A Yugoslavian ‘Bugatti’ mystery

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Publications, whether they are books, magazines or newspapers or articles on the world wide web, may contain mistakes. That’s no problem; you know it, we know it - making mistakes can happen to the best of us and we will be the last to say we don’t ever make any ourselves. However, it does mean you shouldn’t take anyone’s word for gospel. Take this lovely picture, taken in 1939 in Rogatica, in what was then Yugoslavia.

The caption reads: “Alija M. Akšamija is posing at the wheel of a ‘Bugatti’ automobile in front of a large inn. He is wearing a jacket and fes. Several people in front of the inn are watching the scene and a fijaker ['carriage' in Serbo-Croatian - Ed.] is waiting in the yard to the building’s left.” It seems that the writer was in doubt himself by placing the marque name in brackets. Akšamija was a renowned photographer himself who won numerous national and international awards. But we do wonder what this car is, as we don’t think it’s a Bugatti, either. Any ideas? 

The first international car race in Belgrade

Interestingly, we did find that September 1939 saw the first international motor race in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, with at least one Bugatti entered. One report mentions, “Yugoslav colours were defended by Boško Milenković in his blue Bugatti.”

(Words: Jeroen Booij; Picture: Graz University, Alija M. Akšamija collection)

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