The 1931 Bugatti Sort 51 Dubos Coupe has an interesting historical past of competitors, design and reincarnation. Initially constructed as a factory-team grand prix race automotive piloted by legendary drivers Louis Chiron and Rene Dreyfus, the automotive was rebodied in Paris in 1937 as a chic Louis Dubos coupe, which is the way it seems immediately.
An historic 1931 Bugatti Sort 51 Dubos Coupe from the Nethercutt Assortment can be one of many featured pre-war vehicles within the Arizona Concours d’Class, a curated present and judged competitors of remarkable vehicles set to happen Sunday, January 22, within the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Heart Plaza.
The one-of-a-kind Bugatti has an interesting historical past of competitors, design and reincarnation, exemplifying the Arizona Concours’ theme “The Artwork of Aerodynamics.” It is going to be a part of the general public show of about 90 particular vehicles, which embody antiques from the daybreak of motoring, stunning pre-war classics, sports activities vehicles and trendy unique supercars.
Initially constructed as a factory-team grand prix race automotive, this specific Sort 51 began the longest a part of its journey after the 1931 race season, when it reportedly was given by Ettore Bugatti to Chiron, who used it for a few yr. It was acquired from Chiron by rich Parisian playboy André Bith, an in depth buddy of Jean Bugatti, Ettore’s son. Bith drove it in rallies and sporting occasions, then contracted with Louis Dubos to construct an aerodynamic physique styled after Jean Bugatti’s iconic Atlantic coupe, which had impressed Bith with its distinctive design.
The outcome was spectacular, the Dubos physique a swoopy and aerodynamic magnificence with a big single fin centered on the rear and an opulent inside trimmed in tan pigskin with a sycamore instrument panel. Bith instantly entered it within the 1937 Bagatelle Concours d’Class, the place it was awarded second general Better of Present.
Bith bought the Dubos Coupe earlier than WWII, after which it was acquired within the early Fifties by American collector Gene Cesari, who eliminated the coupe physique and bought it to a different American collector, who then mounted it on a made-up Sort 51 Bugatti chassis. Cesari’s motive for separating the Dubos physique from the chassis is unclear.
California automotive collector J.B. Nethercutt bought the unique Sort 51 chassis, No. 51133, from Cesari and restored it as a grand prix automotive with a physique created by Bugatti authority O.A. Phillips. The Bugatti grew to become an everyday characteristic of the Nethercutt Assortment for a few years.
In 2000, the reconstructed Dubos Coupe got here up for public sale, and the Nethercutt Assortment was in a position to buy it, with the intention of reuniting the physique with its right chassis. A crew of specialists enlisted the assistance of André Bith, then greater than 90 years outdated, to help the rebuild with paperwork, pictures, receipts and his personal still-reliable reminiscence.
The Bugatti Dubos Coupe is as soon as once more intact as when it left the coachbuilder’s store in July 1937.
The Concours is partnered with Scottsdale Arts, one in every of Arizona’s largest arts nonprofits, to current the occasion, which blends historical past, design and expertise. Proceeds from the Concours will profit native artists and artwork applications.
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