1928 Bugatti Type 40 Sports

• Delivered new in the UK
• Ownership history substantially known
• Single family ownership for over 50 years
• Restored in the 1990s with little mileage since

Introduced in 1926, the Bugatti Type 40 replaced the earlier Brescia models. Early versions used 16-valve Type 23 chassis frame side rails and had a wheelbase of 2,564mm, while later cars were built on a longer 2,714mm wheelbase chassis. Power came from a 1,496cc four cylinder engine, closely related to that of the Type 37 Grand Prix car. Featuring a single overhead camshaft operating three valves per cylinder, the engine produced approximately 45bhp and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. Production ended in May 1931 after just over 790 cars had been built. Of these, around 32 were Type 40A models, which were fitted with a larger 1,627 cc engine.

In the early 1930s, 17-year-old Frank Sergeant was eager to own his first sports car. His dream was to buy a second-hand Amilcar or Salmson, which in those days could be picked up for around £25. However, Frank's father had something more ambitious in mind, despite the difficult economic times. "If you want a sports car, then it must be a Bugatti," he insisted. And so, in 1933, Frank became the proud owner of his first Bugatti. It was a 1½-litre Type 40 with a Grand Sport body, purchased from a Cambridge garage for £70. Frank kept the car until the outbreak of World War II, when he sold it for £50. During the war years he had no car, but the Bugatti passion would return in 1949. This time he chose something sportier - a Type 37A, a supercharged 1,500cc Grand Prix car.

For several years, Frank enjoyed success in club racing. However, when the opportunity arose to start farming on his own, the Bugatti had to be sold to help finance a combine harvester. His only consolation was that he managed to sell the car for £400 - £125 more than he had paid for it. During the late 1960s/1970s Bugatti spare parts were becoming less available. Frank later recalled: "One of the leading racing drivers kept urging me to sell a spare alloy wheel I had retained after selling my Type 37A." Eventually, Frank agreed, on the condition that the man found him a cheap car to restore.

This led to the acquisition of his second Type 40, chassis number '40667', the car offered here. The car cost £100 but was far from complete. It had a smashed cylinder block and upper crankcase, and there was no body at all. The Bugatti Owners' Club was able to supply new cylinder blocks, valves, and guides, but no upper crankcase was available. Fortunately, Bugatti historian Hugh G. Conway, who had been permitted to copy the original factory drawings, provided access to a Type 37/40 crankcase drawing. Using this, Frank took the bold step of having a pattern made and commissioned the Peterborough firm Barron Clark to carry out the casting. This major undertaking eventually made it possible to complete the car's restoration, which also included the replacement of the original chassis frame with a Type 23 Brescia frame sourced from Bart Loyens in Luxemburg. Additional parts were sourced from London-based Bugatti specialist Jack Lemon Burton, who had purchased the remaining stock of Bugatti spares from the Brixton Road Depot. A notebook documenting the work carried out was carefully maintained, with particular attention given to the bearings. This information has been preserved and remains available alongside copies of the original drawings.

The opportunity now arises for a new owner to write the next chapter in the continuous history of '40667', which has remained in the same family ownership for over 50 years. From being first recorded in the Bugatti Register and Data book published in 1962 by the noted Bugatti Historian Hugh G Conway, its record of ownership dates back to Peter John Ellis in London, who is believed to have been the first registered owner of the car in March 1930. In the early post war years M W Howes from Peterborough owned '40667', before Tony Hutchings took on ownership during 1970. It was around this time that the original chassis frame was replaced (see above). By incorporating this chassis frame the car now conforms to the early Type 40, which used Type 23 frame side rails. It is worthwhile noting that both '40667' and '40668' were delivered new in 1928 to Colonel Sorel at the British Bugatti Depot, 1-3 Brixton Road, London, and that both would later be owned by Frank Sergeant.

It was his ownership of '40668' ('XV 1626') and also the Type 37A '37299', that gave Mr Sergeant the skill and confidence to take on the restoration of this car. Though there are no pre-war images of '40667' ('GF 299'), it is believed that it was originally supplied with Grand Sport coachwork, this being supported by the invoice price of 22,880FF for both Type 40s at the same time when new. The history file contains notebooks written by Mr Sergeant recording the work carried out, and also a post-restoration service record, plus photographs of the car during the rebuild. The Type 40 was re-bodied at this time with its 'all-steel' two-seat roadster coachwork. It was upon completion of the work, that that the car was issued with a replacement Bugatti Owners' Club chassis plate stamped '40667'.

According to our vendor (the daughter of Frank Sergeant), the Bugatti was stripped down to the bare chassis and completely rebuilt in the 1980s. Works carried out included replacing all the gearbox bearings; renewing the rear axle; fitting a new clutch; restoring the engine with a new cylinder block and pistons; regrinding the crankshaft; re-white-metalling all bearings; fitting new valves and guides; rebuilding the oil and water pumps; and overhauling the magneto. On the chassis side, all steering joints and the kingpins were re-bushed, and the brakes relined.

The Bugatti has covered fewer than 3,000 miles since completion and is described by the private vendor as mechanically very good, running extremely well and very smooth. A jack and the original dynamo are included in the sale.

Bonhams would like to thank Bugatti authority Mark Morris for his help in the preparation of this description (detailed illustrated report available).