Bugatti Sonstige

35/51 "Petit Coupé Friderich"

!! PLEASE THE FULL LISTING IS ON OUR WEBSITE !!

Bugatti 35/51 "Petit Coupé Friderich" - Exceptional Reconstruction - One-of-a-Kind Model
Specifications:
Engine: Inline 8-cylinder twin overhead camshaft
Dog-leg gearbox
First registration: 01/01/1927
Chassis number: 4775
🏁 History:
🇫🇷 In February 1926, Ernest Friderich, Bugatti's agent in Nice, had the bold idea of fitting a Type 35A with a small enclosed coupé body in order to compete in the Côte d'Azur spring races. Friderich won the La Turbie hill climb, finishing ahead of Louis Chiron despite competing in the racing category. He also claimed victory in the standing-start kilometre in Nice, the Estérel hill climb, and the standing-start 500 metres in Cannes. The coupé body later disappeared, and the original chassis, having been sold on, was never traced again. Only a handful of period photographs, including one showing Friderich seated on the coupé's front scuttle, have preserved the memory of this unique and remarkably elegant automobile.
It was this story that inspired Bruno Lafourcade and François Chevalier, two long-standing Bugatti enthusiasts and collectors. In 1968, Bruno Lafourcade purchased the remains of a Bugatti 35 (chassis no. 4775) from Antoine Raffaëlli. At the time, the car was complete except for its engine and gearbox.
In 2008, the two friends began considering the future of this wreck. Remembering the photographs of Friderich's little coupé, they made their decision: rather than restoring it as a conventional Type 35, they would faithfully recreate the long-lost coupé. Bruno Lafourcade originally intended to install an eight-cylinder engine, but as the car's cooling efficiency depends on its small radiator, they ultimately chose a Type 51 engine without a supercharger, which runs cooler, fitted with a carburettor as was common practice in the post-war years.
Laurent Rondoni, of Ventoux Moteurs Ingénierie, was entrusted with the mechanical work, while Lafourcade and Chevalier undertook the bodywork. The wooden framework was crafted by Camille Bourges, the veneer by Patrick Barrier, the Weymann roof by Didier Texier, and the paintwork was applied by François Chevalier himself.
The reconstruction, which required substantial resources, was completed in 2011. The car made its first public appearance at the International Bugatti Meeting in Provence before being exhibited later that year at Mathieu Lustrerie during an exhibition dedicated to the Bugatti marque.
The car is registered in France and is listed on the registration document as a Type 35A.
🔧 Condition and technical specifications:
A comprehensive file of invoices documenting the entire reconstruction will accompany the car. In 2022, the car was sold by Artcurial and was still being run in at that time. Since then, the current owner—a Bugatti collector—has invested considerable time and resources to improve its reliability.
Today, the car performs extremely well. The following technical improvements should be noted:

• Replacement of the newly made dashboard components with original period parts or components appropriate to the period,

• Installation of 1930s-era turn indicators,

• Modification of the handbrake with the addition of a ratchet mechanism,

• Installation of an exhaust silencer,

• Gearbox insulation by fitting a 5 mm plywood panel behind the firewall (as found on the Type 38, 40 and 43),

• The car is fitted with new 20-inch wire wheels and beaded-edge tyres to match the period appearance (the original-style 19-inch wire wheels fitted with Blockley beaded-edge tyres are included with the sale),

• Complete overhaul of the carburation,

• Complete rewiring of the electrical system,

• Installation of discreet electric cooling fans behind the radiator.

The owner drives the car regularly and recently completed more than 1,500 km behind the wheel during a rally. The car will be sold fully serviced and in excellent running order.
📄 Documents:

• French registration document

• File of invoices and restoration history

The car is available to view near Issy-les-Moulineaux (92130), France.
The information provided in this listing has been supplied by the seller.
Worldwide delivery available.
Please contact us for further information.
More vehicles available on CarJager.
Since 2018, CarJager has been assisting buyers and sellers of classic and sports cars, from pre-war automobiles to contemporary GTs. Our team of 30 specialists, based in Aix-en-Provence and Paris, manages more than 500 transactions every year, offering a unique range of services including photography and video, expert inspections, transport, sourcing, financing and secure escrow payment. We would be delighted to meet you at Rétromobile, Epoqu'Auto, Interclassics Brussels or Le Mans Classic to discuss your automotive projects.
Internal reference: AW36997