1928 Bugatti Type 37A - Jay Leno # 39; Garage
It feels clean and neutral, but I do not say it tail happy if you press this amazing T55 was first owned by a prominent surgeon who loved Bugattis and as Mick Walsh explains, still retains its bespoke coachwork Photography James Lipman.
BEAUTIFUL UNIQUE BUGATTI TYPE 55 Mick Walsh takes the wheel of a single magnificent Bugatti Type 55 Bugatti This extraordinary unique type 55 was built to a French doctor who was demanding one of the most valuable customers in Molsheim.
Ince the green tips of his broad wings polished castings of its spare wheels mounted double back, supercharged thoroughbred has the aura of Joan Crawford in a wrap dress Schiaparelli This elegant little cabriolet reveals just enough of his Grand pedigree Price.
When a successful French doctor ordered a new Type 55 in 1932, it wasn t enough for him to drive faster Molsheim road car with a beautiful body of the factory Jacques Kocher, a highly respected surgeon, something desired unique, and was willing to pay additional substantial cost of a custom Drophead shell.
The result, built by little known coachbuilder Billeter Cartier was enjoyed from the day he arrived at the doctor's residence on the outskirts of Valencia in the summer assassinations and submarine disaster in France Although much part of the country was still struggling with the effects of the Great depression, the Kocher hard work appreciated the spoils of his pioneering research, engaging in fast cars That would be like turning to your local hospital today and identify a Veyron custom in the doctor's room in 1932 with just 38 Type 55s produced, freshly finished 135 hp, 110 mph DOHC black beauty would have been even more exclusive.
In recognition of advances in medicine, KOCHER FRANCE GOT THE HIGHEST CIVILIAN.
Fold the front deep hinged door, and immediately the Grand connections T51 Price are clear Here are the main draw of wooden board with central oval group of Jaeger-style dials, is the vertical characteristic Scuttle with a second stage of control and its Snug business, sitting upright surrounded by leather trim olive green with your reflection in the polished support deep windscreen, but the view over the hood is beautiful without Louvres spoil the dramatic perspective stunning details include hexagonshaped mirror with clock digits inset, probably used by Kocher time his quick trips.
start routine begins with an essential oil valve for the supercharger, followed by a few Ki-Gass of pumps to start a cold engine after delaying the ignition lever Scintilla magneto, the key is pressed and the engine takes fast as glorious cocktail of sounds that equals best score of all is the rooster supercharger the grating signature Bugatti accompanying the net action of the accelerator Before leaving, lubricating the fan needs a little towers and the throttle is adjusted to a stable 1500rpm idle.
The right lever selects a pattern H with the first upper right, but unlike the type GP 51's exterior changes, this box T49 Tourism speeds a heavy action with a still long and narrow gate Even drivers Bugatti experienced find the time a challenge and specific changes are euphoric moments of the loud noise of the third encourages rapid progress up, but keen torque of the engine even at high speeds makes this impressive passenger car transmission is the characteristic most disappointing of this remarkable machine, and you soon appreciate why long-term Type 55 owner Neil corner had Brineton engineering make a replacement constant mesh.
In addition to its performance advantage being handicapped by the heavier body, the rest of the T55 has all the brilliant features, tense runners The steering is direct and precise with a lighter weight than the Alfa 8C, his main rival in the early 1930, after a run fast up a mountain pass, the Bugatti driver would be less because sweat faster you go, the more the leadership gets is little bounce, even on rough surfaces, despite the jolt scuttling induced shock .
Thank you to the super communication controls, it is easy to appreciate the car's handling thoroughbred Phil Hill tested a T55 against an 8C for track road, and he was 2 seconds quicker through the slalom that Latin exoticism with 0-60mph clocked in about 10 seconds, the T55 can still match an XK120 Jaguar after WW2 as 8C, however, it is the punch midrange Bugatti really impresses my limits of this precious machine the T55 feels addictively neutral and clean, although I m told it gets the tail-happy, but still manageable if you press the mechanical brakes also inspire, but they'll abruptly hang if pushed too hard and deep like designing GP, they re easily adjusted because the drum is an integral part of the casting wheel.
