1933 Bugatti Type 49

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys Paris event, 4 - 5 February 2025.
Offered Without Reserve 400,000 - 550,000 EUR

• A rare and attractive example of Bugattis luxurious Type 49
• Coachwork by the Dutch royal coachbuilder, B.T. Van Rijswijk & Zoon of Den Haag
• Outstanding provenance displayed when new on the Van Rijswijk stand at the 1934 Amsterdam International Motor Show
• Inspected by Pierre-Yves Laugier with assistance from Kees Jansen
• Retains its original chassis frame and plate, engine, front and rear axles, and gearbox
• Presented in its original colours

Please note this car is offered without registration papers, bidders should satisfy themselves as to registration requirements in their own jurisdiction.

Veuillez noter que cette voiture est propose sans papiers dimmatriculation, les enchrisseurs doivent sassurer des conditions dimmatriculation dans leur propre juridiction.

Chassis number 49570 was built at the Molsheim factory at the end of May 1933, using a long 3.22-metre wheelbase chassis. It was fitted with engine number L458. The running chassis cost 38.000 French francs and was invoiced to the European agent B.U.C.A.R. of Zurich, being transported by rail on 21 November 1933.

The first owner was a car dealer, later Jaguar agent, called N.V.J.W. Lagerwij of La Haye, Holland. It was registered HX 31549, and in early 1934 took pride of place on the Van Rijswijk stand, No. 100, at the Amsterdam International Motor Show at the RAI. The car was described in the 15 February 1934 issue of magazine De Auto as having a black body, black leather hood, and red leather seats.

Lagerwij did not keep the Type 49 long as it was sold to Mr E. Blaisse. It appears that the car passed to Blaisses son Erik Steven, later owner of the distillery, Van Zuylekom, and other Bugattis. Erik Steven sold chassis 49570 to Wilhelm Anton Te Gussinko of Alten on 25 March 1946, who in turn sold it to H. James A.M. Coebergh of the Coeberg Bessen Jenever distillery on 30 August 1952. He kept it for less than a year before the car moved on 15 June 1953 to P. Deelen Jr of Lekkerkerk.

Deelen kept this wonderful Type 49 for nearly a decade before the ownership passed to Garage Limborg in 1962 ahead of an engine rebuild. It then went to Bugatti collector Henk Groenwegen of Rotterdam, who passed away in 1974, and it later joined to the world famous collection of Evert Louwman. Gert Jan Moed bought the Bugatti in 2000 and a restoration was completed in April 2005, returning 49570 to its original colours. In 2011, it was purchased at auction by The Curated Collection.

An inspection of this wonderful Bugatti by Pierre-Yves Laugier shows that the mechanicals of this Type 49 are highly original, with the engine, gearbox, front and rear axles all bearing the stamping of 458. Both crankcases carry the assembly number of 22 proving their originality. The chassis plate is also the original item. All six of the aluminium Bugatti wheels are numbered, five of them are dated from July 1933 and the sixth is from the end of August 1933.

The central part of the body is original and was conserved during the restoration, and the rear, as well as the wings, were recreated as the originals were modified after World War II. The red leather in the interior appears to be original apart from the drivers seat which has been retrimmed. It should be noted that the engine runs but the block has a previously repaired crack which is no longer sealed a repair or replacement block would be recommended prior to proper use.

A truly special Bugatti, which has remained in Holland for most of its life, this rare and attractive Type 49 is worthy of a place in any pre-war collection.

RM Sothebys would like to thank Pierre-Yves Laugier and Kees Jansen for their assistance with cataloguing this Bugatti.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/pa25/.