SOLVED: si_915 - Bugatti - Type 15 - 1912

[D-type]

Type 22 bodied by Chauvet ?

[sichel]

 No Type 22. I do not know the coachbuilder. Perhaps Bugatti.

[D-type]

Type 17?

Please can you unlock this as I will be away from my computer for a few days and I think others , including LAVKAS deserve a shot or two.

[sichel]

No Type 17. Unlocked, thank you D-type.

[marmer]

I think it's a Type 23.  If not French or German, is it from the brief "Republic of Alsace-Lorraine" period at the end of World War I?  Although Alsace-Lorraine was under German control before World War I, I don't think anyone considers Bugatti to be anything but French?

[Lavrakas]

This looks like the car sold by RM Sotherby's 2022 Monterey auction described as a "1914 Bugatti Type 22 Torpedo by Chauvet". Unfortunately, with my new computer I am not yet able to upload the picture.

[sichel]

I think it's a Type 23.  Although Alsace-Lorraine was under German control before World War I, I don't think anyone considers Bugatti to be anything but French?

It is not a Tpe 23.
I assumed that the radiator grille would be recognised quite quickly and that the search would focus more on the type designation.
The search for the country of manufacture made it even more exciting – that's AP at its best ;-)

[sichel]

This looks like the car sold by RM Sotherby's 2022 Monterey auction described as a "1914 Bugatti Type 22 Torpedo by Chauvet". Unfortunately, with my new computer I am not yet able to upload the picture.

It's not a Type 22. My source is a sales advertisement; at that time, the puzzle Bugatti was available
for DM 120 000. I do not know the coach builder.

[marmer]

Type 18?

[sichel]

No.

[marmer]

Type 15?

[marmer]

Type 13, as proposed by Lavrakas?

[Lavrakas]

We seem to be running out of numbers. How about the 25?

[sichel]

Fortunately, there is the 13 from Lavrakas' somewhat hasty reply. Now all that's missing is its year of manufacture. Locked in marmer!

[marmer]

Sources are conflicting; generally 1910-1913 but there are reports of them being made in the early 1920s.  Because of the oval radiator I'll go with a later date: 1913?

[sichel]

Not 1913.

[marmer]

But before 1918 if "not built in France."   1912?

[sichel]

Bingo! It is a Bugatti Type 15, built in 1912.