Wagner, a friend of Jean Bugatti, the car retains its prototype split front axle — a feature found only on the earliest Type 57s. It passed through a succession of notable Bugattisti including the van Ramhorst brothers and Bernard Merian, accumulating a fully documented ownership history supported by a provenance report compiled by respected Bugatti scholar Kees Jansen.
Ownership
- 2021-04-23Auction saleSold €335,000 (≈ $369K)
- 1934-06-02 → 1939-07-11Factory deliveryJerome Wagnerfull documentation
Brewer from Mutzig and close associate of Jean Bugatti; ordered the car in March 1934 and registered it in Strasbourg before the official sale date. Drove the car for five years.
- 1939-07-11 → 1949Private saleDr Pierre Mullerfull documentation
Based in Strasbourg; retained the existing local registration plate when acquiring the car.
- 1949 → 1950Private saleGarage Waefflerpartial documentation
Strasbourg-based garage that briefly held the car before selling it on.
- 1950 → 1951-06-14Private saleHenri Meurdrapartial documentation
Enthusiastic Bugatti devotee and dealer in Bugattis; his family used the car for a wedding ceremony around 1950 or 1951.
- 1951-06-14 → 1959Private saleGeo Leperefull documentation
Paris-based owner who re-registered the car under a Paris plate upon acquisition.
- 1959 →Private salePhilippe Berlinpartial documentation
Resident of Neuilly-sur-Seine; reported the car to Hugh Conway for inclusion in the second and third editions of the Bugatti World Register.
- → 1965Acquisition unknownPhilippe Charbonneauxpartial documentation
Acquired the car at some point after Berlin; precise dates of ownership not recorded in the prose.
- 1965 → 1984Private saleVan Ramhorst brothersfull documentation
Notable Dutch Bugatti enthusiasts who drove the car to the Netherlands, had it restored, and registered it there. Actively used it at Bugatti Club Nederland gatherings and international events.
- 1984 → 1993Private saleBernard Merianfull documentation
French entrepreneur and dedicated Bugatti collector who also owned the Atalante chassis 57432. Commissioned a restoration to original specification, enlisting the first owner's son Roland Wagner for guidance.
- 1993 →Private salePatrick Friedlifull documentation
Committed Bugatti enthusiast who registered the car under successive French plates as he relocated; drove François Rinaldi to the church for his 1998 wedding with Caroline Bugatti. Owned the car for nearly two decades before selling.
- Date unknownPrivate saleBruno Vendiessepartial documentation
Bugatti specialist who acquired the car from Friedli and subsequently sold it to the present consignor; had a long familiarity with this particular chassis.
- Date unknownPrivate salePresent owner (consignor)partial documentation
Current vendor who acquired the car from Vendiesse; consigning it to Bonhams auction.
Competition
- 19751975 International Bugatti Rally
The car participated in this international gathering held in the Netherlands while in the ownership of the van Ramhorst brothers.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965Restoration
The van Ramhorst brothers carried out a restoration of the car after acquiring it and driving it to Holland.
- —Restoration
Bernard Merian commissioned a further restoration aimed at returning the car to its original specification and factory colour, with input from Roland Wagner — the first owner's son — to ensure historical accuracy.
Work undertaken during Merian's ownership, which ran from 1984 to 1993.
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