About This Object
An extraordinary 1:8 scale Bugatti Type 41 Royale Roadster model
Passionate about classic cars since my childhood, I was super excited to add this extraordinary model to our stock. Just imagine how immensely happy you can make your husband or father when you present them such a gift! Or, your own dream can finally come true (even if you didn't realise that you had one) when you add this magnificent object to your collection, or indeed start a new passion with it!
Completely scratchbuilt models of this impressive scale and exquisite level of detailing are extremely rare. It is like a piece of jewellery or a very fine watch where every little detail is beautifully made, even those which cannot be seen. Perfect as a desk ornament, business card display/stand, or simply as a gift.
Provenance
Mr Thomas James Perkins (1932–2016), California, US, an American businessman, car collector and author.
Custom-built at the Antonietti-Bossac workshop in circa 1960's, from in excess of 4000 individually prepared hand-made brass, steel, aluminium and copper parts. The exquisite details include a miniature Rembrandt Bugatti Elephant mascot on the hinged bonnet, revealing a fully detailed engine, aluminium wheels fitted with rubber tires, articulated steering to front wheels and rear suspension, handle-operated doors, opening to a padded cream leather interior, polished wooden dashboard with finely detailed instruments, a panel opening to rumble seat to rear, bodywork primed and finished in three layers of two-tone green paintwork and many others. There is a brass plaque to rear underside inscribed 'Marc Antonietti et Henri Bossat No 677'.
History
The present miniature is of a particularly interesting car, a 1932 Bugatti Type 41 Royale Esders Roadster, which has fascinated the connoisseurs all around the globe since it lost its breathtakingly beautiful original coachwork in the late 1930's and was recreated by the Schlumpf brothers in the 1960's.
Bugatti Type 41 Royale was the brainchild of Ettore Bugatti and Jean Bugatti, the very promising son of the great Ettore. Conceived in the 1920's as the best automobile ever built, the Royale had a massive scale, staggering performance and an eye-watering pricetag (its chassis alone cost about $30,000 while the most expensive American car of the time - the Duesenberg - caused a sensation being priced at $20,000). Its massive 12.7-litre (700 cubic inches) 300 hp straight eight engine would propel this 3,2 ton, 6,4 metres long monster to over 100 mph! With initial plans to produce a limited edition of 25 of these cars, only 6 were eventually built, and only three of them were sold, the others remaining in the Bugatti family until 1960's.
The present roadster was the second Royale built (chassis 41111), fitted with a super elegant two-seater open coachwork by Jean Bugatti, designed for Dr. Armand Esders, a french couturier, who ordered it without headlights as this would impair its beautiful design. He had, as he said, no plans to drive after sunset anyway. Unfortunately, this magnificent coachwork was replaced later in the 1930's when Dr. Esders sold the car and it was fitted with a coupe de ville body, which it still has today.
Condition
The condition of this superb miniature Royale is extremely good. The hand formed all metal body shows a little of its age as is expected with a piece around 40 years old, but this model truly wears its very mild/minimal patina very well. Some of the plated and raw metal parts show a little age, the leather interior is pleasingly patinated too. This model is amazingly well preserved and comes with a wooden platform and acrylic display case. It is a heavy piece with a combined weight of the model & case coming in at about 40 LBS.
Antonietti's models rarely come to market; a less sophisticated miniature Type 59 numbered 664 was sold at Bonhams for $16,250 on August 16, 2013. Another Royale, the Coupe Napoleon, was advertised on eBay for $22,500 in 2012. The price of a new model, advertised by Antonietti in 1985 was Fr44,000, which was enough to buy an average car in the 1980's.
A unique opportunity to own this beautiful piece of craftsmanship and also a tribute to the Golden Age of the Automobile.
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