1938 Bugatti Type 57 Coach Ventoux
Chassis no.
57704
Engine no.
503
Coachbuilder
Bugatti
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15th December 1935
Record:
Bugatti - Tarif 15 Decembre 1935
1938
Manufacturing
1938
Record:
Brochure Bugatti
1938
Record:
Bugatti - Type 57 coach Ventoux
1938
Record:
Bugatti - Le pursang de l'automobile
8th September 1938
Engine no. 503
Manufacturer:
BUGATTI (FR)
8th September 1938
Body
Coachbuilder:
Bugatti
Type:
Fixhead coupe
8th September 1938
Chassis no. 57704
From 14th September 1938
to 1st September 1939
to 1st September 1939
Owner:
AUTOMOBILES ETTORE BUGATTI (FR)
Famous owner:
Car manufacturer - Showroom in Paris
Note:
After the Paris Motor Show, 57704/503 was repainted in olive green and used as a demonstration car at the Bugatti showroom on 46 Avenue Montaigne. The factory had a small number of show cars: the Montaigne showroom received the black Ventoux 57C coupe, chassis 57755/56C, the green Cabriolet Stelvio 57703/511, the black Galibier saloon 57796/58C and the green Coach Ventoux 57704/503. This information was recorded in an internal note from the factory dated 15 August 1939, concerning the " stock de voitures de seconde main " (stock of second hand cars), waiting to be resold. In the meantime, 57704 would have been used by the sales manager, none other than Robert Benoist, the 1927 World Champion who had been a factory driver since 1934. An amusing note, dated 6 April 1939, taken from the file recording factory accidents for the attention of the accountant Mr Prach states: " I send you herewith a statement of the accident on 28 March 1939 at 18.45 in Montargis, by Mr Robert Benoist, who was driving the olive green demonstration car 3,300-type 57-No 57704/503-Coach Ventoux -registered 5800 NV 3 - chassis no. on registration document 57453 ". On 26 April 1939 the factory carried out a review of the demonstration cars and their respective mileages: the two Ventoux and the two Galibier from the Montaigne showroom were on the list. The green 57704 was recorded as having covered 14,273 km on 31 March 1939. The car was lent to Countess G d'Oncieu de Chaffardon in June 1939. The Countess had ordered a Stelvio cabriolet (57829) in May 1939 that had been delayed. While waiting for the delivery of the cabriolet on June 30 1939, the faithful client was given use of the Ventoux 57704. A published photograph shows the Count and Countess d'Oncieu with the Ventoux in the south of Brittany in June 1939. The car was driving with the registration documents of the Atlantic factory! Returned to the Montaigne showroom, the Ventoux was put back into service by Robert Benoist and his colleagues, driven throughout the summer as a demonstration car.
From 13th October 1938
to 23rd October 1938
to 23rd October 1938
Event:
Salon de l'Automobile de Paris
Locality:
Parigi (FR)
Note:
The car was sent to Paris by train on 14 October. It was used for demonstration drives during the 1938 Paris Motor Show at the Grand Palais. There was no Coach Ventoux shown on the Bugatti stand as production was to cease
November 1938
Body update
Coachbuilder:
Bugatti
Type:
Fixhead coupe
Colour:
Green
From March 1939
to 1st September 1939
to 1st September 1939
Plate:
5800NV3
Country:
Unknown nationality
6th April 1939
Record:
Accident statement
June 1939
Generic fact:
Other photos
From 2nd September 1939
to 1946
to 1946
Owner:
André Bellonet
Famous owner:
Director of Companies
Note:
On the 2 September 1939, the Ventoux 57704 was officially sold to its first owner. The factory sales register records: " 57704/503 Bellonet 3.9.39. " In pencil under the ink it is possible to read " Salon 13.10.38 " This was also the same for 57702 and 57703, also marked with " Salon 10.38 ". The gentleman André Bellonet from Paris ran a private trust fund from 53 rue de Lisbonne in the 8e district. The car was registered with the number 1352 RM 7 on 2 September 1939. It is belived to be one of the last the last Bugatti delivered before the war. On 27 July 1945, Bellonet, now known as " director of Companies " and living in Soyaux in Charentes, re-registered his Bugatti in this department, 2241 DB 4. One month later, on 22 August 1945, the Ventoux was registered in the Seine department, taking the number 5178 RN 7.
