1934 Bugatti Type 57 two-seat cabriolet

Belgian mill owner and motorsport enthusiast; loyal Bugatti patron who returned the car to the factory in 1936 for mechanical upgrades and a chassis replacement before trading it in toward new coachwork on another Bugatti.

Belgian coachbuilder received the car as a trade-in from Deflandre; subsequently had a new two-seat cabriolet body fitted, identity of actual body builder unconfirmed.

Prominent marque dealer who acquired the car still bearing its original Belgian registration plates; sourced period-correct replacement rear axle and gearbox from other Type 57 donors.

California-based Porsche dealer; car exported to the United States on his behalf by Gene Cesari.

Physicist at the National Bureau of Standards residing in Silver Spring, Maryland; began a restoration that stalled in the 1960s, after which the dismantled car sat in storage on his property until his death.

Inherited the car following her husband's passing and subsequently sold it to a collector.

Belgian priest who reportedly received the car as a gift from a Mr. Cadans and later traded it in; car remained in the Antwerp area during this period.

Intermediate US owner between Fritsche and Fine; no further details provided.

Respected collector who purchased from Fine's estate and later resold the car.

Well-known Southern California collector who commissioned a comprehensive restoration by Bugatti specialist Alan Taylor in Escondido; actively exhibited the car at major concours events.

The car was returned to the Bugatti factory, where the original body was moved onto a new second-series chassis fitted with a different engine; all original component numbers were restamped onto the replacement parts.

The Galibier saloon coachwork was removed and replaced by a new two-passenger cabriolet body with pontoon front fenders and an extended sweeping tail; the chassis was also updated with hydraulic brakes at this time.

Coachbuilder identity unconfirmed; candidates include Paul Nèe of Levallois-Perret and D'Ieteren of Belgium.

The rear axle and gearbox were replaced with period-correct units sourced from other Type 57 chassis, most likely during Jean de Dobbeleer's ownership in 1955.

Attribution to de Dobbeleer's tenure is the conclusion of historian Pierre-Yves Laugier based on inspection of mechanical stampings.

Joseph Fine began a restoration of the car but left the project incomplete; the vehicle remained disassembled in storage for several decades.

Work commenced sometime after 1958 and was abandoned during the 1960s.

A thorough restoration addressing all mechanical and cosmetic aspects was carried out, including fabrication of new fenders, door skins, dashboard trim, and bonnet with shaped and plated vents. The body was restyled with brightwork character lines, skirted rear fenders, and a raised spine on the decklid, then finished in orange-brown paint. The interior was retrimmed in matching leather with bespoke luggage.

Commissioned by Paul Emple; workshop located in Escondido, California. The extended storage period had left the car in a dilapidated state requiring significant fabrication work.