1930 Bugatti Type 49 Coupe "The Berlin Bugatti"

1930 Bugatti Type 49 Coupe "The Berlin Bugatti"

Chassis Number: 49194

Registration Number: WRD49T

Supplied to Bugatti agent Bucar of Zurich on 23rd Dec 1930 and driven there on temporary licence plate 1766-WW5

Owners: Kitty St Clair Abry (nee Holbrook) 31.5 1932-1973

JMG Michelsen and Tony Gosnell, London 1973—18.6 1980

Anthony Reginald Wilson, Hampshire, England 18.6 1980-

12.4.1983

Walter Spilsbury, Huntingdon, NY, USA 24.6. 1983-12.4.1998 Terry Spilsbury, Lyme, CT, USA 12.4.1998—2007

Frances Grant, Harrison, NY 2007-2009

Jaap Braam Ruben, Belgium 2009-7.9.2010

John ______, N. Ireland 7.9.2010 -

The story of the Bugatti kept longest by its first owner, and what it continued to mean to her after the death of her husband, who bought it for her, as the remaining connection to him.

This is the only Type 49 bodied by Bugatti, to a design by Jean Bugatti.

The Type 49 was regarded by many as the best driving of Bugatti touring cars.

Exhibited at the Berlin Motor Show, where it was bought as a gift for Kitty St Clair Holbrook by Roger Abry, on their engagement.

Kept, and well used, by Kitty at her estate near Nice, with its continuous history evidenced through the accumulation of files of relevant contemporary documentation.

Partly dismantled during the war years, preventing its use by German forces.

Sought out by Fritz Schlumpf who made a number of unsuccessful attempts to buy the car for his own collection.

Only eventually sold by Kitty in her old age to someone she had confidence in.

Records for many years of maintenance and repair attest to its high degree of originality

Manufactured 1930. Coachwork, an attractive three seat, two door coupe with sideways facing rear seat. Designed by a very young Jean Bugatti, design 930, and believed to be the only T 49 bodied by Bugatti, possibly built as a show car as it went to the Swiss distributors for more than a year before being sold to the first owner.

Painted, from new, blue over black with silver belt and orange fine lines (still finished in original colours). The high standard of interior finish, more luxurious and decorative than was usual for Bugatti, as well as the striking paint scheme, seem to indicate that it was intended as a show car.

Dr Abry of Antibes, France, bought the Bugatti at the Berlin Motor Show as an engagement present for Kitty St Clair Holbrook, travelling to Berlin with Kitty where he reportedly proposed.

The car was registered 599-YU2 in Kittty's maiden name on May 31st 1932.

Following her marriage to Roger Abry she kept the car at their coastal estate, Les Trois Moulins de la Valmasque, near Vallauris, Antibes. She used the car extensively in the years prior to WW2, having it maintained by Nice's Bugatti agent Ernst Friderich, and by Paul Hardy, the Marquis de Cholmondley's mechanic. The marquis, who owned four Bugattis, had a nearby estate, Villa 'Le Roc', Golfe Juan.

During the war Kitty had the car partially dismantled, and hidden on her estate to avoid confiscation by the German forces. She said that German officers were trying to find the car. After the war everything had changed, and the car remained in that state for the next 34 years.

Kitty kept the Bugatti longer than any other original Bugatti owner. Fritz Schlumpf made several attempts to buy the car but Kitty remained determined not to sell because of the connection to her late husband. In the early 1970s Kitty reportedly engaged a local garage to rebuild the engine, but it proved beyond them.

John Dingeman, a Francophile and Bugattiste from Florida, became friendly with Kitty and made visits over a long period of time. He eventually convinced her to sell the car to two Englishmen, John Michelson and Tony Gosnell, so that it could be properly recommissioned. When they bought the car in 1973 Kitty had owned it for nearly 42 years, and it remained completely original. Kitty by this time was said to own the most extensive private gardens between Cannes and Nice.

Michelsen brought the car to England and had it recommissioned over a period of several years, with mechanical reassembly and cosmetic attention. He registered it on 6th November 1978 with the British registration WRD 49T, the new plates being fitted over Kitty's French originals, which remain on the car. He brought it to a number of Bugatti Owners Club events in the late 1970s, with several mentions in Bugantics, the magazine of the Bugatti Owners Club.

