1927 Bugatti Type 40 Grand Sport-style
- Engine
- Twin Solex carburettors fitted; matching-numbers crankcase retained (engine no. 280)
Bugatti Type 40 chassis 40377, one of approximately 790 built, departed Molsheim on 6 April 1927 bound for South America, where it was delivered new to Count Luiz Eduardo Matarazzo of São Paulo, Bugatti's South American representative. It retains its matching-numbers crankcase (engine 280 as recorded in the factory ledger). Discovered in Argentina circa 1971, it underwent a lengthy restoration in Norway through 1983, during which a new Grand Sport-style body was fitted. Subsequently maintained by marque specialist Ivan Dutton, with engine and gearbox rebuilds completed.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold €161,000 (≈ $177K)
- 1927-04-06 →Factory deliveryCount Luiz Eduardo Matarazzofull documentation
Bugatti's South American representative, based in São Paulo, Brazil. Car was likely bodied by a local coachbuilder after arrival in South America.
- → 1971Argentine owner in Buenos Airespartial documentation
Car was registered in Buenos Aires with plate 816-866 by 1971; body at that point was a sporty two-seater style.
- 1971 →Acquisition unknownJohn Lodwigpartial documentation
Discovered and acquired the car in Argentina; subsequently sold it to a Norwegian collector.
- → 1985Private saleØivind Selvigpartial documentation
Norwegian collector who undertook an extended restoration lasting until 1983, during which a new Grand Sport-style body was installed.
- 1985 → 1993Private salePaal Myhrepartial documentation
Acquired the car approximately two years after the restoration concluded; later traded it to the consigning owner.
- 1993 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Long-term owner who has had the car maintained by marque specialist Ivan Dutton, including a gearbox rebuild in 1994 and an engine rebuild in 2013.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1983Restoration
A lengthy restoration programme, begun around 1971 and concluded in 1983, during which a new Grand Sport-style open body was fabricated and fitted to the chassis.
Work initiated and overseen by Norwegian owner Øivind Selvig.
- 1994Engine rebuildIvan Dutton
Gearbox stripped and rebuilt by marque specialist Ivan Dutton.
- 2013Engine rebuildIvan Dutton
Full engine rebuild carried out by marque specialist Ivan Dutton.
- —Modification
The car was upgraded at an undetermined point in its history with twin Solex carburettors.
Date and location of this modification are not recorded.
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