Ubb93 1949 Bugatti - type and bodywork still to be solved

[als15]

Can anyone tell me more about this car ? I had it as a puzzle a while ago and it is still intriguing me. According to my source it is a Bugatti taken during a Swiss hill climb event in 1949. It doesn't really look like a Bugatti, but of course you never know. I believe it is coach built looking at the quality of the body work. Any ideas ?

In my records I've a Bugatti bodied by Pattaro & Pesce from Mirano (Varese, very close to Switzerland) and shown at the Lido di Venezia concourse d'elegance in 1950. Could be this car? Does anybody know more?

Interesting, do you have a pic of your car ?

Unfortunately not. However, Auto Italiana records it as a "coupe". so I'm not so confident that Pattaro & Pesce's  Bugatti can actually be the one in your picture, but it's strange to have two newly coacbuilt Bugattis close to Switzerland in the same moment... I hope some Bugatti expert can help us.

[nicanary]

Can anyone tell me more about this car ? I had it as a puzzle a while ago and it is still intriguing me. According to my source it is a Bugatti taken during a Swiss hill climb event in 1949. It doesn't really look like a Bugatti, but of course you never know. I believe it is coach built looking at the quality of the body work. Any ideas ?

In my records I've a Bugatti bodied by Pattaro & Pesce from Mirano (Varese, very close to Switzerland) and shown at the Lido di Venezia concourse d'elegance in 1950. Could be this car? Does anybody know more?

Interesting, do you have a pic of your car ?

Unfortunately not. However, Auto Italiana records it as a "coupe". so I'm not so confident that Pattaro & Pesce's  Bugatti can actually be the one in your picture, but it's strange to have two newly coacbuilt Bugattis close to Switzerland in the same moment... I hope some Bugatti expert can help us.

And that's the problem. I've sent a photo of the mystery car to the Bugatti Trust Archives, and they don't know anything about it. They have very complete records of all chassis made, and what happened to them, and they still cannot help to identify it. It makes me wonder whether it's actually a Bugatti, or whether it has been incorrectly captioned on the photograph.

[GrahamClayton]

Graber, Hess, Mose or Regazzoni?

[mekubb]

As mentioned earlier, unfortunately I don't know who is responsible for the coachwork.

[pnegyesi]

mekubb, can I share the picture with some people and on some forums? I have some ideas on how to identify this.

[mekubb]

mekubb, can I share the picture with some people and on some forums? I have some ideas on how to identify this.

Yes please do, it would be great if we can finally find out more about this car.

[pnegyesi]

According to a Swiss expert the photo was taken at the 1949 Develier - Les Rangiers Hillclimb (Bergrennen), which was held on 17 July, 1949. Entrant is one A Ley from Basel with a "Bugatti 2300 K" as confirmed by Automobile Revue.

[pnegyesi]

Another photo from the 1949 race - the same fence is clearly visible

[fromwien]

Entry-list hillclimb-race Develier-Les Rangiers 1949

[nicanary]

I suggest it's a Type 35B then. 2300cc and K standing for Kompressor. Very well done Pal and thanks to fromwien for the entry list.

(Interesting to see Otterino Volonterio on the list, also in a Bugatti. I wonder how slow he was.)

[fromwien]

Results hillclimb-race Develier-Les Rangiers 1949

[nicanary]

Thanks fromwien. I have my answer. He was about a minute slower than Willi Daetwyler in his class, but actually faster than our puzzle car! Always famous for his enthusiasm but ineptitude in F1.

[Wendax]

So we have the model (Type 35 B) which leaves the coachbuilder to be found.

[nicanary]

So we have the model (Type 35 B) which leaves the coachbuilder to be found.

I have been to the usual site for this information, and there are several builders in the Basel area, but no mention of this car.

[mekubb]

Thank you gentlemen for all the information ! To be honest, I wonder if the puzzle car is a Bugatti at all, despite what my source mentioned back then. Unfortunately the entry list doesn't mention the race numbers. like 90 on the puzzle car.

[pnegyesi]

Thank you gentlemen for all the information ! To be honest, I wonder if the puzzle car is a Bugatti at all, despite what my source mentioned back then. Unfortunately the entry list doesn't mention the race numbers. like 90 on the puzzle car.

I am very interested in this car and did some additional steps. We'll keep you informed

[fromwien]

I still have no idea about this car and want to share some of my thoughts together with you:
1) The Bugatti 35 front axle shows usually a dramatic positive camber. The puzzle car not really
2) Small wheels with small offset let me think about Bugatti
3) It looks a little bit too wide to me for a Bugatti 35
4) If the cars are lined up in order of the entry list at the starting grid, the car behind the puzzle car is the right one
5) If 'BL' on the registration plate stands for 'Basel', it should be the Ley-car
6) The body lines show similarities with Jaguar XK120

[pnegyesi]

Thank you gentlemen for all the information ! To be honest, I wonder if the puzzle car is a Bugatti at all, despite what my source mentioned back then. Unfortunately the entry list doesn't mention the race numbers. like 90 on the puzzle car.

I contacted the local vehicle registration office - if the Italian records have been kept, maybe the Swiss too. But unfortunately they did not find any documents on this car. I still have some ideas :)