From 2nd September 1939
to 26th June 1945
to 26th June 1945
Plate:
1352RM7
Country:
Unknown nationality
From 27th July 1945
to 21st August 1945
to 21st August 1945
Plate:
2241DB4
Country:
Unknown nationality
From 22nd August 1945
to 9th January 1949
to 9th January 1949
Plate:
5178RN7
Country:
FR
From 1946
to 9th January 1949
to 9th January 1949
Owner:
Unknown
Note:
The Bugatti had changed hands. An unknown Parisian kept the car for almost four years
From 10th January 1949
to 9th October 1951
to 9th October 1951
Owner:
Auguste Blain (FR)
Note:
The vehicle was bought by a jeweller from Rouen. Auguste Blain, of 7 rue des Belges in Blosseville-Bonsecours, registered the Bugatti under the number 2910 XB 4
From 10th January 1949
to 9th October 1951
to 9th October 1951
Plate:
2910XB4
Country:
Unknown nationality
From 10th October 1951
to 14th February 1955
to 14th February 1955
Owner:
Unknown
Note:
The car was sold in the department of Seine et Marne, with the number 892 Z 77. Archives of the Melun prefecture have not been kept and so the name of the purchaser will remain unknown
From 10th October 1951
to 14th February 1955
to 14th February 1955
Plate:
892Z77
Country:
Unknown nationality
1955
Generic fact:
Other photos
From 15th February 1955
to 7th June 1955
to 7th June 1955
Owner:
Dominique Lamberjack (FR)
Famous owner:
Owner of the largest Bugatti dealer in Paris
Note:
In 1955 the Bugatti returned to Paris. It was bought by the largest Bugatti dealer in Paris and displayed at 68 rue Bayen in the 17e arrondissement. The car took the registration 4581 DP 75 on 15 February 1955
From 15th February 1955
to 7th June 1955
to 7th June 1955
Plate:
4581DP75
Country:
Unknown nationality
From 8th June 1955
to September 1959
to September 1959
Owner:
René Fournier (FR)
Note:
Dr René Fournier, of 13 rue Colombette in Toulouse, a young 34 year old doctor, was keen to buy a Bugatti 57C, but the car he had identified had a problem with the crankshaft. He turned instead to the Ventoux 57704 which was in perfect condition. The car was registered with the number 56 DN 31 on 8 June 1955. Shortly afterwards, Dr Fournier had the opportunity to work as a specialist maxillofacial surgeon in Morocco. He spent the next ten years there, in charge of a centre for surgery. During this professional exile, the Bugatti was entrusted to the good care of jeweller friends in rue Baynard in Toulouse
From 8th June 1955
to September 1955
to September 1955
Plate:
56DN31
Country:
Unknown nationality
From September 1955
to 1962
to 1962
Plate:
925CE32
Country:
Unknown nationality
From September 1959
to 1962
to 1962
Owner:
Jean Loup Latrille (FR)
Purchase price:
140.000 FF
Note:
The 57704 disappeared for a long time, left in the disused stable of a castle, surrounded by boxes of its own parts that were slowly invaded by dust and cobwebs. J.L. Latrille had the Bugatti registered at his Château de Mazères in Barran, in the department of Gers, with the number 925 CE 32. However the car never drove
From 1962
to 1967
to 1967
Owner:
Yves Dalmier (FR)
Note:
Some years later, Latrille gave the Bugatti to Mr. Dalmier, who had worked on his other Bugatti, including a 35A. The car was then registered in Toulouse with the number 668 NM 31. In 1963 the great Bugatti enthusiast from Toulouse, Philippe Salvan helped Dalmier to sort out the faulty ignition on the Bugatti and get it going. Dalmier then took part in a rally in Germany in the car, before his financial situation dictated that he sold it. Therefore, around 1967, the car was on the market once more, for 18,000FF. P. Salvan, a friend of Dalmier, wanted to buy it but he could only afford 15,000FF. The following week, the car sold
From 1962
to 15th March 1970
to 15th March 1970
Plate:
668NM31
Country:
Unknown nationality
1964
Generic fact:
Other photos
1967
Owner:
R. Vincent (FR)
Purchase price:
FF 9.000
Note:
He was a formidable negotiator
1967
Generic fact:
Other photos
From September 1967
to 1970
to 1970
Owner:
François Lecorche (FR)
Famous owner:
Property developer
Note:
The vehicle then joined the big collection belonging to property developer François Lecorche of Clermont-Ferrand. In the Club Bugatti France newsletter of September 1967, he was credited as having a collection of fifteen Bugatti, including the Ventoux 57704. He kept this superb automobile with other thoroughbreds in his stable. In 1970 a reversal of fortunes forced him to part with his treasures in a hurry.
1970
Owner:
F. Nicolosi (FR)
Note:
The young Marc Nicolosi, who ran the " Garage du collectionneur " near Avallon, went to see Lecorché, on the lookout for a few nice cars. He arrived on the doorstep at the same time as the collector Jacques Lefranc from Sury le Comtal. They shared the spoils between them. Nicolosi bought the olive green Bugatti Ventoux. In 1967 the odometer stood at approximately 40,000km.
From 16th March 1970
to April 1970
to April 1970
Owner:
Jean Serre (FR)
Note:
He bought it but returned it shortly afterwards, not keen on the particular style of coachwork. It was then registered in rural Cantal on 16 March 1970, with 67 EB 15
From 16th March 1970
to 26th December 1971
to 26th December 1971
Plate:
67EB15
Country:
Unknown nationality
From April 1970
to February 1982
to February 1982
Owner:
Roger Crovetto (FR)
Famous owner:
French rally driver (1st in the 1951 Monte-Carlo Rally with Jean Trevoux in a Delahaye)
Note:
Also this new owner was found by Nicolosi. This gentleman driver already owned several collectors' cars. His shop in Faubourg Saint Honoré was reputed to have the largest selection of whiskies in the capital. The task of restoring the bodywork was give to master coachbuilder Henri Chapron from Levallois. The chassis and mechanical components were entrusted to Fernand Lacour who put the best specialist, Raymond Hauswald, in charge. Hauswald, a former head of the Bugatti workshop, was also based in Levallois. The restoration project was supervised by Christian Huet. After two years work, the Bugatti left the Chapron workshop in December 1971. The car was registered on 27 December 1971, 390 XW 75, in the name of Roger Crovetto, 55 rue Cortambert, Paris XVIème.
1971
Body update
Coachbuilder:
Bugatti
Type:
Fixhead coupe
Colour:
Black
1971
Generic fact:
Other photos
From 27th December 1971
to February 1982
to February 1982
Plate:
390XW75
Country:
Unknown nationality
1982
Generic fact:
Other photos
From February 1982
to June 2013
to June 2013
Owner:
André Lecoq (FR)
Famous owner:
Restorer
Note:
The car headed towards the Lecoq residence, at 25 rue Charles Schmidt, Saint Ouen. It was registered 7874 GX 93. The great restorer conserved the car meticulously and used it little. Today the odometer shows 70,447km, and we know, from its history, that this is correct
From February 1982
to 1995
to 1995
Plate:
7874GX93
Country:
Unknown nationality
From 28th June 2008
to 29th June 2008
to 29th June 2008
Event:
Grands Concours d'Elégance de Saint-Cloud
Locality:
Saint-Cloud (FR)
2013
Generic fact:
Other photos
April 2013
Generic fact:
Other photos
From June 2013
to currently
to currently
Owner:
Ion Tiriac (RO)
10th June 2013
Event:
Artcurial - Automobiles sur les Champs V
Locality:
Parigi (FR)
Note:
Théâtre du Rond-Point Lot: 212 Sold €523,444
2014
Generic fact:
Other photos
From 1st April 2015
to 5th April 2015
to 5th April 2015
Event:
Salonul Auto Moto
Locality:
Bucarest (RO)
