2016 Bugatti Type 51 Monaco History
Boattail Roadster chassis 15 51132 Num Num engine.
This 1931 Bugatti Type 51 is powered by the engine number 15; it was originally a bearing chassis number 4961 Type 35B, and part of four Bugatti car works team in the 1930 Targa Florio The car was then entered in the European Grand Prix at Spa Since this race was executed in fuel formula-consumption, this car - as well as two other types 35Bs entered the race - were converted into type two liters specifications 35C They were given build fuel tanks and turbochargers smaller chassis 4961 was driven by Guy Bouriat led the race, but stopped near the finish line to allow Chrion team leader under the command of the team, to go and take the victory and become champion of Europe in 1930 .
After the Grand Prix, this Bugatti has undergone a factory conversion, bringing type 51 specifications It is hoped that the car would be ready in time for the French Grand Prix, but the conversion was longer than expected The work was completed in June 1931 and it was renumbered 51132, approved for the road by the plant and used throughout the year as a practical car works.
In December, the car was delivered to the French racing driver Jean-Pierre Wimille for the price of 140,000 francs During the season 1932, ran largely Wimille in this car, winning the Grand Prix of Oran in Algeria on May 2 .
In 1936, the car was imported to the US by Bradley Martin has been seized by McClure Halley Texan Dave Evans to drive in the first George Vanderbilt Cup Race was a 300 mile event in Long Island, New York October 12 of the 45 participants qualified Evnas the 36th car and finished 14th.
The car was then sold with a damaged engine to author Ralph Stein The damaged section of the crankshaft has been repaired, but the problem reappeared a few years later in 1940, it was sold George Weaver, who installed either Frontenac and Peerless Marine engine.
The property passed to David Uihlein Milwaukee in the early 1950s, Thomas Rosenberger Milwaukee is listed as the next car owner, selling Paul Moser in Santa Barbara, California, in 1979. In 1985 it was purchased by Klaus Werner of Germany.
While in the Werner care, the car has been reunited with its original engine, it has been used in European historic racing for a number of years before it was sold in the early 1990s.
The car is currently equipped with frame number 732 and the engine number 15 March 2 liters overhead cam engine with double right-eight cylinder comprises a Roots-type compressor and a power of 160 available There is a transmission with four reports the mechanical drum 4-wheel brakes, and a leaf spring suspension.
In 2008, this 51 Grand Prix was put on sale at the Gooding Auction Company held in Pebble Beach, California Bidding does not meet the reserve non-vehicle list, and the batch was left unsold.
In 2010, this car has been on sale at the Palais des Sports Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions It was estimated to sell for 3.5 to 4.5 million auction has reached 2,750,000, but not enough to satisfy the reserve of the car, he would leave the auction unsold by Daniel Vaughan December 2010.
The Bugatti was originally a 35A type with chassis number 4961 and was run by the Bugatti team in the 1930 Targa Florio Later, the car was converted to a specification 35C type 2 liters for the Grand Spa Europe Awards in Belgium and then type 51 specification for the french grand Prix, it was then used as a practical car and work as a road car it was once owned the Bugatti driver Jean-Pierre Wimille After many years and many changes more specification under several owners, the car was restored and fitted with a new body, it was among the many wonderful Bugattis belonging to the late Dr. Peter Williamson.
Dr. Samuel Scher went for a Bugatti Type 51 in 1940, but none were available several months later, it was and it was never raced the car was purchased by Dr. Scher challenged state by agents of Paris Bugatti and then sent to the United States on his arrival, the car was painted and upholstered furniture and gave Harry Gray lead in sport for club of America SCCA race in Linden, New Jersey, where he won the following season, Bill Milliken drove the car in SCCA competition January 3, 1950, during a race in Palm Beach, Florida, Milliken missed a change, resulting in a connecting rod through the crankcase.
The damage was never repaired as it passed through several owners over the years it was owned by Jack Nethercutt and later bought by Dr. Peter and Susan Williamson in 1964.
In the mid 1990s, Jim Stranberg in High Mountain Classics undertook to repair the car there were several indications that the car was a type of 35A, but there was no chassis number Molsheim The engine number was 55228 a Type 55 was re-built type 51 specification the track for the engine number 55228 led to Mr. Leloup, the last known owner, who also owned a number 35A 4654 type engine number 44A.
Apparently, when Dr. Scher had sought the type 51, had been an engine type 55 and type of chassis 35A located, all refurbished by agents of Paris Bugatti A replacement chassis has been issued by the Bank of Canada to the Kingdom -um the plate number was 4654, which can now be found on the car.
The car now has a alloy body that was built by Bunny Phillips The interior is beige leather and there are two aeroscreens and an electric starter and cooling fan The car has no wings, nor are there any Redlights.
The engine is a 2262cc eight-cylinder unit with two camshafts in head and capable of producing 180 horsepower There Zenith carburetors and a Roots compressor.
In 2008, 31 1925 Bugatti Type 35A 51 Grand Prix car went on sale in the auction Gooding Company held in Pebble Beach, CA The car was offered without reserve and estimated to sell for 1300000-1800. 000 As the hammer fell for the third and last time, the car was sold for 907,500 including buyer's premium Daniel Vaughan October 2009
Ettore Bugatti built the 50 current type of road and type Grand Prix 51 introduced trees dual overhead cam to the range of business This new design was based on the highly supercharged straight 8 Miller 91 built by specialist Amenius motor Harry Miller and his foreman Fred Offenhauser They fired their engine from the elements of the 1913 Peugeot 181 race engine their engine cubic-inch eight straight Miller had a valve train with twin camshafts head would transport many American track racing vehicles hit millers 1920s dominated American racing speedway.
This particular example, chassis number 51121, is the first in the series of 40 cars built was ordered by Lord Howe by Colonel Sorel, the British dealer and took delivery April 14, 1931 A few days later, Earl Howe began his racing career participated in the grand Prix of Monaco 1931 with the new car, freshly delivered in dark green paint He quickly withdrew from the race when a CAMBOX pin pulled.
His next race with the car was Frend Grand Prix at Montlhery where Brian Lewis later to become Lord Essendon shared driving duties The duo finished in 12th place in the German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring ended Howe, but too far from the pace to classify co-driving with Clifton Penn-Hughes, Howe challenged the BRDC 500 Brooklands race, but was forced to withdraw.
At this point in history, the car won the colors of Howe's stable of blue and silver.
Earl Howe returned to Monte Carlo race in 1932, this time, he finished fourth overall behind the works Bugatti and Alfa Romeo 8C He then won the Handicap mountain race at Brooklands after starting from scratch and an average of 73 64 mph He then hill climbed the Bugatti Shelsley Walsh of the faster return of the day 44 seconds the next race was in the mountains Klausen mounting a second BRDC 500 then, this time with an average speed of 126 mph, before being forced to withdraw because of a split fuel tank.
In 1933, he again ran at the Monaco Grand Prix, but was unfortunately sidelined due to a failure of the rear axle the French Grand Prix, he was hit in the eye by a flying stone and yet retired, he retired as the Nice Grand Prix due to engine problems was followed by a tenth in the Grand Prix of Italy at Monza Four British home events ended his 1933 season with the Bugatti.
Howe was involved with aging Bugatti Type 51 for the season 1934 The season consisted of a fifth place at the Grand Prix of the Marne at Reims-Gueux and 7th Nice GP back home, he finished fifth in the race TCG International Brooklands Trophy before winning the gold Star Handicap race for Whit Monday Brooklands places third meeting in Shelsley Walsh and in the race Donington Trophy ended his season.
After the season, the Bugatti was sold to fellow British driver, Arthur Dobson He fitted the Bugatti with a box of pre-selected speed and then the race his best result of the season was a third class Shelsley Walsh The car was then sold at C Mervyn White, Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire Mervyn White then finished 2nd with the car in a long race Brooklands 1936 Disability and also contested the Leinster trophy in Ireland, the International JCC trophy at Donington Park and the grand Prix Donington but unreliable intrusion each to 121 and took a 4 mph 3rd place in the race there Trophy broadcast in 1937, Mervyn White won the long race meeting Brooklands Easter Handicap.
During practice for the Grand Prix Cork Mervyn White crashed the car and suffered serious head injuries, he died four days later at Mercy Hospital Cork Damage to the Bugatti was largely confined to the front and the back and the body of the tail the wreck was later acquired by Arthur Baron who rebuilt the car and participated with him in 1938 in 1939, he returned to Shelsley Walsh, winning its class, led by Norman Lewis, and he won again in Wetherby in Yorkshire, while also competing in Prescott coast.
next car owner was D M Jenkinson In 1954 it was acquired by an A M Mackay Symonds Hyde, Hatfield, Hertfordshire While in his care, he was rarely seen, but it was rebuilt by Geoffrey St John.
In 1983, the current owner has requested assistance from Bugatti aficionado Bill Serri to help has acquired a great Grand Prix Bugatti Serri recommended a particularly good car that was available in Switzerland and was quickly sent to inspect while on his travels, he has the ability to cross through the UK and visit Mackay When he arrived, he found Mackay ready to sell his Bugatti A deal was quickly struck and a few days later, the Bugatti was flown to the States and stables where he lived the last three decades.
During the first period of the current owner of care, the car has been exercised, with occasional appearances in Bridgehampton Years later, it was set up in his stable and has not been seen publicly for several years Daniel Vaughan in November 2016.
The Bugatti Type 51 was produced from 1931 through 1935 with a total of 40 examples being produced both the T-51 and T-51A These new runners were attempting to Ettore Bugatti to replace the aging Type 35s with a modern runner with improved power and performance driving the front wheels Miller racing cars were extremely fast and Ettore wanted to know the reasons for their success in exchange for three types 43, Ettore two 91 s These Miller two vehicles have been studied and their engines removed almost identical copies of the engine block and head were made and installed in a type 35 the result was the type 51 type 51 is entered to configurations, a 2 0 liters and 2 3 liter Type 51A had an engine 1 to 5 liters, and an engine supercharger dual overhead cam engine 2 of 3 liters was capable of producing 160 horsepower with u n Roots type compressor with the body and the frame weighing about 750 kg s, the car had a maximum speed of 230 km h.
In 1931, a Bugatti Type 51 was the winner at the French Grand Prix This was one of the few highlights of his career The most powerful Alfa Romeo and Maserati s s were too dominate Bugatti is struggling to compete with teams that had government support, as if German and Italian.
Later, type 53, Type 54 and Type 59 were created type 59 was operated by a 3 3-liter engine and mounted in a modified version of the type 54 These frames were produced in very limited numbers with only about 7 examples created power 250 and low center of gravity made the formidable contenders vehicle weight has been reduced by drilling holes in the chassis.
Not all Type 51s were bare-bones racers A coupe was created that coupled power luxury He had a short racing career led by Rene Dreyfus and Louis Chiron It was then bought by Andre Birth who had a body nasturtium custom matched to the chassis in 2000, it was purchased by the Nethercutt Collection who commissioned a full restoration was shown at Pebble Beach Concours in 2003 in honor of the featured brand, Bugatti won the second class Daniel Vaughan October 2006.
1931 Bugatti Type 51, 1931 Bugatti Type, French Grand Prix.