Rare racing cars in Goodwood sales

Since that time, this 'Williams' Bugatti has been jealously preserved in completely original yet full working order. Repainted after its Monaco victory in Bugatti blue, traces of red and green paint are still visible underneath, testimony to this car's magnificent history. The substantial history file with the 'Williams' Bugatti includes a quantity of entertaining early 1960s letters from the notoriously acquisitive Schlumpf brothers attempting to persuade the owner to part with the car ("It would be much better in our museum than your garage" is a typical quote) in a campaign extending over several years, plus a record of the car's role as course opener for the 1965 Monaco Grand Prix, when it was driven by the Monegasque star driver (and contemporary Clerk of the Course) Louis Chiron.

This extraordinarily-preserved Bugatti is absolutely one of the motor racing world’s most important historical ‘documents’. Indeed for many students of the sport it is the most significant unspoiled Grand Prix-winning car in existence.

This winning car from the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix has been on display for the past decade in the late Prince Rainier's celebrated motor museum within the Principality.

This is the first time that this unique Grand Prix racing Bugatti – the 1929 Monaco Grand Prix-winning car - has ever left France.

Original period factory 1935 Bugatti Type 59/50B

Another of the stars at the Goodwood Revival Sale on 16 September will be this very original period factory 1935 Bugatti Type 59/50Bas driven by Robert Benoist in the Grand Prix de l’Acf at Montlhéry

This car’s chassis frame (Factory Frame No. 2) was purchased by the current vendor from the Bugatti factory no fewer than 37 years ago, and this historically highly significant Type 59/50B – which boasts some 90 per cent of its weight in original period factory parts – has been in his possession ever since. The engine is “Factory Engine No.8.”

In 1935 the Bugatti factory entered a dramatic development of their Type 59 Grand Prix car in the French event at Montlhéry. They fitted this Type 59 frame with their factory development engine from the Count Czaykowski Type 54 which in 1933 had raised the World Hour Record to 132.87mph at AVUS, Berlin. This 4.9-litre straight-8 cylinder engine was fitted with a lightened T50B crankshaft, Dural rods, an enlarged supercharger, camshaft tower drive with unique helical-cut gears, three model 48K carburettors, and a modified sump.

...continued