The Big Bugatti’s Book Review

Filed under: Classic News,Product Reviews |
The Big Bugati's - Type 46 and 50 BookThe press release advised this Veloce Classic has been reprinted after several years’ absence; a concise illustrated history? Yes, but this book is so much more. If you share a passion for the offerings the famous French marque brought to the motoring world you may well already have this amazing work from Barrie Price on your bookshelf. For those who are unfortunate not to have enjoyed the stunning collection of images, in period advertising and Bugatti’s engineering excellence explained, this reprint is a must. The author’s impressive knowledge is backed-up by over 200 pictures, mostly in period, which detail not just the era and the personalities who could enjoy these luxury machines but also the variety and splendour of various coachbuilders. Whilst the Molsheim works (the home of Bugatti) could dress their chassis in the finest of craftsman built bodies, many of the Type 46/50 cars were wrapped in a bespoke finish of the owners choosing. Gathering this collection of images from across the globe was certainly an achievement and Barrie Price notes this would not have been possible without assistance from various enthusiasts; The Bugatti Trust and others. Bugatti is motorsport and these models although carrying plenty of size both in cubic capacity and in sheer bulk lined up at Le Mans amongst other circuits and the book features a very interesting section on this. With period sales records listed by chassis the author can advise were many of the individual cars were delivered around the planet and considering the era the expensive Bugatti’s sold well. With a Type 46 Mulliner bodied sports saloon costing a third more than a 4.5 litre Bentley, the desire to own what many consider to be the world’s finest was still strong enough for over 450 customers during the Great Depression. Price’s research shows 24 of those were sold through the companies London Depot. For fans of motoring memorabilia the book features 4 pages from Bugatti’s 1932 UK sales catalogue via their Head Office in Brixton Road SW9 including a superb ‘foreword’ bearing the name of Ettore Bugatti himself. It only remains for me to recommend a delve into the magnificent world of Bugatti genius, where even their straight 8 engine block is pure art and combined with the T46/50 chassis offered the perfect platform for coachbuilders world-wide to provide their very best. Bugatti Type 46 & 50 author Barrie Price ISBN 978-1-845848-72-9 Hardback copies £37.50 Over 200 period images Veloce Publishing Ltd - 01305 260 068 www.veloce.co.ukTags: