1926 Bugatti Type 37

Chassis No. 37226
Engine No. 125

The Bugatti Type 37 Grand Prix closely mirrors the legendary Type 35, the first Pur-Sang revealed at the Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France in Lyon in 1924, which, in all its variants, would establish itself as one of the - if not the- most victorious racing cars of the interwar period, with the key difference that it is the only model in the Type 35 generation to feature an inline four-cylinder engine. It was designed to succeed the Type 13 Brescia, Bugattis first production sports car, which had helped the brand consolidate its reputation among a sporting clientele, competing in the 1.5-liter category. Notable achievements include a class victory at the Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France in 1928 and an eleventh-place finish at the 1926 Targa Florio.

With its 1.5-liter straight-four engine, featuring a single overhead cam and three valves per cylinder it produced only 60 horsepower less than the Type 35s eight-cylinder engine and thanks to its lighter weight, the Type 37 was nevertheless almost as fast reaching a top speed of 150 km/h.

Of the 270 examples ever produced, three Type 37s were sold in November 1926 to William Sorel, Bugattis official dealer in London, including chassis number 37226 fitted with engine 125.

The Brighton County Borough Council Vehicle Licensing Register reveals, via an archivist in a letter dated 2001, that the registration UF 2314 was assigned to the Bugatti of a certain Mr. Moore in July 1927, most likely Mr. Moore of Limited Motor Engineers in Brighton. It is under this registration, inseparable from its history, that chassis number 37226 would be traced in competitions, in the hands of its various owners in England over the years.

According to the 1995 David Sewell Report accompanying the car, it is believed since many years by word of mouth, that the vehicle was entered in competitions from its earliest days by Malcolm Campbell, the renowned British racing driver, who set nine records between 1924 and 1935 and notably won the 1927 Grand Prix de Boulogne behind the wheel of a Bugatti Type 39A.

In 1929, shortly after the founding of the Bugatti Owners Club, Jack Lemon Burton, a founding member and its President, acquired the car for 200 to replace his racing Brescia. On his very first official outing behind the wheel of UF 2314, his excitement was immortalized at the B.O.C. Hillclimb in Chalfont St. Peter, in a famous photograph reproduced in Hugh Conways Magnum Bugatti. He would later claim to have reached the symbolic milestone for British enthusiasts of 100 miles per hour, about 160 km/h, at its wheel.

He would later sell it to Ken Hutchison, who would do it proud when not behind the wheel of his Alfa Romeo P3, notably setting a 10-lap class record at Donington in 1933 driving 37226.

The Sewell Report also notes a certain John Ching as one of the cars owners prior to the United Kingdoms entry into the war.

After the war, its original logbook, dating from 1948 and still preserved with the car, records the same registration, UF 2314, as well as the original engine number, 125, which remains in the car to this day. At that time, the logbook lists Arthur Donald Underwood as the owner, followed by John Craven Wilkins.

John Henry Pratt, who acquired the car in the mid-20th century, returned it to the racing circuits and, twenty-four years after it left the factory, secured two consecutive victories at the Bugatti Race at Silverstone in 1950 and 1951. The logbook records Pratts successive changes of address, with a final registration in his name in 1956, before the car passed into the hands of Philip Ashley Mann, the last owner listed in this valuable record of owners and registrations. The Sewell Report notes that Mann reportedly achieved several victories behind its wheel in events organized by the Vintage Sports-Car Club.

In 1964, Joseph Murcott acquired chassis 37226 and kept it until his death in 1985, after which it was inherited by his son, Alan. Who then entrusted the car to Bugatti specialist Ivan Dutton for a comprehensive overhaul.

After 31 years in the same family, the car was acquired by John Gurney in 1995. That year, David Sewell wrote in his report: To this day, the car remains remarkably original in all respects, retaining its original engine, front and rear axles, gearbox and coachwork. There are very few surviving Grand Prix Bugattis today which can claim to retain such a high proportion of their original components, and therefore this fine example must rank among the most desirable of its type.

Gurney then decided to undertake a major restoration, carefully preserving the cars originality. The impressive file of invoices, notes, drawings, and correspondence, dating from 1996 to 1998, accompanies the car and is available for review.

At the dawn of the 21st century, it was acquired by Michael Benwell, who enjoyed it alongside his son Nicholas, both pre-war car specialists. They entrusted it once again to Ivan Dutton in 2001, with the detailed invoice for the work included in the file.

A Vintage Sports-Car Club eligibility document, dated August 2002, confirms that all the main components are original from 1926 and that, in detail, the car conforms to standard specifications, with the exception of modified carburetors. In June 2003, it was sold in a public sale in London, where the current owner acquired it. Dutch by nationality, they brought 37226 from England to the continent and registered it with the Bugatti Club Nederland.

This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bugatti Type 37, chassis number 37226, which left the Molsheim factory in 1926. The car survives in a rare, near-original condition, with matching numbers and a comprehensive history file.