1929 Bugatti Type 35B

Romanian racing driver who purchased the car directly from the Bugatti factory in Molsheim at a discounted price, driving it away on temporary plates. Actively campaigned the car in multiple European events until selling it in 1934.

Belgian racing driver who bought the car from Bouriano, naming it La Boule II. Raced it extensively at Chimay and in hillclimb events until at least 1939, upgrading from his previous Type 37A.

Antwerp-based owner who acquired the car during the war years and modified it with an aerodynamic body, later replacing that with a Maserati-style monoposto body after a 1948 crash. Permitted Legat to continue driving the car in early post-war events.

Prominent Dutch Bugatti dealer who handled large numbers of vehicles in the post-war period, selling this example onward to a US-based buyer. A photograph shows the car in his garage wearing the updated bodywork.

Prominent early American vintage car hobbyist who had the Bugatti restored by Edgar Roy of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Raced it once before his sudden death in November 1959; the car was subsequently sold by Roy on behalf of the estate.

Museum acquired the car through Anton Hulman Jr. from the Felton estate sale handled by Edgar Roy. The car has remained in the museum's collection for approximately 65 years as of the catalogue date.

Debut outing for the Type 35 model at Lyon; result was modest but the car demonstrated clear future potential.

Bouriano had worked his way through to challenge Chiron and Bouriat before hitting a sandbag that forced sand into the carburetor and seized the compressor.

Car survived a significant accident during the event and was subsequently repaired by the Bugatti factory.

One of two French circuit events entered by Bouriano in 1930, both resulting in retirements.

Second of Bouriano's two French circuit entries that year, both of which ended in retirement.

Event held at Le Mans, open exclusively to Bugatti owners with no factory entries permitted. Retirement caused by collision with an animal on the track.

Bouriano led the opening lap and set a circuit lap record of 125 km/h before a carburetor fire forced retirement on the Chimay street circuit.

One of several Belgian hillclimb outings shortly after Legat acquired the car.

Belgian hillclimb victory for Legat not long after he purchased the car.

Belgian hillclimb victory for Legat, one of three hillclimb events entered shortly after acquiring the car.

Chimay circuit event; Legat drove chassis 4947 to a runner-up finish.

Chimay circuit event; Legat again drove chassis 4947.

Final pre-war Chimay outing for the car with Legat, again resulting in a runner-up finish.

First post-war race outing for the car; Legat drove on behalf of owner Vingerhoedts, retiring during the tenth lap.

Legat again drove for Vingerhoedts at Chimay, with driveshaft issues causing another retirement.

Victory at the 1 km Huy hillclimb in Belgium, which proved to be the final running of that event and the last European competitive outing for chassis 4947.

After a crash during preparations for the Chimay event, Vingerhoedts had a Maserati-influenced single-seat racing body fitted to the car, replacing the aerodynamic body previously used.

The car was apparently never raced in this new configuration.

Full restoration carried out, retaining original Molsheim hood, belly pans, and tail sections; only the cowl area shows evidence of later fabrication or significant repair. Work was documented in contemporary issues of the Bugantics journal.

The Winter 1956 issue of Bugantics shows the car nearing completion; the Spring 1957 issue depicts Felton at the wheel of the finished car, suggesting a relatively swift turnaround.

Vingerhoedts fitted an aerodynamic body, comprising a streamlined radiator surround and a tailfin attached to the original tail section, while retaining the underlying Molsheim metalwork.

Photographic evidence from 1946 confirms this was a superficial restyle rather than a full body replacement.

Following the 1930 Bordino Grand Prix accident, the car was returned to and repaired by the Bugatti factory.