The Bugatti that triumphed from Paris to Nice in 1935, and now returns to Paris

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Next week, Salon Rétromobile will take place in Paris. The show can best be described as energetic, passionate, and gently romantic. Hundreds of remarkable automobiles will be on display—and no doubt some will change hands. Within the prewar scene, one marque immediately comes to mind: Bugatti of Molsheim.

On the PreWarCar.com stand, an interesting example will be offered: a Bugatti Type 57 with an outstanding competition pedigree, including overall victory in the 1935 Paris–Nice.

Chassis 57300, fitted with engine number 154, was delivered on December 3, 1934, to Bugatti dealer Gaston Descollas in Marseille. An active racer together with his wife, Descollas specified the car with a four-seat torpedo competition body in order to compete in long-distance events such as Paris–Nice, with the clear aim of prevailing against strong rivals. From the outset, it was understood that this would be a functional body focused on speed rather than elegance. Delivery took place on January 3, 1935, and the Bugatti was soon put to the test. On February 27, 1935, Madame Claire Descollas drove the car in the Paris–Vichy–St. Raphaël Féminin, a race reserved exclusively for women.

At the start of the Paris–Nice rally, held from April 13 to 18, 1935, several Bugattis lined up, including multiple Type 57s, as well as a Type 44 and a Type 43. It was Descollas, however, who claimed overall victory in his Type 57, a genuine surprise for an amateur and a performance that earned widespread acclaim.

In March 1936, Descollas sold the car to another garage owner, who in turn sold it in May to a Spanish businessman in Marseille. With no intention of racing, the new owner commissioned a completely new body from Gangloff in Colmar. The result was an elegant, closed sports coupé, delivered on June 21, 1936.

A few months after the beginning of France’s capitulation, on December 18, 1940, chassis 57300 was registered in the name of Mr. Senchermes in Barcelona. Spain, under Franco, maintained a position of military neutrality at the time. After 34 years of ownership, the car was sold to a collector in Madrid, before being acquired seven years later by Martin Ferrer.

In 2001, the Type 57 entered a German collection. By then, the body had been modified in the style of a Stelvio, and a comprehensive restoration was undertaken. Parts of the original Descollas torpedo body were recovered, including the original bonnet, fuel tank, and sections of the rear bodywork. Using period photographs, it became possible to recreate an accurate copy of the original torpedo configuration. All mechanical components—still retaining their matching numbers with engine 154—were thoroughly overhauled. The car was once again ready for new adventures, in the same spartan, purpose-driven form in which it had stood in Paris as a winner at the time.

A few years later, the Bugatti was sold to the Loh Collection and is now part of the Dold Collection, where we have had the pleasure of seeing it at several events.

Today, this remarkable Bugatti returns to the city where its first triumphs began. You are warmly invited to view it at Salon Rétromobile, stand 7.3 B011.

Details:

• Event: Salon Rétromobile
• Date: 28 January – 1 February 2026
• Location: Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles, Paris, France
• Tickets: Click here

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.