Rediscovered treasure

Bonhams, London, UK 19 February

That’s how long this beautiful 1937 Bugatti Type 57S has sat hidden away from the world. Owned by engineer Bill Turnbull, it was nearing the end of a full rebuild before his death in 1969.

It’s now being offered in surprisingly wellpreserved condition by Bonhams, who will sell the car with no reserve at its Legends of the Road auction in February.

First purchased by Robert Ropner of the Ropner Shipping Line family from London dealership Jack Barclay, it was registered ‘DUL 351’, and nicknamed Dulcie. It was specified with a custom four-seater sports Grand Routier body from coachbuilder Corsica of London.

Powered by the standard 3.3-litre inline eight-cylinder engine, the chassis has been identified as one of three special lightweight frames produced for the 1936 GP season. Very much a Grand Prix racer for the road, Dulcie was sold on to Rodney Clarke, founder of the Connaught Grand Prix racing team.

By the time Bill Turnbull took ownership in 1969, it was in need of a full rebuild. Turnbull contacted all four of the car’s previous owners to trace its history, and then began stripping it down in his workshop. The restoration was undertaken to Turnbull’s exacting standards, but was not quite completed when he died.

Looking to bring this legendary Bugatti back onto the road in 2021? It’s one of the last few ‘missing’ 57s to come to light, and Bonhams estimates that it will sell for £5,000,0007,000,000. Locked away for more than 50 years, this is a car that deserves to be driven.