A dream of comparing these fabulous sports car would be a test against the alluring Alfa 8C Brondone-body that also appeared to R tromobile last month the image of these two souffles, nasturtium roaring machines side by side down boulevards Paris or Rome, the dapper vaulted drivers on their wheels and other warning lights Marchal rapid pace hoarse.
Dr. Kocher was one of the best customers and Bugatti, as a wealthy surgeon, he might engage in new models every year French Bugatti historian Pierre-Yves Laugier, himself a doctor with a passion for the brand Expert , studied the plant's records and discovered that Kocher ordered 14 in the 1930s, repeatedly, his home Valencia hosted a type 35, Type 37, Type 44, two 43s kind, type 50 e Profile three 57S type, a type of 57C, a straight type 57S Atalante off 1936 Paris show booth and type 57C Atalante with duralumin body.
When a new model was expected, Kocher was probably one of the first to learn about its progress as the type 55 was developed, Jean Bugatti probably teased the doctor of specification and performance reports during testing rather for a plant body, Kocher chose Molsheim to provide just a framework that could take a favorite bodybuilder.
In early 1932, Kocher paid for FF105,000 55206 chassis, which in March was delivered to Dache Pic, Bugatti dealership in Valencia Kocher was almost certainly his best customer to design and build the body responsible Kocher Billeter Cartier, a small base Carrossier in Lyon Founded in 1919, this traditional company focused on high quality Torp and make the body limousine for Berliet and Rochet-Schneider, the two local carmakers, but sometimes produces a compromise Bugattis, including a type 46S .
Kocher discussed his ideas on a more refined body unlike the roadster plant rather exposed but beautiful design retained the slender wings that were the trademark style of Jean Bugatti for radical new model costs are high for the custom convertible with the doctor later FF25,000 pay for coachwork finished fourth frame of the price the result impressed Bugatti another local driver who contacted Cartier Billeter about Drophead same, but the estimated cost is likely to have discouraged the idea.
Although flow corresponded to the wings Molsheim T55, the body is unique to the Kocher convertible radiator iron type height horse, a cover of a single elongated member to the windshield frame with a band chrome dividing wall and right sides of the stage door offered better protection than the deep-cut style factory roadster, but the hood was folded and set on top of a neat rounded tail double-savings at the back and a low windshield improved lean profile.
Custom details include dual horns and an external exhaust which fell rapidly before scuttling through the wing and under the floorboards Unlike the standard fours group, eight collector-chrome echoes the design of a Indy racer Miller.
Kocher ordered the body to be painted black, but with hints of green around the edges of the broad wings, matching trim and hood bag The inner faces of the wheels were also green after just six weeks, the Type 55 came to an home where the dazzling convertible perfectly complemented his sublime T50 Profile e.
Born in 1888 in Crest Dr. in my region, Kocher began his medical career at Lyon Hospital After service as a captain in the medical corps during WW1, he rose to the position of surgeon head to the Valencia General hospital, but is best known for its upgrade surgical equipment including advances in sterilization and blood transfusion in recognition of his work, Kocher was awarded the Chevalier Legion of honor civilian toll the highest in France his other passion was hunting and was often invited on shoots by Ettore Bugatti.
Although Kocher still had a Bugatti until 1950, he had a keen interest in other brands, especially Voisin and Peugeot He regularly competed in the 1930s, including races in Miramas Escrinet and St-Romain -of-Lerps, where he won with his life Voisin middle of the Alpes-not dramatic Rh, he also participated in several rallies.
Kocher kept the Type 55 for longer than most of his Bugattis, and was clearly a favorite of his constant stable development In addition to driving the car to work, it was the transport of choice for excursions and holidays Its performance to cut the breath Kocher tried to enter the type 55 for various events including Alpine Rally in 1933 where he raced in the upper class, for cars costing more difficult FF70,000 the event was won by Douard LEGR Bugatti Type 43, and later the factory named T57 Galibier after his success in the French mountains after the arrival of a new type 57, the T55 was sold in January 1935.
Over the 50 years, Kocher focused on Peugeots, he enjoyed tuning Undoubtedly influenced by his Bugatti experience, it even features a Roots-type supercharger to its last 403 Tragically Constantine, when returning from a hunting trip in September 1956, Kocher and his wife lost their lives in a road accident on a black spot well-known Moulin des Ponts near Coligny Kocher tried to exceed 203 and lost control of the car in the darkness, 403 collided with before rolling twice trees in the 203.
