1927 – Bugatti Baby “Type 52”
-
TypeAutomobilia
-
Lot number89
-
Year of manufacture1927
-
Location
Description
1927 – Bugatti Baby “Type 52”
Chassis n°: 182
Very close to the famous Bugatti Grand Prix produced at Molsheim from 1925 to 1927, this true Bugatti for kids was presented at the 1927 Milan Motorshow. Created for Roland, the younger son of Ettore Bugatti, it has been finally put into a limited number production of 500 units. Fitted with an electric engine powered by a 12-volt battery and connected by a toothed crown to the rear axle, the Baby had a top speed up to 15 km/h. Sold at the time for the children customers’ of the mark, it will make the happiness of the youth of the men in high places, the crowned heads and the celebrities.
Our Bugatti has remained in the same family of the famous and talented French designer Philippe Charbonneaux since the late 1980's. Display for a while inside his personal museum in Reims and conscientiously preserved, this Baby is in really nice and original condition. Partly restored, it was repainted some years ago and upholstery have been remade. The seat is in original condition like the dashboard and the body. It is now in very nice condition and has all its leather bonnet straps, the famous horseshoe-shaped radiator grill and its fifth wheel (fitted with Dunlop Cord Ballon in 350x55R) are in used but good condition. The Paris-Rhone engine is missing but all mechanics parts are in good place.
Rare and very faithfull scale model to the famous Pre-war Bugatti Grand Prix, this Bugatti Baby, often mistakenly called the “Type 52” since Hugh Conwey books, is an historic model and will be a great addition to any collection of Bugattis.