The car changed hands to a third owner, Tony Wilson, in 1980. He was unhappy with the way it was running, and concluded that previous mechanical work hadn't been carried out to Bugatti standards. He sent the car to Crosthwaite and Gardiner for a complete engine overhaul, following which he was satisfied that it now ran superbly. It was offered for sale by Paradise Garage in Clapham in 1982, and by Coys of Kensington in 1983.

Walter Spilsbury, from New York, wanted to buy a Bugatti and in his search for a 'special' car to meet his high standards had engaged Bill Serri as his advisor and agent. Serri located a number of cars, sending notes and photos to Walter Spilsbury. Among others, Serri seemed impressed by a Type 44 tourer ('a lovely car') and a Type 57 Stelvio (concours winner, restored to perfection), but he then saw Kitty's old car, which made a big impression, saying: I have seen this car in London and it is one of the most lovely Bugs I have ever seen, the pics don't do it justice. I would love for someone in this country to purchase this car. The interior is incredible and the paperwork history from the factory is about an inch thick. I think this is the best one of the three'. On this recommendation Walter Spilsbury bought the car, importing it to the USA in August 1983.

Walter Spilsbury had a number of cars, and particularly valued originality.

When he reached the age of 80 he asked his son to help reduce his collection, with numerous cars being sold. His regard for the Bugatti was such that it was one of four cars he chose to keep. When Walter died in 1998 the car passed to his son Terry, and remained with the Spilsbury family for a total of 24 years.

Further refurbishment, including paintwork and upholstery, was carried out during 2002-2003 and the car was then driven on several tours, including a 2003 FIVA rally in Europe and the 2004 Fall Rally in New Hampshire.

The next owner was Frances Grant of Harrison, NY, who bought the car at a Christies' auction in 2007. The Bugatti then returned to Europe when it was sold to Bugatti specialist Jaap Braam Ruben in 2009.

The current owner from N. Ireland was looking for a Bugatti, seeking something not only in top condition but which might have an interesting history. He travelled to Belgium to look at Kitty's old car, being impressed not only by the condition and story, but also the Ireland connection through Kitty's family.

The car is now one of the 'stars' of John's collection, sharing space with several other notable cars.

A very careful examination of the car and all the accompanying documents supported the remarkable degree of originality. Still finished in its striking original colour scheme, almost all components remain as fitted when the car left the factory, the only obvious, and relatively minor, change being an electric fuel pump fitted early in the car's life due to the unreliability of the original autoflux system. Several areas were identified where work hadn't been carried out to Bugatti standards, or the sometimes unusual construction methods hadn't been fully understood, and every attempt has now been made to leave everything operating exactly as it should. Although many T49s were fitted from new with aluminium wheels, the wire wheels, covered by wheel discs, on Kitty's car are correct for an early car and were an advantage for the relatively rough back roads of the Riviera which could have caused cracking.

The extensive documentation with the car tells a remarkable story of survival, retaining originality through periods of enthusiastic use and changes of ownership, during which so many cars are spoilt through unsympathetic repairs or restoration attempts. Add in Kitty's own story and it becomes remarkable and more personal.

Viewings are by appointment near Belfast.

Extracts from 'The Motor' road test, 1s November 1932:

"The Type 49, or 3.3 litre tourer, combines all those qualities for which the Bugatti is famous, with an unexpected flexibility and silence at low speeds on top gear. It is, indeed, a car with a dual personality - a comfortable carriage and a lively sports model. So quickly and easily does the Type 49 reach a speed of a mile a minute that on the average main road it is possible to cover long distances in an astonishingly short space of time. The car is of course beautifully finished. The engine is polished in a manner calculated to turn most enthusiasts green with envy.

"The brakes, needless to say, proved to be exceptionally good, the pulling-up distances being better than is usually considered possible.

On the road the car handles delightfully. The steering is remarkably free from any reaction, is very light and fairly direct. We found that many main road bends, which on the average car we would treat with the utmost respect, could be rounded on the Bugatti at such high speeds that it would be wiser not to quote them in this article. This run was accomplished without the slightest fatigue, which speaks well for the comfort which the suspension and bodywork afford and the freedom from worry engendered by the perfect road-holding and controllability.

"For whatever purpose the car is used it invariably demonstrates itself to be a thoroughbred."

Call Richard Biddulph. Mobile ++44 (0) 7967 260673

Simone Della Corte Mobile ++44 (0) 7377070943

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