Vintage and Exotic Car Restoration Livermore - Barn Find Bugatti – Preserve or Restore? - FZ Restoration Livermore- (925)294-5666

 

 Quite literally the definition of barn find, this 1938 Bugatti Type 57 Series 3 Ventoux Coupewith 22K km on the odometer was found in a barn in central Pennsylvania, having sat unused for about 30 years. Originally sold for 82,224 Francs in 1938, the car was fitted with factory Ventoux coachwork. The original color of this car was dark blue. Imported in the 1960s from Switzerland to the US, the car suffered an engine fire around that time which caused damage to the hood panels and fenders. Most of the wiring was believed to have been destroyed in the fire as well. The car was acquired in this condition from Marlboro Motors in NJ by a gentleman who was an engineer. Most of the mechanical damage from the engine fire was repaired, and the car ran as late as 1966, though it was not given a restoration.

The car was made to run prior to the auction, and I saw it start up in the morning. As it did so, flashes of light could be visible through the vents of the engine bay as the cylinders sprang to life, accompanied by backfire and a Led Zeppelin concert style smoke screen. Still, the car moved around the show field under its own power. Video of the car’s first start-up (not shot by me) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E09D8VpUb1Q

Estimated at $150-200K, the Ventoux Coupe was sold on Sept. 18 at Fairfield Concours in Westport CT by Bonhams with the hammer falling at $337,000, buyer’s premium included.

In terms of comparables, in June of this year Artcurial sold an identical 1937 Type 57 Ventoux with 97K km on the clock, restored in 1998, for $446,785. That same Type 37 sold for $123,375 at Barrett-Jackson in Jan. 1998. An SCM contributor judged that sale to be market correct. Another Ventoux, in parts-car condition went for $215.108 at Retromobile this year.

So will this be the subject of a $500K restoration, which is approximately what it’ll take to bring this to concours level, or will it given a sympathetic mechanical restoration and made usable? Over the last decade originality for certain cars has come to be valued over restoration. A car can be restored many times, it is said, but it can be original only once. Had this car been found back in 1991, there is no question that it would have been immediately sent off to a complete nut and bolt restoration, which would have cleaned not only the patina but the history of this car. With a car like this, one that is borderline-roadworthy, that’s a tough choice to make, but at the price bought there is still some upside following a rather conservative restoration, if the buyer decides to flip it.

In this case I would side towards a complete restoration. This is a relatively story-free car (‘cept the minor detail of the engine fire) as it’s effectively a two owner car that’s been locked away after seeing very little use since the mid 1960s. As far as Bugatti barn finds go, that’s a pretty good period of time. Bugatti barn finds nowadays tend to be ones that have either been found as rebodied and abused chassis that have been gathering dust since the 1950s, or more recent cars that have simply been stored but not forgotten for 30 years. The patina that is on this car is not exactly worth preserving, at least the wear and damage on the outside. Restoring it would not be like patching up the bullet holes on Dillinger’s Ford, thereby erasing its historical significance. The cabin is relatively intact, so if the buyer decides to restore it, some of the cabin might be left untouched like the steering and gauges.

 

source: http://www.classicblog.net/2012/04/23/barn-find-bugatti-preserve-or-restore/

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