The Billeter Cartier Type 55 was purchased by Sambuc mile and his brother Auguste, two butchers success with a weakness for fast cars After two years with the Sambucs, black Drophead was a familiar sight around Marseille before heading to Lille in the north of France.
Amazingly, he survived WW2 hidden in this combat zone assets in times of peace, he was discovered by Ghislain Gengembre, a garage mechanic based south of Lille H nin-Li Late With a Type 27 Brescia, the T55 was stored in the back workshop where he was noticed by Yves Garnier, a local enthusiast Bugatti Despite regular approaches Gengembre refused to sell his precious engines, and only after his death in 1970 was the perseverance of Garnier pay mechanic left instructions in his will that Garnier should be offered both and Bugattis, once the price of FF50,000 had cleared, it was right round to collect cars.
Over the next 10 years Garnier tediously reconstructed Type 55 itself, and the car finally, always black with its original green interior, presented in the book Bugatti Magnum Hugh Conway Peter Agg, car fanatic popular mustachioed acquired such single 55 87 and for the first time he came to England to join the collection of Troy to his home in Reigate.
He held Chassis 55206 impressive company with the best Alfas and Delahayes and other big names Molshiem including beloved type 57S 57541 Agg Agg All vehicles were driven with force on rallies around the world, and the Type 55 was no exception the car was sent to observe expert Bugatti Tula Engineering, which fettled its mechanicals favorite color Agg was blue, and type 55 was duly repainted black with blue body After road testing around the car Sussex Agg shipped convertible in America to the great Colorado, where he was perfectly suited to the deserted roads around Rocky, her calico-ripping exhaust rasp wonderful sound signature through canyons.
Agg kept the T55 for seven years and has led to many gatherings before selling it to Ruedi Schmid, Swiss Bugatti connoisseur like AGG, Schmid loved driving his cars, especially the T55 Besides Bugatti Rally Italia in 1994 Schmid also ran 55206 at 98 Klausen hillclimb following the paths of legends of the race Molsheim Louis Chiron and Achille Varzi the spectacular Swiss pass over the property Schmid, the type 55 was revised by the British specialist Gentry Restorations at during which a new cylinder block Brineton was equipped to maintain its original engine.
In 2010, 55206 was acquired by an American collector and rebuilt with the help of Julius Kruta the Bugatti factory and historian David Sewell Bourne based specialist dining room was assigned the reconstruction, with the body and chassis receiving meticulous attention .
During the Stripdown, confirmed the purity of the Bugatti T55 by stampings revealed on key elements, while body building Cartier Billeter was still original, the new owner commissioned a painting in vivid green and black livery Dr. Kocher, including inside the distinctive castaluminium wheel with eight rays cockpit was also retrimmed green leather, as controlled by the surgeon from Valencia in 1932 to cover bag Despite that 85 years is one of the most original type 55s with its relatively sheltered life and retains most of its original components, confirms Sewell.
The beautiful finished Drophead properly debuted in Paris on the stand of the Bugatti factory to R tromobile in 2012. He later returned to Molsheim, where he was photographed in front of St John of the ancestral home of the famous family of Ch in Alsace.
The Type 55 is a car to be driven, as fans of Brand respected Geoffrey St John Corner and continue to prove that I hope that this unique convertible Cartier Billeter doesn t become another queen contest and that future owners use it as Dr. Kocher made in the 1930 Just imagine this big supercharged trace the route of the Rally 1933 Alps, roaring the Julier and San Bernardino passes dawn.
Fiskens thank you to David Sewell, Rick Hall and Pierre-Yves Laugier.
ladder frame construction steel, wooden frame with the skin of aluminum.
Engine while alloy, double overhead camshaft head-, 2262cc right-eight, Roots type supercharger, Zenith 48K carburetor.
beam axle front suspension springs semi-elliptical rear drive axle blades reversed torsion tube, quarter-elliptics; Registers friction f r.
test drive Bugatti Type 55, bugatti, type, road test.