Baby Bugatti Type 52 Re-creation

Footnotes

This all-aluminium 1/2 scale child's car was hand-built in the USA circa 1996/1997 and is a '99% faithful' re-creation of the famous Type 52 Bugatti Baby. Designed by company founder Ettore Bugatti for his five-year-old son, Roland, the original Type 52 Baby was a half-size replica of the firm's highly successful Type 35 Grand Prix car, though Roland's 'prototype' was powered by a petrol engine and was slightly smaller than the production version that followed. The production Type 52 Baby was premiered at the 1927 Paris Salon, its favourable reception leading to the manufacture of some 500 of these miniature marvels. A luxury toy priced at 5,000 francs, the Bugatti Baby was exclusively the plaything of the children of wealthy parents. Many royal families succumbed to its allure, and Ettore Bugatti is known to have given some to important clients that had placed substantial orders. Several races were organised during the 1930s for children driving their Bugatti Babies, and it was even possible to rent them in fashionable destinations on the Côte d'Azur.

We are advised that this car is identical to the original except for two extra bonnet louvres that have been incorporated to distinguish it from the real thing. Noteworthy features include aluminium wheels, steering system, control pedals, and rear axle, the latter ready to receive an electric motor (the original's was a Bugatti starter motor). The wooden drum brake is another 'as original' feature, as is the battery support. Other features worthy of note include a stainless steel black grille; scaled-down enamelled Bugatti logo; seat upholstered with genuine Connolly leather; steel steering wheel; voltmeter; and side-mounted handbrake (identical with that of the real Baby). The car is currently only capable of static display but could be easily motorised.

Not to be confused with the many replicas made using inferior materials, this Bugatti Baby re-creation is a work of art and a collector's item in its own right. It is also some €100,000 less expensive than the real thing!