Marketplace: 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Gangloff Coupé

Appealing to well-informed devotees of the finest antique autos, this 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Gangloff Coupé is a multiple award winner, earning honors at several leading concours events. Rightfully so, as this car is the only Type 57S Coupé built by Gangloff.

Showing Chassis No. 57532, the car was ordered new by Dr. André Chauvenet in France on December 24, 1936, when he requested a Type 57S chassis and a custom-built body by Gangloff of Colmar, France. That request resulted in this very car, which is one of just three Bugatti Type 57S chassis total that were bodied by Gangloff and the only Coupé. It’s a remarkable rarity that’s been recognized as a prime specimen of Bugatti history on the world stage.

Equipment

Right-hand drive
3.3L/200 HP inline 8-cylinder engine
Roots-type twin-lobe supercharger installed in period
Engine rebuilt by Leydon Restorations in Pennsylvania
Scintilla Vertex magneto ignition, reconditioned in 2004
14-liter capacity oil tank
Dry-sump oil system, which allowed for more ground clearance
Rebuilt 4-speed manual gearbox
Aluminum skin mounted to a wooden frame
Black livery with natural pigskin leather upholstery
Tan wool carpeting beaded with pigskin leather
Jaeger 200 KPH speedometer, amperes meter and 8,000 RPM tachometer
Bugatti Telefix essence gauge
Oil pressure and water temperature gauges
Wood interior surrounds and cappings
Tilting interior mirror
Courtesy light
Sun visors
Cowl vent to provide cabin cooling
Lowered (“Surbaisse”) chassis with shorter wheelbase
Solid front and rear axle suspension
Rear axle passes through the frame rails
Rebuilt de Ram shock absorbers
Distinctive V-shaped radiator grille
Marchal Equilux headlamps
Marchal side lamps
Fine blade front bumper
Tenor Cicca trumpet horn mounted beneath the bonnet
Fitted with an original cable drum brake system
Mud flaps mounted to the bottom of the front pontoon fenders
5 1-inch exhaust pipes, to provide for more ground clearance
18-inch Michelin road tires
Tool kit

Highlights

Chassis no. 57532
1 of just 3 Bugatti Type 57S chassis bodied by Gangloff of Colmar, France
The only Type 57S Coupé built by Gangloff
Ordered new by Dr. André Chauvenet in France on December 24, 1936, by requesting a Type 57S chassis and a custom-built body by Gangloff
Chauvenet specified black livery with natural pigskin (a dark red color) upholstery
Tested at the factory in April 1937, registered on April 28 and sent to Gangloff for the coachwork to be fitted
Delivered to Chauvenet on May 26, 1937, though there were problems with Bugatti’s new shock absorber design, which was not ready for production prior to the car’s delivery
Chauvenet loved the appearance but did not like driving it, so decided to sell the car
By 1939, the 57S was owned by a Dr. Dinoire of Paris and was at the Bugatti dealership in Noir, France
Dinoire had intended to repurpose the 57S as a race car
While Dinoire commenced by removing the coachwork, which was carefully stored during World War II, the race car project never proceeded
In the middle of the war, the coachwork was refitted to the chassis and moved to Paris by Edmond Mouche
Following the war, successful Danish/French singer, songwriter and composer Georges Ulmer acquired 57532, using it as a way to attract further attraction
Ulmer was ultimately shocked when he learned his girlfriend sold the car while he was touring in the U.S. in 1948
In December 1951, the Gangloff Coupé was owned by Parisian painter Raymond Dupont
In March 1952, it was acquired by St. Quentin brewer Henri Berlaimont
Berlairmont had 57532 overhauled by Bugatti specialist Hermanns in Asnieres at the Garage du Pur Sang
Hermanns sold 57532 on behalf of Berlairmont in the summer of 1953 to Robert Ford
Ford toured Europe extensively in the Type 57S and retained it until his death in 1982
57532 subsequently passed through the hands of Michel Seydoux, who commissioned a restoration by France’s premier restoration house, Lecoq
The Gangloff Coupé later joined the collection of Swede Hans Tulin
Acquired into long term ownership in the early 1990s, during which a comprehensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration was undertaken
Campaigned on the Mille Miglia and the Budapest-Vienna-Prague Rally
Joined the Rare Wheels Collection in 2015
2-year comprehensive restoration to original delivery specifications completed by RM Restorations in Blenheim, Ontario, Canada, following acquisition
Research from Bugatti historian Jules Kruta utilized in the restoration
2016 Pebble Beach Best in Class
2018 Amelia Island Concours Best Paint
2018 Elegance at Hershey Best in Show
2018 St. Johns Concours Best in Show
2019 Boca Raton Concours Best in Show
Period photos from the Bugatti factory prior to delivery