Topic: Solved NIC#930 - Bugatti 57T monoposto of David Van Dal

[tobytwirl]

French base - Delage or Delahaye?

[nicanary]

French base - Delage or Delahaye?

French base, but neither of the above.

[D-type]

A Ballot found its way to Australia where it had a long career.  Is this it?

[nicanary]

A Ballot found its way to Australia where it had a long career.  Is this it?

Sadly not.

[D-type]

French, Straight 8.  Is Bugatti-based too obvious.?

[nicanary]

French, Straight 8.  Is Bugatti-based too obvious.?

Not too obvious at all.  Bugatti it is, but not just rebodied.

Tell you what, have a LOCK.  My initial question was a bit vague, but a point will be awarded for the actual model of Bugatti which provided the base, plus any name involved in its Australian history. I have the builder and the last owner in my notes.

[D-type]

Is it based on a Bugatti type 37?
Was Doug Whiteford involved?

Please unlock this as I am guessing in the dark and have no real ideas.

[nicanary]

Is it based on a Bugatti type 37?
Was Doug Whiteford involved?

Please unlock this as I am guessing in the dark and have no real ideas.

It's not a T37, and no Doug Whiteford connection.

OK. UNLOCKED and open for all.

[tobytwirl]

I assume this is nothing to do with the Bugatti-Dodge because information on it was a little sparse. There was however a T57  which was the last Bugatti to race under its own power in the 1957 Australian GP - entered by David Van Dal.

On to a website describing this car as currently having the original TT body, but having previously been shortened and having had a different body, when owned by said Mr Dal. Is this the car?

[nicanary]

I assume this is nothing to do with the Bugatti-Dodge because information on it was a little sparse. There was however a T57  which was the last Bugatti to race under its own power in the 1957 Australian GP - entered by David Van Dal.

On to a website describing this car as currently having the original TT body, but having previously been shortened and having had a different body, when owned by said Mr Dal. Is this the car?

You've solved it.  This car was originally a Bugatti Type 57T as owned and raced by Earl Howe and Pierre Bouillon (Levegh) - it was sold to Australia where Paul Hind shortened the chassis by 2'6" (!!) and clothed it with this attractive body. It was purchased by David Van Dal in 1954 and he raced it extensively Down Under until it was finally considered uncompetitive.

As you say, it's now back to its original  form (I doubt if the reconstituted full-length chassis is the original) and probably worth a lot more money. Bit of a shame in my opinion - I think it looked very much the part.

[tobytwirl]

Well thanks to D-type for establishing the key point.

I never found a photo of this car in early 50s trim - do you have any others?

[nicanary]

Well thanks to D-type for establishing the key point.

I never found a photo of this car in early 50s trim - do you have any others?

Sadly no. I obtained this from another well-known website forum. I've never previously seen an image of the car in this form.

Even Bonhams didn't say much about the car's time in Australia when they sold the car at auction - presumably they didn't want people to realise how much the car had been butchered during its career.