Beschreibung:

FROM THE ESTATE OF STEPHEN CONDUR 1931 BUGATTI 37A GRAND PRIX COACHWORK BY HANNI OF ZURICH Chassis No.37379 Engine No. 277 CP White with red leather upholstery Engine: four cylinder, overhead camshaft, 1,496cc, 90 bhp at 4,000rpm; Gearbox: four speed manual; Brakes: four wheel drum; Suspension: front, semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear, quarter-elliptic leaf springs. Right hand drive. Ettore Bugatti was one of the most remarkable car manufacturers in the history of the automobile, particularly when one considers that he had no formal technical or engineering training. He had the rare gift of an instinctive knowledge of what was right and the capability to organise others to produce his designs and ideas. By the mid 20s a replacement was needed for the successful but outdated Brescia. Bugatti designed an all new four cylinder engine of 69mm x 100mm bore and stroke and fitted it to the Type 35A chassis using the same radiator and wheels; this motor car became the Type 37. Much of the engine design was similar to earlier Bugatti designs--there were one exhaust and two inlet valves (larger than in the Type 35)--but the crankshaft was a new departure: five plain bearings and circular webs without balance weights. The remainder of the chassis was almost identical to the Type 35A. The four cylinder engine was in fact capable of being fitted to the eight cylinder chassis. Some eighteen months after the introduction of the Type 37, a supercharged version, the Type 37A, was produced. The supercharger was of smaller displacement than the eight cylinder blower but was driven by the same drive assembly, and the steering box had to be moved back in the chassis to accomodate it. The Type 37A was one of Bugatti's more successful Grand Prix cars. It's performance was most impressive--one lapped the Brooklands track at over 122mph. Chassis No. 37379 was delivered to be sold in March of 1931 to the dealers Bucar of Zurich. It is believed that sixty-seven 37A's were produced between 1927 and 1931, and this is the 64th example built. According to Bugatti restorers Donald and Mark Lefferts, 37379 was delivered new with standardized Grand Prix bodywork to a Miss Blickensderfer. In 1937, when the car was only six years old, Miss Blickensderfer commissioned the coachbuilding firm Hanni of Zurich to build and fit the highly attractive body that 37379 wears today. This is the only known Type 37A with Hanni coachwork. Realizing the limited utility and comfort offered by the light but impractical grand prix style coachwork, the owners of sports/racing cars of the era, such as Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz and Bugatti, would often commission a more refined, stylized and practical body to be fitted to their sports car. The beautifully constructed body that Hanni fitted to 37379 has a particularly sporting flair. The sweeping pontoon fenders, vee windshield, scalloped bonnet and doors are accentuated by lovely detail work such as the point in the rear scuttle. Although very little is known about Hanni, it is clear that they were quite capable of producing coachwork of the finest quality. What separates 37379 from many other 37A's is that it has remained complete and unmodified for so many years. The original bellypan is still intact under the Hanni coachwork. 37379 retains its original supercharged engine, number 277 CP, which is clearly stamped in the rear of the engine leg and on the brass plate. It is also fitted with the optional large brakes. The hand brake and gearshift were moved into the center for practicality. The Hanni-built dashboard is fitted with the original Type 37A tachometer, as well as a period speedometer. A Scintilla generator was fitted by Hanni to the front of the engine to power the headlights and wipers, and an electric starter, a Bugatti option, was also fitted. Enthusiast Henry Koux from Aarhus Denmark purchased 37379 and retained it until 1959 when Stephen Condur, stationed in Denmark while working for the Danish Air Force as